Activity Plan

Name: Victoria Walsh

Topic: Pen pal letter writing

Date: March 16/2016

individual lesson

Allotted time: Time will depend on the each

PLEASE NOTE: these lessons will be dependent on if our class is writing letters or
awaiting letters from the pen pal class. I have allotted time each week to include time to
write letters or work on writing skills. These blocks of time may need to be allocated to
other classroom work depending on how the social studies unit is going.
1. Learning Intention: these are possible learner intention which we may be
working with during the time we write letters or practice writing skills.
I can explain why we will be writing pen pal letters.
I can express features of a good letter.
I can identify when punctuation, spelling and capitalization need to be corrected to assist
in a letter being clear.
I can create a final copy of a pen pal letter.
I can write a draft pen pal letter.
I can construct a clear paragraph.

2. Curricular Links:
Big Idea (Grade 4 & 5)
Exploring text and story helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to
the world.
Texts are created for different purposes and audiences.
Content (Grade 4 & 5)
Language features, structures, and conventions:
Activity Plan written by Victoria Walsh
Date: March 18/2016

 Paragraph structure use of a topic sentence and supporting details

Sentence structure
Conventions
Curricular Competencies (Grade 4 & 5)
Communicate in print involves using legible handwriting or a keyboard to convey texts , using
letters and words and applying basic conventions of English spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Use writing and design processes to plan, develop, and create texts for a variety of purposes and
audiences.
Rationale
WHY? (why is this lesson relevant to the learning outcomes above and at this time?)
During this lesson we will be exploring the idea of writing letter to pen pals and what letter
writing may look like. Students will investigate what a good letter looks like correct
punctuation, legible printing, and proper uses of conventions. As we continue building this unit
and working towards writing our pen pal letters students will be obtaining new skills and
accessing prior knowledge. Students will have the chance to use their writing skills to
communicate with another student. Students will be using text to express their interests, likes
and dislikes. We will be writing letters to pen pals to build connection to others in our
community.
3. Resources, Materials & Preparation:
Resources & Materials
- Paper, envelopes and writing tools
- Dictionaries
- Letter writing tool kit items (found from a resource on teacher pay teachers)
Preparations
- Print off tool kit items if needed
- Proof students letters ahead of time if needed
- Will depend on if we are sending or receiving letters
4. Steps for Activity:
On the weeks in which we are writing letters to our pen pals we will concentrate on the
Activity Plan written by Victoria Walsh
Date: March 18/2016

following skills as we work through writing our letters. I plan to focus on each on these skills as
we construct our letters to assist in making them strong and clear for our pen pals.
1) Paragraph writing (strong clear paragraphs which are on topic and flow)
2) Sentence writing (clear topic sentences, run on sentences, short sentences and
punctuation)
3) Conventions (punctuation, spelling and grammar)
4) Addressing letters and envelope appropriately
On the week we get a letter
Lesson (1)
I do: Hand out pen pal letters to the class. Ask students to read the letters and be prepared to
share one thing they learned about their pen pal or found interesting
Students do: Reading pen pal letters and choose something to share with the rest of the class.
We do: Share out the interesting facts about our pen pals or something we found interesting.
I do: Ask student to start brain storming what they might write to their pen pal. Students may
make a list or web to represent their thinking.
Students do: Create a web or list of things they will write back to their pen pal including
answering their pen pals questions in the letter.
Lesson (2)
I do: I will create a lesson focused on one of the above topics which connects to writing. I will
choose what I focus on based on where the students at the moment are showing they need
improvement. I will do an activity with the class based on the writing element I choose. I will
have supporting tool kit pieces to assist students to understanding how to use these writing skill.
Student do: Students will take part in the activity with me.
I do: I will now ask student to continue their webs or list. If students have completed their webs
or lists they will be asked to start their draft pen pal letters.
Activity Plan written by Victoria Walsh
Date: March 18/2016

Students do: Students will complete their webs or lists. Students will then move on to writing
their pen pal draft letters. Student will then get a peer to look over their letter once they think
they are done.
Once students have completed their draft pen pal letters they must hand them into the teacher to
have them proof read. Students will be asked to finish their pen pal letter during their catch up
time in class
Lesson (3)
I do: I will hand back students drafts with sticky notes giving feedback on them. Students will
be asked to look over feedback and incorporate it into their letters.
Students do: Students will focus on using the feedback provided to them to assist in writing their
final copies. Students will be finished their final copies of their letters.
This will be mainly a work period for student.
As a class we will spend 15 minutes talking about and addressing envelopes to our pen pals. We
will then place our letters in the envelopes. This lesson will be fit into our week when ever it
works with our current time table.
5. Assessment
Assessment will be done in a variety of ways throughout this process. Students will be taking
part in peer assessment, formative feedback and summative assessment based on criteria.
Specific criteria will be created with the students.

Activity Plan written by Victoria Walsh

Date: March 18/2016