Curated OER
A Way with Words or Say What?
Students explore the language of Shakespeare. In this literature lesson, students examine words invented by Shakespeare as they interpret their meanings in drawings. Students pantomime the meanings and then write a short story...
Curated OER
Learning to Give
Students study philanthropy and point of view while reading the novel Gentle Annie. In this point of view lesson, the learner writes a persuasive letter from a character in the novel. Students work in small groups to act out a skit of...
Curated OER
Internet: Writing Friendly Letters Via Email
Students view a Powerpoint presentation on writing and sending email. After examining a Website about the parts of a friendly letter, they compose and send their own letters via email. Teachers set up an email/pen pal account so...
Curated OER
A Cowboy's Life
Students observe a photograph of a cowboy and brainstorm things a cowboy would do. They reveiw text about Wyoming and locate facts and information about a cowboys life then create a friendly letter containg key components found in a...
Curated OER
Writing a Query Letter
Students examine how to write a query letter to a publisher. They plan a short story they would like to write, conduct Internet research about possible publishers, and write a sample query letter.
Curated OER
Message in a Bottle
Students acquire a pen pal in a foreign country and write letters at least twice a month throughout the year to exchange with them. At the end of the year, they write an essay that compares one important difference and one important...
Curated OER
From Photo to Printed Word: Getting Second-Graders to Write
Use photographs to entice your children to write! In this digital storytelling lesson, students study the functions of digital cameras. They review their sentence-writing skills, then take digital photos and write sentences that describe...
Curated OER
Mandala Portfolio Project
Here's a great idea for writing portfolios. Kids decorate all four sides of their portfolio, introducing themselves, their families, goals, dreams, and favorite things. Detailed directions for all four panels and a rubric are included in...
Starfall
Georges Seurat
In this language arts activity, students write a friendly letter to Georges Seurat and tell him whether or not they like his paintings. It is unclear what story this pertains to; prior knowledge of the art of Georges Seurat is assumed.
Curated OER
Taking a Stand on Bullying
Middle schoolers stand up against bullying in a character-building lesson. After discussing historical figures who became advocates in times of adversity, they brainstorm ways to end bullying at their own school, and use a formal letter...
Reading Resource
Letters in My Name/Friend's Name
After kids learn how to write their names, have them explore each letter with a fun worksheet. They write the letters in their names in the left column, then decipher which letters in the alphabet are not in their name. The second page...
Curriculum Corner
My Book of Poems
Copy all pages to create a book of poems during a poetry study. From alliteration to cinquain to acrostic poem, your class won't run out of templates for writing poems! Each sheet serves as a template for an entire book of poems. Other...
EngageNY
Letters as Informational Text: Comparing and Contrasting Three Accounts about Segregation (Promises to Keep, Pages 38–39)
Letters ... a lost art or good resource? Scholars add letter writing to their informational text chart and describe the features of a letter. They then look at page 38 in Promises to Keep and complete a Perspectives Venn...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Off to Adventure!: Challenge Activities (Theme 1)
Off to Adventure! is the theme of an English language arts unit comprised of a variety of challenge activities. Scholars enhance skills and reinforce concepts by taking part in a grand book discussion, giving an oral...
Curated OER
Capital Letters: Proper Nouns
Elementary schoolers write the names of five friends in a box, capitalizing their names. They think of five places they have been and write them using correct capitalization. Everyone writes the day and month as well as their birthday...
Curated OER
Connecting the Dots: Workers and Their Importance
Young scholars explore the role of workers and their jobs in the community. They write a friendly letter to a community worker expressing appreciation for the work they do and their importance to the community.
Curated OER
A Letter a Friend
For this listening worksheet, students listen to a letter read to a friend and fill in the blanks to the letter with the words in the word bank while listening to the letter. Students complete 11 blanks.
Curated OER
Folktale Unit: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Students examine and discuss different perspectives of the Story of the Three Little Pigs. They write a friendly letter, from the wolf to any other character, using the proper letter format.
Concord Consortium
Mirror, Mirror I
How do you see yourself? Young mathematicians consider whether it's possible to view their whole bodies in a mirror with a length that is half their height. They write a letter to a friend explaining their positions mathematically.
Tayasui.com
Drawing with Carl
Who is Carl? Carl is a little monster that will help your learners draw and create in any way imaginable. Get those kids to activate creative and imaginative thinking skills with a really fun app. There are endless options that can...
Curated OER
Abigail as Mother (Part II)
Different tones for different audiences. That's the big idea behind the second activity in a two-part series that reveals Abigail Adams as a mother. Scholars examine letters Abigail Adams wrote to her sons, John Quincy Adams and Charles...
Curated OER
A Soldier's Valentine
Students create Valentine's for soldiers in Iraq. They review how to write a friendly paragraph and discuss the military and duties of soldiers in Iraq. They create postcards and write reasons why they are rpoud of the military and how...
Curated OER
Oral Language in Mathematics
Third graders examine fractions by descriptively writing about them. In this number sense lesson, 3rd graders read number sentences and compare fractions based on their size. Students explain fractions to a friend by writing a friendly...
Curated OER
Night: Unsent Letters Writing Strategy
As part of their study of Elie Wiesel's Night, individuals assume the voice of an Auschwitz survivor and craft a letter to a former SS officer who worked at the camp and claims he is not guilty of any crime.