Informal Letter Composition English Grammar JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 10

Subject: English Grammar

Class: JSS 1

Term: First Term

Week: 10

Topic: Composition – Informal Letter

Sub-topic: Writing a Letter to Your Cousin About Your New School

Duration: 40 minutes

Age: 12–13 years

Behavioural Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define an informal letter.
2. Identify the key features of an informal letter.
3. Write an informal letter to their cousin about their new school.

Keywords:

• Informal letter
• Salutation
• Body of the letter
• Closing remark

Set Induction:

Ask the students if they have ever written a letter to a family member or friend. Discuss how informal letters differ from formal letters.

Entry Behaviour:

Students should have basic knowledge of letter writing formats from previous lessons.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Example of an informal letter
• Writing materials

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

Students have discussed the general structure of letters in previous lessons and have learned about formal and informal letters.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Writing skills
• Communication
• Critical thinking

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• English Language Textbooks

Content: Informal Letter Writing

Definition:

An informal letter is a personal letter written to friends, family members, or close acquaintances. It is less formal and more conversational than a formal letter.

Key Features of an Informal Letter:

1. Sender’s address: This is written at the top right corner of the letter.
2. Date: The date the letter is written, placed just below the sender’s address.
3. Salutation: The greeting used, e.g., “Dear Cousin.”
4. Body of the letter: This contains the main message.
5. Closing remark: The ending, such as “Yours sincerely” or “With love.”
6. Signature: The name of the person writing the letter.

Sample Informal Letter: Letter to Your Cousin About Your New School

No. 10, Smith Street,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
12th September 2024.

Dear Tolu,

How are you doing? I hope this letter finds you well. I have exciting news to share with you about my new school!

I recently started attending XYZ Secondary School, and I am really enjoying it. The school is big, with many buildings and a large sports field. The teachers are very friendly and helpful, and I have already made new friends. My favorite subject so far is English, and the library here is amazing – it has so many books!

The school also offers a lot of extracurricular activities like drama, football, and music. I joined the school’s music club because I love playing the piano. The environment is also very beautiful, with trees and flowers everywhere, which makes it a nice place to study and relax.

I miss our old school sometimes, but I’m happy to be in my new school, and I can’t wait to tell you more when we see each other. I hope to hear from you soon. How is everything going with you?

Take care and say hi to everyone!

Yours sincerely,
Emeka.

Evaluation: Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (with Options)

1. An informal letter is usually written to ______.
   a) the principal
   b) friends and family
   c) a company
2. The sender’s address is written at the ______ of the letter.
   a) bottom left
   b) top right
   c) middle
3. The greeting used in an informal letter is called the ______.
   a) body
   b) signature
   c) salutation
4. The body of an informal letter contains the ______.
   a) main message
   b) address
   c) date
5. “Dear Cousin” is an example of ______.
   a) closing remark
   b) salutation
   c) signature
6. Informal letters are usually ______ in tone.
   a) formal
   b) friendly
   c) professional
7. The closing remark comes ______ the body of the letter.
   a) before
   b) after
   c) in the middle of
8. A letter’s date is placed just below the ______.
   a) body
   b) salutation
   c) sender’s address
9. “Yours sincerely” is an example of a ______.
   a) signature
   b) closing remark
   c) date
10. The signature of an informal letter is written at the ______ of the letter.
    a) top
    b) middle
    c) bottom

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs)

1. What is an informal letter?
   • An informal letter is a personal letter written to friends or family members.
2. Who can you write an informal letter to?
   • You can write it to close friends, family members, or people you know personally.
3. Why do we write informal letters?
   • To share personal news, keep in touch, or ask for advice.
4. What are the key parts of an informal letter?
   • The sender’s address, date, salutation, body, closing remark, and signature.
5. Is an informal letter formal or casual in tone?
   • It is casual and friendly in tone.
6. Where is the sender’s address placed?
   • At the top right corner of the letter.
7. What should the body of the letter contain?
   • The main message or reason for writing.
8. What is a salutation?
   • A greeting at the start of the letter, such as “Dear Cousin.”
9. What do we write in the closing remark?
   • A friendly way to end the letter, like “Yours sincerely” or “With love.”
10. How should you sign off an informal letter?
    • By writing your name at the bottom.

Presentation:

Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic on features of formal letters.
Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic by explaining informal letters and their features.
Step 3: The teacher asks students to share examples of informal letters they have written before, correcting and guiding them.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Explain the structure of informal letters.
• Guide students in writing a letter to their cousin about their new school.

Learners’ Activities:

• Participate in discussions about informal letter writing.
• Write their own letter following the sample.

Evaluation Questions:

1. What is an informal letter?
2. Who do we write informal letters to?
3. What should the salutation in an informal letter look like?
4. How is the closing remark different from the signature?
5. What are some examples of closing remarks?
6. Where is the sender’s address written in an informal letter?
7. How is an informal letter different from a formal letter?
8. Why is the tone of an informal letter friendly?
9. What do we write in the body of the letter?
10. Name the key features of an informal letter.

Conclusion:

The teacher goes around to check the students’ letters, marking and providing feedback on their structure and content.

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