Title – Writing Letters to Fairytale Characters

By – Jennifer Spencer

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Secondary Subjects – Social Studies

Grade Level – 1

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Language Arts Standards:

19) Writing/Expository and Procedural Texts
B) The student will write short letters that put ideas in chronological or logical sequence and use appropriate conventions (e.g.; date, salutation, closing)

Learning Objectives:

• The student will be able to write a friendly letter to someone without teacher help.
  
• The student will be able to organize a friendly letter with proper format, after teacher instruction.
  
• The student will be able to address a letter using an envelope, after teacher instruction.

Materials Needed:

• 
  The Jolly Postman
  
  (book)
  
• Big Paper
  
• Paper for students
  
• Marker
  
• Envelopes

Pre-Activity Preparation:

• Have
  
  The Jolly Postman
  
  ready to read.
• Have big paper out and ready to write on.
• Have paper ready to pass out to students.

Transition:

• Beginning of class: “Everyone come and sit on the floor.”
• After book: “In just a second, we will quietly go to our desks. When you get there, take out a pencil.”

Motivation:

• Read
  
  The Jolly Postman
  
• Write on big paper to refresh class memory.

Procedure:

1. Students sit on the floor around the reading area.
2. Introduce
   
   The Jolly Postman
   
   .
   • Tell students: “Today I’m going to read this book to begin the lesson.”
   • Only read parts with the letters to save time.
3. While reading, review letter format. Example: “Where is the greeting? Closure?”
   
4. After reading, review letter format on big paper.
   • Students name the parts of a letter and their placement:
     • Date: Upper right hand corner
     • Greeting: Below date, left hand side
     • Body: Below greeting, indent, paragraph form.
     • Closing: Below body, middle right
     • Name: Below closing (Comma after greeting and closing)
   • Ask the students questions:
     • What kind of characters were in the book? (Fairytale)
5. Introduce writing activity:
   • Tell students “You are going to write a letter to a fairytale character. You’re going to ask them one question about themselves.”
   • On the board list characters they can use.
6. Transition:
7. “When I dismiss, walk to your desks and take out a pencil.”
   • When students are seated, pass out paper.
   • Tell students again to use the format on the big paper to write a letter asking a fairytale character a question.
8. After letter is written, pass out envelopes.
   • Tell students: “Don’t write on envelopes yet!”
   • Show students how to format an address and name on envelope
     • Name at the top left hand corner
     • School and room number under the name
     • Characters name in the middle of envelope
     • 100 Jolly Postman under that
     • Richardson, TX 12345 under that
     • Sticker “stamp” in upper right hand corner
9. Put letters inside of finished envelopes
10. Put letters into box (mailbox) for the “postman”.
11. Review steps/format once more before packing up to leave.

Closure:

• Ask students: “For what reasons do we write a friendly letter?”
  
• Also ask: “What is the first thing you put on a letter?”
  
• Give the big paper to someone or hang it on the wall for future reference.

E-Mail

Jennifer Spencer

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