Letter Written To An Old Classmate, Mother, Old neighbour

Subject : English Grammar

Class : Primary 4

Term : Second Term

Week : Week 2

Topic :

Speech Work : Letter Written To An Old Classmate, Mother, Old neighbour

Learning Objectives : By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

• Discuss the features of an informal letter
• Perform oral and written exercises
• Use the format to write their own letters

Learning Objectives :

• Pupils as a class discuss the features of an informal letter
• Pupils, as individuals, perform oral and written exercises on the letter written
• Pupils, in pairs, use the format learnt to write their own letters

Materials:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Samples of informal letters
• Blank sheets of paper
• Pencils or pens

Content :

1. Address : The address of the writer is always written at the top right corner of the paper
2. Date : The date that the letter is written immediately after the address
3. Salutation: An informal letter often begins with a personal salutation, such as “Dear [Name]” or “Hi [Name],” followed by a comma.
4. Personal tone: Unlike formal letters, informal letters are written in a conversational tone, as if the writer is speaking to a friend. The language used is informal, and contractions are often used.
5. Informal language: The language used in an informal letter is relaxed and casual. Slang and idioms may be used, and the writer can use their own voice.
6. Structure: An informal letter does not have a strict structure or format. It can be organized in any way that the writer sees fit.
7. Content: The content of an informal letter can be varied and can include personal news, stories, experiences, opinions, and feelings. It can also include questions or invitations.
8. Closing: The letter may end with a casual closing such as “Take care,” “Yours truly,” or “Cheers,” followed by the writer’s name.
9. Punctuation: Punctuation in an informal letter can be more relaxed than in a formal letter. Exclamation marks and ellipses may be used for emphasis, and the writer can use more creative ways to express themselves

Sample of an informal letter written to an old Classmate

19, Ajele Street,

Off Freeman Street,

Lagos Island,

Lagos State.

16th February, 2023.

Dear Matthew,

How are you? I hope this letter finds you well. It’s been a long time since we last spoke or saw each other. Do you remember the days when we used to play together in the schoolyard during recess? Those were some of the best moments of my childhood.

I was recently reminded of our old school days when I came across some of our class photos. Looking at those photos, I realized how much I missed you and all of our other classmates. Do you still remember Mrs. Johnson, our fourth-grade teacher? She was the one who taught us how to multiply and divide, and I still use those skills to this day.

What have you been up to all these years? I would love to hear about your life since we last saw each other. Are you still interested in playing soccer or have you taken up any other hobbies? Personally, I have been playing the guitar and it has become a real passion of mine.

It would be great to catch up sometime and maybe even meet in person. Perhaps we could plan a class reunion, and everyone from our old class could get together and reminisce about our childhood memories.

Please write back and let me know how you are doing. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Take care,

Anthony.

How to use the format to write an informal letter

1. Write the date and the address at the top right corner of the paper
2. Start with a friendly greeting: Begin your letter by addressing the recipient in a friendly and informal way. Use the person’s name and a casual greeting such as “Hi” or “Hello”. For example, “Hi Sarah,” or “Hello John,”.
3. Write the body of the letter: In the main part of your letter, tell the recipient what you’ve been up to or share a story or experience. You can also ask questions or talk about things that you have in common. Remember to use informal language and try to sound as if you’re talking to a friend.
4. Use examples and anecdotes: Using examples and anecdotes can help make your letter more interesting and engaging. For instance, you could share a funny story or a memorable experience that you had recently.
5. End with a friendly closing: End your letter with a friendly closing such as “Take care”, “Best regards”, or “Sincerely”. You can also include a personal touch, like wishing the recipient good luck with a project or sending love to their family.
6. Sign off with your name: Finally, sign off your letter with your name, and maybe even add a postscript if you want to add an extra message.

Here is an example of what an informal letter written by a grade 4 pupil might look like:

Dear Mary,

Hi! I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to tell you about my summer vacation. I went to the beach and learned how to swim! It was really fun and I even made a new friend. Have you ever been to the beach before? I hope you had a great summer too.

Anyway, I need to go now, but I hope to hear from you soon. Take care and have a great day!

Best regards,

Johnny

P.S. Say hi to your dog for me!

Evaluation :

1. What is the tone of an informal letter? A) formal B) casual C) serious D) sarcastic
2. Which of the following would be an appropriate greeting for an informal letter? A) Dear Sir or Madam B) Hello [Name] C) To Whom It May Concern D) Dear Mr. or Mrs. [Last Name]
3. Which of the following is a common way to end an informal letter? A) Sincerely B) Best regards C) Yours truly D) Regards
4. What kind of language is used in an informal letter? A) formal B) academic C) casual D) technical
5. Which of the following would be an appropriate topic to write about in an informal letter? A) a business proposal B) your personal feelings C) a scientific discovery D) a legal document
6. What is the purpose of an informal letter? A) to persuade B) to inform C) to entertain D) all of the above
7. Which of the following is not a feature of an informal letter? A) the use of contractions B) the use of slang C) the use of complex vocabulary D) a personal tone
8. What is the most appropriate way to address the recipient in an informal letter? A) Dear Mrs. Smith B) Dear Dr. Johnson C) Dear John D) To Whom It May Concern
9. What is the usual format for an informal letter? A) the five-paragraph essay format B) a specific structure and format C) no specific structure or format D) the block format
10. What is the best way to end an informal letter to a friend? A) Sincerely B) Best regards C) Your friend forever D) Cheers

Lesson Presentation :

Introduction (5 minutes):

• Begin by asking students if they have ever written a letter before. What kind of letter was it, and who did they write it to?
• Explain that today, we will be learning about a type of letter called an informal letter. Ask students if they have ever heard of this type of letter before.

Instruction (20 minutes):

• Using the whiteboard, explain the structure of an informal letter. Start by writing the word “structure” on the board.
• Ask students to identify the components of an informal letter that they already know. Write their responses on the board (e.g. greeting, body, closing).
• Review each component in more detail, including the tone and language used in each part of the letter.
• Show students examples of informal letters, pointing out the various components and the tone and language used.

Guided Practice (15 minutes):

• Distribute blank sheets of paper to the students and ask them to write an informal letter to a friend or family member. Encourage them to include personal news, stories, or experiences.
• As they write, circulate the classroom to provide feedback and assistance.

Independent Practice (15 minutes):

• Ask students to exchange their letters with a partner and have their partner read and provide feedback on their letter.
• Students can make any necessary revisions or edits based on the feedback.

Conclusion (5 minutes):

• Ask students to share what they learned about writing informal letters today.
• Remind them that informal letters are a fun and easy way to communicate with friends and family members.
• Encourage them to continue practicing their letter writing skills at home.

Assessment:

• Assess students’ informal letters based on their use of tone, language, and structure.

Weekly Assessment / Test

1. The tone of an informal letter is usually ____________ and friendly.
2. An appropriate greeting for an informal letter is “Hi” or “Hello” followed by the recipient’s ____________.
3. Informal letters often use ____________ language, such as contractions and slang.
4. The content of an informal letter can include personal news, stories, experiences, opinions, and ____________.
5. Informal letters typically do not have a strict ____________ or format.
6. An informal letter should be written in a conversational tone, as if the writer is speaking to a ____________.
7. The address of the writer is typically written at the top ____________ corner of the paper.
8. The date that the letter is written is usually included immediately after the ____________.
9. An informal letter may end with a casual closing such as “Take care” or “Yours ____________.”
10. Punctuation in an informal letter can be more relaxed than in a formal letter, and the writer can use more creative ways to ____________ themselves.