1. Topic-
Letter Writing
 
2. Content-
letter, geography, postage, communication
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. Teach students how to write and send letters.
2. Raise student awareness of US geography.
3. Increase student desires to write letters.
 
4. Objectives-
1. Students will learn to write a letter.
2. Students will learn how to mail a letter so that it reaches its destination.
3. Students will learn how to tell where and when a letter comes from.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
Paper, pens, pencils, a US map, stamps, markers, stickers, envelopes.
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

1. Ask students in what ways they communicate with people across long distances.
2. Ask if they have ever sent or received a hand written letter.
3. Ask how they think their grandparents communicated across long distances.
 

B. Development-

1. Write a personalized letter to each of the students.
2. Review the format for writing a letter.
3. Demonstrate how to post a letter.
 

C. Practice-

1. Show students a map of the US and ask them to pick a state and town that they would like to send a letter to.
2. Ask students to write down a list of things that they would like to include in their letter.
3. Compile a group list and ask the students to narrow down their choices of things to write about.
 

D. Independent Practice-

1. Ask students to write their letter and have it include at least 3 items from the group list.
2. Check to see that student letters have followed the format discussed.
3. Ask students to address their envelopes and check to see that they follow the format given.
 

E. Accommodations (Differentiated Instruction)-

1. Come up with a preset form for recipients to fill out to include with student letters.
2. Give students a sample paragraph that they can use to interchange topics.
3. Have students write letters in groups of 2 or 3 with one in charge of writing and another in charge of decorating.
 

F. Checking for understanding-

1. Read letters aloud and verbally respond to questions and topics.
2. Send letters and wait for responses, reading all responses aloud.
3. Post responses and chart who and where they have come from.
 

G. Closure-

1. Ask students which responses were best and why.
2. Ask students if they are compelled to respond to any responses and why.
 
7. Evaluation-
1. 100 point scale based on content of suggested parts of the letter.
2. Grading based on layout, design, information, style, grammar, and punctuation.
 
8. Teacher Reflection-
Evaluate student excitement level and understanding of letter writing as a means of communication.
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)