Smithsonian Institution
Solomon G. Brown: Letter Writing
Personal correspondence in the form of letters is not as common as it once was. This resource presents an opportunity for you to introduce your class to letter writing and cover topics in social studies. Learners read a letter written in...
PBS
Dear Pen Pal
Explore cultures from around the world with an engaging pen pal resource. Through a series of classroom activities and written correspondence, children learn about the favoritec pastimes, schooling, geography, and weather that is...
Curated OER
The Mail Race
Students create friendly letters and surveys to other schools. In this letter writing lesson, students format friendly letters to other school and request a reply. Students chart the replies on a map and share information from the...
Civil War Trust
Civil War Slang
Introduce a lesson on Civil War slang to your class of fresh fish. After looking at pictures from the Civil War and examining the list of slang terms, young historians write a letter to a family member as if they are a Union soldier or a...
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...
Scholastic
Dear Miss Breed
This compelling plan based on the letters in the book Dear Miss Breed engages readers in learning what it was like for Japanese Americans following the attacks at Pearl Harbor. After reading the letters, young scholars will partake in...
Community Foundation of Western Nevada
No Bullying Allowed
Through discussion, role play, read-alouds, writing, and more, scholars explore the concept of bullying and practice having courage while responsibly reporting unfriendly behavior. Friendship and respect are practiced and encouraged. ...
Curated OER
Crystal Set & Letter Writing
Young scholars comprehend the details necessary to create a complete set of directions. They compile their directions into a friendly letter format. Students and teachers are able to follow written directions to complete a task.
Curated OER
Civil War Slang
Students inquire about slang language used during the Civil War. For this writing lesson, students recieve a handout of slang words used by soldiers. Students view pictures of Civil War to get a visual idea of what it was like to be at...
Curated OER
In 'Other words' Writing Gently Humorous Essays About Stereotypes
Define and understand what stereotypes are by reading an article with stereotyping in it. Students will locate how it shows stereotyping and answer questions about the stereotypes. Finally, they will write their own pieces of original work.
Curated OER
Exploring Citizenship: Me, My Family and Friends
Students explore citizenship and identify their interests, families, and friends. They work in groups to discuss each others' interests, friendship, and ways to reach out to others. After discussing their neighborhoods and communities,...
Curated OER
Anonymous Card Delivery
Students make cards as a form of good will. In this card making lesson, students brainstorm a list of people who would benefit from an anonymous card. Students deliver the cards anonymously and observe the reaction of the recipients.
American Museum of Natural History
Make Your Own Stationary
Revive the art of letter writing with a project that enables class members to craft their own, personalized stationary. Young scholars add their name, address, and country to three different templates that features images of mythic...
Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
A Charlie Brown Christmas Study Guide
Bring A Charlie Brown Christmas to social studies, language arts, math, science, and art class! Learners ponder the meaning of Christmas trees, write about Christmas during the original release of the television special, research holiday...
Curated OER
Traveling Community Journal Project
Students create an online "community journal". In this communities lesson, students use a writing template to send e-mail to various people to learn more about their community. The journal is passed from person to person.
Curated OER
Nineteenth- Century America in Art and Literature
In this historical letter writing worksheet, students choose an aspect of 19th century American life that is of interest. Students write a letter from the point of view of a person in this time. Students exchange letters with a partner...
Curated OER
Life's Greatest Pleasures
Students explore the meaning of what makes life pleasurable. In this social awareness lesson, students read an article that states things that people might enjoy doing for pleasure, then complete numerous activities to reinforce what...
Curated OER
A South African Storm
Students read "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard and participate in a class discussion that examines Howard's letter for both content and writing form. They write a letter using some of the techniques they identified in Howard's.
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...
Curated OER
Canada - US: Approaches to Immigration
Sixth graders explore the Canadian immigration experience through comparison and contrast to American immigration and settlement patterns. In this immigration patterns lesson plan, 6th graders dialogue their opinions regarding...
Curated OER
Read With Your Fingers
In this social studies worksheet, students investigate the Braille alphabet as a means of reading for the blind. Students study the Braille alphabet chart and read the information. Students translate 7 words into Braille and write a...
Children's Commissioner for Wales
Special Mission — Our Rights
Introduce young learners to the list of children's rights as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) with a series of activities that get class members thinking about what they need to grow up safely and happily.
Curated OER
A Multigenerational Pen Pal Program
Students discover the benefits of writing letters to multigenerational pen pals. For this pen pal lesson, students identify a need for communication among the generations. Students begin a pen pal program with the elders in the...
Curated OER
A South African Storm
Students explore racial prejudice in South Africa through the reading of "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard. In this cultural and geography lesson, students discuss ethnicity and prejudices and cite examples from the letter....