Giving can be fun

The purpose of this lesson is to incorporate the use of writing in a friendly letter format to foster the spirit of giving and sharing within the classroom. Using word processing, the students will create a friendly letter that will be shared with classmates in the spirit of giving and sharing.

A lesson plan for grades 4–5 English Language Arts

By Sue Hunnicutt

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Related topics

• Learn more about friendly letters, language arts, letters, writing, and writing process.

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Learning outcomes

The students will learn how to communicate in written form using a friendly letter format and word processing. The lesson should instill a sense of giving and sharing with their peers.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 days

Materials/resources

• Students will need pen and paper
• Teacher will prepare list of students enrolled in the class. This list should be cut into strips with one name on each strip and folded in half. These strips are placed in a small container such as a box or cup.
• Teacher should have blank envelopes for each student in the class.

Technology resources

Each student needs access to a computer and a word processing program.

Pre-activities

• Students must have basic knowledge of the format of a friendly letter.
• Students should be familiar in folding a letter for mailing.
• Students should be instructed on how to address an envelope properly.
• Students and teacher should review the basic writing process and the steps involved.
• Students will review the class expectations of using the computer lab and word processing.
• Students will also review the skills of using class time wisely and working independently in computer lab.
• A class discussion on the act of giving and the importance of thinking of others’ needs would be beneficial.

Activities

1. Teacher needs to have each student draw a name of a different student in the class from the prepared list. If student draws own name, then redraw. Keep the name of the student drawn a secret, if possible.
2. Students need to take paper and pen to do brainstorming activity. Students should brainstorm on paper a list of gifts they would like to give to the name drawn. Give students approximately five minutes to brainstorm.
3. After brainstorming, teacher explains to class the objectives of the lesson. Objectives: to choose a gift to give to your drawn name in the form of a friendly letter. This gift should have a value of one hundred dollars or less. It may be in the form of one gift or more than one gift. Your gift will be given in the form of a friendly letter. It should follow the basic writing process form. Student should explain in the letter the gift or gifts given and the reason or reasons for choosing those gifts for the student.
4. After going over the objectives students should take their brainstorming list and edit the gifts they choose. They will decide on the gift or gifts they wish to use.
5. After brainstorming, students are given the opportunity to create their rough drafts of the friendly letter. This could be done in the computer lab or in the classroom on paper. It could also be given as a homework assignment to bring back the next day for use in the computer lab.
6. In the computer lab students will word process their letters. They should edit these letters and make corrections before final printing.
7. Students will print their letters upon completion, making two copies of the letter. One copy will go to the person the letter is written to, and the other letter copy to the teacher for grading.
8. Upon class completion of the letter, each student will receive an envelope for his or her letter. The class should fold these letters in the correct manner for placing a letter in an envelope.
9. The outside of the envelope should be addressed properly as if for mailing. Use your school address for the recipient. The letter should be sealed in the envelope.
10. The teacher should be given the sealed envelope and the copy of the letter for grading. After all letters have been collected, they can be handed out in class to the person that it is addressed to.
11. Give the students time to read their gifts. Then you can have share time with the class so that each student may share the gift or gifts they receive.
12. A follow up assignment could be the creation of thank you notes at a later date.

Assessment

• Teacher will review the written letter (second copy) submitted by the students.
• Teacher should grade for correct format of the letter; a rubric of 25 points.
• Teacher should grade for the grammar, spelling, and punctuation correctness; a rubric of 50 points.
• Teacher should visually observe if student was able to complete the assignment in the correct format and to follow the directions given; a rubric of 25 points.

Supplemental information

Comments

I use this lesson at Christmas time to enhance the season and to emphasize that it can be fun to give as well as to receive.