INFORMAL LETTER WRITING: LESSON AND RESOURCES

A unit lesson plan with 6 sessions on teaching and learning resources of informal letter writing based on New Bloom’s Taxonomy.

After completing this unit students will be able to:

SESSION 1 - REMEMBERING: Recognise and retrieve the key elements of an informal letter.
SESSION 2 - UNDERSTANDING: Interpret and classify the authorial techniques in an informal letter.
SESSION 3 - APPLYING: Implement and execute informal letter writing techniques.
SESSION 4 - ANALYSING: Explore and demonstrate the knowledge of informal letters in writing.
SESSION 5 - EVALUATING: Check and critique a sample informal letter.
SESSION 6 - CREATING: Compose and produce the final informal letter.

This download includes:

FLIPPED LESSON: Video - How to write an informal letter
LESSON STARTER: List the differences between formal and informal letters – use VENN DIAGRAM to spot the similarities as well.

SESSION 1: REMEMBERING - RECOGNISE-RETRIEVE
EXERCISE 1: Find, list and label the structure and features of an informal letter.
Scaffolding Notes 1: Structure and Features of Informal Letter

SESSION 2: UNDERSTANDING - INTERPRET-CLASSIFY
EXERCISE 2: Explain the use of the language, the vocabulary and the impact of it in an informal letter.
Scaffolding Notes 2: Impact of Language and Vocabulary in an Informal Letter
Scaffolding Notes 3: Use of Language in an Informal Letter

SESSION 3: APPLYING - IMPLEMENT-EXECUTE
EXERCISE 3: Use a planning frame to arrange a sample informal letter.
Scaffolding Notes 4: Planning Frame of an Informal Letter

SESSION 4: ANALYSING - EXPLORE-DEMONSTRATE
EXERCISE 4: Use the writing organiser to organise a draft of a sample informal letter.
Scaffolding Notes 5: Informal Letter Writing Organiser

SESSION 5: EVALUATING - CHECK-CRITIQUE
EXERCISE 5: Use the checklist and the rubric to evaluate each other’s work.
EXERCISE 6: Use the PQP and TAG technique to peer-review with constructive feedback.
Scaffolding Notes 6: Informal Letter Checklist
Scaffolding Notes 7: PQP and TAG Techniques

SESSION 6: CREATING - COMPOSE-PRODUCE
EXERCISE 7: Use a prompt, integrate the feedback and write an informal letter.
Scaffolding Notes 8: Informal Letter Prompt

DIFFERENTIATION:
EXERCISE 8 - Write a letter to people known following the INFORMAL LETTER FORMAT.
Scaffolding Notes 9: Informal Letter Rubrics

PLENARY:
EXERCISE 9 - Answer the given questions to demonstrate your knowledge of the informal letter.

HOME LEARNING:
EXERCISE 10: Use Letter Generator to write a letter to your friend telling him/her how you spent your holidays.
EXERCISE 11: Letters to favourite persons, friends and relatives.

Here are some possible uses for these in your classroom:

• To challenge early finishers
• For effective tutoring
• As ESL stations and sub tubs
• As holiday work and homework
• For small group collaborations
• For an end of unit assessments
• For reinforcement and enrichment