Christopher Humphries Word Processing Lesson Plan EDFS 326

Writing a Friendly Letter Overall Goal/Topic: To build friendly letter writing skills Intended Grade Level: 3rd Prerequisite Conditions & Experiences: It is assumed that students already know the composite parts of a friendly letter i.e.: a greeting, body, closing, and signature. It is also assumed that students have a working understanding of Microsoft Word. It is also assumed that each student will have access to a computer. SC Standards: ELA 3-5.1 Create written communications (for example, friendly letters that include a greeting, body, closing, and signature and invitations that include the time, date, and place of the event). Learning Objectives: Students will be able to compose a friendly letter which includes a greeting, body, closing, and signature, and will be able to type a friendly letter using Microsoft Word. Materials: Friendly Letter Template (Included), Pencils/Writing Utensils, Computers, Microsoft Word, Elmo or Overhead Projector, and a Printer. Lesson Time Frame: Two days of class time (Two 35-45 minuet lessons) First Day Review Friendly Letter Writing/Compose Letter Second Day Edit Letter and Type Using Microsoft Word Procedures: First Day Introduction: Review what the students already know about writing friendly letters. Introduce the lesson by saying something to the effect of, Remember what we already know about friendly letters? Well today and tomorrow we are going to be composing a friendly letter to our parents about what we learned in school this week and then we will type it up and print our letters on the computer.

Steps: (35-40 mins.) 1. Pass out the friendly letter template included in the lesson to the class, each student should get one copy.

2. Project your teacher copy onto the Smart Board or projector sheet using an Elmo or overhead projector.
3. Model writing a friendly letter about what the students have learned this week. Be sure

to emphasis the main points of a friendly letter. A teacher example of a short friendly letter about George Washington is included in the lesson plan to be used as a model.
4. After briefly reviewing the parts of a friendly letter and modeling writing a friendly letter

have the class briefly brain storm about what they can write about in their friendly letter. Some suggestions are: What did you learn about in history class, what did you learn about yesterday in Science class, what did you learn about at an after school or extracurricular activity this week? 5. Allow the students to begin writing their own brief friendly letter using the template handed out at the beginning of the lesson.
6. While students are working on their friendly letters, be sure to walk about the classroom.

While moving about the classroom, be sure to be proactive in helping students which require aid or need help staying on task.
7. Tell the students when they have 10 minutes left so they can begin to finish up their

letters.
8. After the time allotted has expired, collect the students friendly letters. Be sure that each

student has put his/her name on their letter.

9. After class, be sure to briefly check each students letter to be sure they have completed

their letter. Be sure to make any minor corrections in spelling or grammar conventions in the students letters.

Second Day Steps (35-40 mins.) 1. Take the class to the computer lab.

2. Have the students turn on the computers and open the Microsoft Word Program.

3. Pass out the friendly letters the students completed on the first day with the teacher made corrections and suggestions written on them. 4. Have the students type up their corrected friendly letters using Microsoft Word. 5. While the students are typing up their corrected letters, be sure to meet with each student at their computer to talk to them about their letters and any mistakes or remarkable qualities their letter may have. 6. When the class completes typing up their corrected friendly letters, have them print there letters using the classroom printer. 7. Take up the students printed final copy of their friendly letters. 8. Check to make sure that all of the letters contain proper conventions, spelling, and grammar, as well as ensuring all the letters have a greeting, body, closing, and signature. 9. Return checked printed letters to students. Closure: Take time to review each students letter with them individually. Be sure to point out any weakness or strengths in their letter, and be sure to end the individual discussion with something positive about the students work! Assessment/Evaluation Formative: After first day use the students rough draft of a friendly letter as a formative assessment to ensure that students understand the components of a friendly letter. Summative Use the final printed copy of the friendly letter. Be sure that students followed any corrections made to the friendly letter. Deduct 10 points out of 100 for incorrect greeting, body, closing or signature; deduct 1 point for each grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistake found in the final copy up to a maximum of 10 points. Accommodations Blind Student/Visually Impaired For significant impairment follow the students IEP. For slightly visually impaired, move the student closer to the overhead projector when modeling writing a friendly letter. Early Finishers Have them add a sentence or two to the Body of their friendly letter. Slower Workers Help the student focus on gaining an understanding of the parts of a friendly letter as opposed to focusing on proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Friendly Letter Writing Template

Name:___________________________

(Greeting)
____________ _________________

(Body)

__________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________

(Closing)
_______________________,

(Signature)
________________________

Teacher Example of Friendly Letter

Dear Mom,

In Social Studies class we learned about George Washington. Did you know George Washington was the first President of the United States? He was also the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. My teacher tells me that if I always work hard and do my best I can become president one day. Sincerely, Christopher Humphries