Letter Writing

Objectives

To identify the main points or gist from reading a text.

To identify the key features of informal letter writing.

Resources

Today's Lesson

Spelling

Look at the words below and do a pre-test. This means that you are checking how well your student can spell these words before you teach them. You do not need to focus on the words your student spelled correctly the first time.

Rule: More prefixes (2 of 3) –ir and –inter

irresponsible
irrelevant
intercity
interact
international
interrelated

Dictation

Please see Week 2 Lesson 1 for directions on dictation if you need a reminder of what to do.

It is irresponsible to drop litter.
2. The paint colour was irrelevant.
3. I travelled on an intercity train.
4. It is good to interact with other children.
5. An aeroplane allows international travel.
6. Nuts and bolts are interrelated.

Introduction

Say: Today we will be learning about writing letters. Not the letters we use to write words, but letters we can post to people. Your student may comment or ask questions here. Let them tell you what they know about letters and complete the KWL Chart. You may also want to look at the KWL Chart Tips. Once your discussion is complete, say we are going to listen to a book online called The Gardener by Sarah Stewart.

Main Activity

Ask your student what they thought of the story. Can they tell you what happened? Ask questions such as: do the letters help make the story more interesting? What questions would they ask Lydia Grace if they had the chance? Watch the story a second time and pause the video so you can inspect one of the letters and look at how it is written. How is it started? How does the writer sign off? Ask your child to make a mind map or a list of what they think every letter should have. Keep this list/mind map for tomorrow. If your student gets stuck, prompt them to say things like an opening such as ‘Dear….’ and a closing such as ‘From,’ an address, the date.

There is an Informal Letter Writing Checklist listed in the resources section above for parents/guardians. Allow time for your student to process and think of their own ideas first, so only share this with your student at the end of Lesson 2.

Next look at page 20 and 21 in the Year 3 CGP Comprehension Book.

Ask your student to read the text out loud on page 20. What are your student's first impressions? Use the internet to find out some more facts, in addition to those in on page 20.

Read and discuss the questions together on page 21. Once again, show your student how to find the answers in the text, and show them how to answer them out loud then in writing. Often using a ruler/bookmark helps children to focus on the text.

Extra Challenge

Challenge your student to answer some of the questions in writing by themselves.

Citations

[1] www.youtube.com [2] www.youtube.com