Angela Ott
4th grade
writing- letter
Subject: - Writing- 4th grade
Objective: Students will learn the five parts of a letter, and use the format to write their own letter.
Standard:
Common Core Standards- 4.4 Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion,
and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to
support the writer’s purpose.
Materials: Book- Frog and Toad are Friends- the Friendly Letter
Setting: whole group/small group
Questions: Teacher will begin the lesson by displaying a sample letter and questions on Elmo. (Dear
Toad letter)
Students will record responses in journals.
How do you know who is writing the letter?
How do you know who is receiving the letter?
What do you notice about the format of the letter?
Why are letters written?
Procedure:
1. Teacher will introduce the lesson by reading the book Frog and Toad.
2. Teacher will have an anchor – The Friendly Letter Example and parts of the friendly letter
http://www.lesn.appstate.edu/fryeem/RE4030/parts_of_the_letter.htm
Teacher will discuss each part of the friendly letter. Through this discussion, teacher begins direct
instruction in teaching the parts of the friendly letter.
Heading
This includes the address, line by line, with the last line being the date
Greeting/Salutation
4th grade
Angela Ott
writing- letter
The greeting always ends with a comma. The greeting may be formal , beginning with the word “ Dear “
and using the person’s given name in the relationship, or it may be informal if appropriate.
Body
This is the main text, which includes the message written. This tone is friendly and often includes news
and invitations.
Closing
This is a short expression is always a few words on a single line. It ends in a comma.
Signature Line
There is a typed or printed name added here
Postscript
If your letter contains a postscript, begins it with P.S. and it end it with your initials.
Hook
3. Whole class - teacher will discussion with the class question, What do you notice about the format of
the letters?
4. Teacher provides examples of friendly letters from Dear Peter Rabbit by Alma Flor Ada. Teacher
projects letter (Dear Peter) http://www.ltl.appstate.edu/reading_resources/letters.htm
5. Teacher leads students in a discussion as they identify the parts of the friendly letter on their paper
copy of the letter
6. Students then select a partner and complete activities for Dear Pig one… letter.
http://www.lesn.appstate.edu/fryeem/RE4030/DearPigOne.htm
7. Teacher reviews tone of friendly letters: personal, conversational, and informal. List on chart ways to
address various audiences in greetings and closings:
Greetings
Hi
Closings
Love
Hello
Sincerely
Dear
Your friend
Dearest
Yours truely
Greetings
Affectionately
Angela Ott
4th grade
writing- letter
8. Teacher will ask students to review their Letter-Writing Guides. Students are encouraged to make any
necessary changes.
9. Students will begin drafting their friendly letters.
Differentiations:
For students having difficulty
The teacher will self-monitor students and put them in small groups for further
guidance
Teacher will complete an observation by walking around the classroom and
observe as they work, if a student is having difficulty the teacher will guide the
student to correct answers.
Assessments:
Writing activity- student created friendly letter
Friendly letter quiz from the study zone (link below)
Resources:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson322/Lett
erAttributes.pdf
http://studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/n/friendlyletterp.cfm