Letter Writing: Guided Informal Letter – Basic 5 English Lesson Note (First Term)

Behavioural Objectives 

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

1. Identify informal letters.
2. Discuss the features of an informal letter.
3. Write a letter to a close relative or a friend in another town.

Keywords

1. Informal Letter
2. Greeting
3. Body
4. Closing
5. Signature

Set Induction

• Begin by asking pupils if they have ever written or received a letter from a friend or family member.

Entry Behaviour

• Pupils are familiar with basic sentence structure and can narrate simple events.

Learning Resources and Materials

1. Sample informal letters
2. Writing materials (paper, pencil)
3. Chart showing the structure of an informal letter

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

• Pupils have discussed their holiday experiences in the previous lesson. This lesson will build on that by introducing them to letter writing.

Embedded Core Skills

1. Communication
2. Writing
3. Critical Thinking

Learning Materials

• Sample informal letters
• Writing structure chart

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Primary 6 English Language Textbook

Instructional Materials

1. Whiteboard and markers
2. Printed sample letters

Content Features of an Informal Letter:

1. Address: write your address at the top right corner.
2. Date: Below the address, write the date when the letter is written.
3. Salutation: Start with a friendly greeting like: “Dear [Name]”.
4. Body: This is where you write the main content of the letter. Use paragraphs to organize your thoughts.
5. Closing: End the letter with a closing phrase like: “Yours sincerely” or “Best regards.”
6. Signature: Sign your name below the closing.

Example of a Short Informal letter: “Dear Sarah, I hope you are doing well. I just wanted to tell you about my plans for the next holiday. I am planning to visit our grandma in the village. It will be great if you can join me. We will have lots of fun together. Let me know if you can come! Yours sincerely, Amaka”

Evaluation

1. The address in an informal letter is written at the a) bottom left b) top right c) top left d) bottom right 
2. The greeting in an informal letter usually begins with a) hello b) Hi c) Dear d) Hey 
3. The main content of the letter is written in the a) body b) signature c) address d) salutation 
4. The closing phrase of an informal letter could be a) Yours sincerely b) hello c) From d) Regards 
5. After the closing, one should ________ the letter. a) tear b) sign c) fold d) rewrite 
6. The date in an informal letter is written before the a) signature b) greeting c) address d) body 
7. An informal letter is usually written to a) a teacher b) a stranger c) a friend d) a company 
8. The body of the letter should be divided into a) lines b) paragraphs c) bullet points d) one long sentence 
9. The signature in an informal letter is placed a) above the date b) below the closing c) next to the address d) before the salutation 
10. An informal letter usually starts with a a) heading b) conclusion c) greeting d) title 

Class Activity Discussion

1. Q: What is an informal letter? A: An informal letter is a personal letter written to friends or family. 
2. Q: Where is the address written in an informal letter? A: At the top right corner. 
3. Q: How should the date be written in an informal letter? A: Below the address. 
4. Q: What is a common way to start a greeting in an informal letter? A: By using “Dear [Name]”. 
5. Q: What should you write in the body of an informal letter? A: The main message or content of the letter. 
6. Q: How do you close an informal letter? A: With a phrase like “Yours sincerely”. 
7. Q: What comes after the closing phrase? A: The signature. 
8. Q: Who do we usually write informal letters to? A: Friends or Family members. 
9. Q: What is the purpose of dividing the body into paragraphs? A: To organize thoughts clearly. 
10. Q: Can informal letters be handwritten or typed? A: Yes, they can be either. 

Presentation

Step 1: The teacher revisits the previous topic, which was “Essay writing: How I spent my last holiday.” Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic: “Letter writing: Informal letters.” Step 3: The teacher allows the pupils to brainstorm and discuss the features of informal letters, guiding them to identify each part of a letter.

Teacher’s Activities

1. Explain the structure and purpose of an informal letter.
2. Guide pupils in identifying the different parts of sample informal letters.
3. Encourage pupils to write their own letters following the examples provided.

Learners’ Activities

1. Identify the parts of an informal letter in samples.
2. Discuss the common features of informal letters in groups.
3. Write a letter to a friend or close relative about their plans for the next holiday.

Assessment

• Pupils will write an informal letter to a friend or close relative and submit it for grading.

Evaluation Questions

1. What is an informal letter?
2. Where should the address be written in an informal letter?
3. How do you begin an informal letter?
4. What should you include in the body of an informal letter?
5. How do you close an informal letter?
6. Who do you usually write informal letters to?
7. What comes after the closing phrase in an informal letter?
8. Why is it important to use paragraphs in the body of an informal letter?
9. Can an informal letter be written in both formal and informal language?
10. What is the main difference between an informal and formal letter?