ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
Contains plans for four lessons that teach students how to write letters to the editor, including what one is, a review of persuasive writing and letter format, and the importance of writing many drafts. In addition to objectives and...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: A Genre Study of Letter With the Jolly Postman
In this activity outline based on The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, students learn about parts of a letter, the different genres of mail, and letter attributes by studying the letters included in the book.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Sales Letters: Four Point Action Closing
A good resource for effective sales writing skills. Describes a four-point system of attracting and convincing customers to order the product.
Letter Writing Guide
How to Write a Reference Letter
This student and teacher-friendly site explains the following: what a reference letter is; how to self-assess whether one should write the letter of reference; when to write a letter of reference; and what to say in a letter of reference.
J. Paul Getty Trust
J. Paul Getty Museum: Writing About Art: Comparing Portraits
Students will compare and contrast an academic and an Impressionist portrait through a writing exercise and discussion. Each student will then write a formal commission letter to one of the artists, requesting a portrait. Adaptations for...
British Library
British Library: Creative Writing: Ignatius Sancho, Letters of the Late Ignatius
This teaching pack will introduce students to Ignatius Sancho in his own words through a selection of his letters and invite students to offer a variety of creative responses to Sancho's life, work, and unique voice. Students will work...
British Library
British Library: 20th Century Teaching Resources: Ted Hughes's Birthday Letters
In these activities, students will consider Ted Hughes as a poet and a person, as well as some of the literary and personal influences on his writing. They will explore some of his poems in the draft and published form, exploring the...
Other
Mo Dept. Of Ed.: Writing a Letter of Recommendation
Lesson plan designed for tenth graders. Students practice writing letters of recommendation after examining some examples. Students also work on revising the sentence structure of their letters. Includes student handouts and formative...
South Carolina Educational Television
Know It All: Writing Letters
The students will learn how to form a proper letter. They will be able to remove key ideas/details from a text and apply it to their writing. They will also be able to incorporate transition and descriptive words into their writing.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Compare and Contrast Lesson: Are Artists Good Neighbors?
After reading the picture book When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden, students will research an artist with a unique style. Students will partner with another student who's artist has a different style. Students will pretend their two...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: The Scarlet Letter Classroom Activity
A classroom activity/lesson plan for beginning the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Includes web links, a bibliography, and other lessons on the novel. From March 16, 2007.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Smart Math and Writing
In this lesson, the poem "Smart" from Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein, is used as the mentor text. Students will write a map of the poem and then analyze it to discover what happened when trades with money were made and...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Phonics in Context
Contains plans for a lesson plan that teaches students the letter-sound relationship for the short /u/ sound using the book "Umbrella" by Taro Yashima. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
Towson University
Towson University: Ows: Self Teaching Unit: The Verb Expansion Rule
This lesson focuses on the verb expansion rule which provides a formula that covers every predicate verb possibility in the English language. The formula is T + (M) + (have + en) + (be + ing) + (be + en) + MV. The lesson explains all of...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Songwriting for Beginning Letter Sounds
A great resource for teachers. This lesson plan uses songs and singing as a guide for students in learning letter names and beginning consonant sounds. Students in first and second grade can extend this lesson by creating new verses for...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Letter of Introduction Writing as a Diagnostic Tool
At the beginning of the school year, students respond to a teacher-generated questionnaire in personal letter format. As a diagnostic tool, letter writing can reveal strengths and weaknesses in composition skills, organization, sentence...
Other
Teachers Network: Writing a Short Story Based on Kindred
In this lesson plan, students will engage in the technology, social studies, and language arts standards as students engage in reading by Octavia Butler's book entitled Kindred. Students will research tslavery. Students will keep a...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: The Ab Cs of Poetry
Contains plans for a poetry lesson plan that asks students to write poems after brainstorming metaphors and other ideas as a group. Ideas are groups by different themes, like letters of the alphabet. In addition to objectives and...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Serendipitous Superheroes
In this activity, SuperHero ABC, a book written by Bob McLeod, and Meanwhile, a book by Jules Feiffer, are used as mentor texts. Students will work in groups and create lists of unique superhero powers that start with different letters...
War Times Journal
War Times Journal: Letters and Dispatches of Horatio Nelson
A collection of writings by the famous British admiral who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The writings give valuable details about British naval tactics during the Napoleonic Wars.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Gingerbread Phonics
Through a shared reading of the familiar text, "The Gingerbread Man," students can learn to sound out familiar words. You will find step-by-step instructions as well as supplemental materials.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Thomas Jefferson Papers
Learn about the Thomas Jefferson Papers, a collection of more than 27,000 original documents from the life of Thomas Jefferson. Includes a portrait, a timeline and an overview of the collection. Click on "browse by series" to view the...
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: A Man and His Murals
A unit on the Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, that could be adapted to various grades. Includes lesson plans, a glossary, a bibliography for teachers and students, and plenty of information on Diego Rivera.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Letters From a Pennsylvania Farmer
A voice of dissent prior to the American Revolution, John Dickenson, a Philadelphia lawyer, was active in protesting British policies. His writings, entitled Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer, were published in newspapers in 1767 and 1768.