Informal Letters: Features/parts of an informal letter for Primary 4

Class: Primary 4
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 9 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Writing
Focal competence: Writing informal letters
Skills:

• write informal letters

Previous Lesson: Reading Short Stories: Plot and theme in a class-appropriate short story
Topic: Informal Letters: Features
Subject Matter: Features/parts of an informal letter

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define an informal letter.
• List the features of an informal letter.

Psychomotor Domain

• Identify the features of an informal letter on a sample letter.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of writing clear informal letters.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Primary English for Nigerian Schools, Pupil’s Book 4
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A chart showing a sample informal letter
• Flash cards with names of letter parts
• Newspaper articles (for general reading context, though not directly for informal letters)
• Course books
• Video material (if available, showing how to write an informal letter)
• Other relevant teaching aids

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding the features of informal letters is essential for effective personal communication. This lesson equips pupils with the foundational knowledge to write coherent and well-structured letters to friends and family, fostering their writing skills and ability to express themselves clearly in everyday contexts.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of writing simple sentences and understanding the concept of a letter as a means of communication.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Informal Letters: Features

What is an Informal Letter?

An informal letter is a personal letter written to friends, family members, or close acquaintances. It is usually written in a friendly and casual tone.

Features/Parts of an Informal Letter

An informal letter has the following main parts:

1. Sender’s Address: This is the address of the person writing the letter. It is usually written at the top right-hand corner of the page.
2. Date: The date the letter is written is placed just below the sender’s address.
3. Salutation/Greeting: This is how you greet the person you are writing to. Examples include “Dear John,” “My Dearest Mum,” “Hello Sarah.” It is followed by a comma.
4. Body: This is the main part of the letter where you write your message. It contains paragraphs that express your thoughts, feelings, or news. The language used is friendly and personal.
5. Closing: This is how you end the letter. Examples include “Yours sincerely,” “Best regards,” “Love,” “Your friend.” It is followed by a comma.
6. Signature/Name: This is the name of the person who wrote the letter, written below the closing.

Language Conventions in Informal Letters

When writing an informal letter, observe these conventions:

1. Use simple and friendly language.
2. Contractions (e.g., I’m, don’t, won’t) are acceptable.
3. Personal pronouns (I, you, we, they) are commonly used.
4. Paragraphs should be used to separate different ideas or topics.
5. The tone is conversational and relaxed.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they have ever received or written a letter. The teacher then introduces the topic of informal letters and their features.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to informal letters

Step 2: Displaying a Sample Informal Letter

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Observation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a sample informal letter on a chart or projector. The teacher reads the letter aloud to the pupils.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the sample letter and listen as the teacher reads it.

Learning Point: Exposure to informal letter example

Step 3: Explaining Sender’s Address and Date

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to the sender’s address and date on the sample letter, explaining their positions and importance in an informal letter. The teacher explains that the sender’s address is the writer’s address and the date is when the letter was written.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the sender’s address and date on the sample letter.

Learning Point: Sender’s address and date

Step 4: Explaining Salutation and Body

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to the salutation and body of the sample letter, explaining what each part is for. The teacher emphasizes the friendly tone of the salutation and the personal nature of the body.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the salutation and body of the letter and understand their purpose.

Learning Point: Salutation and body explained

Step 5: Explaining Closing and Signature

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher points to the closing and signature on the sample letter, explaining their roles in ending an informal letter. The teacher gives examples of common informal closings.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the closing and signature on the sample letter.

Learning Point: Closing and signature understood

Step 6: Identifying Features (Activity)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to identify and arrange the features of the displayed sample letter. The teacher may use flashcards with the names of the parts for pupils to place correctly.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively identify and arrange the features of the informal letter.

Learning Point: Feature identification practice

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is an informal letter?
2. List any three features of an informal letter.
3. Point out the sender’s address on the sample letter.
4. What kind of language is used in an informal letter?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding informal letter features

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the features of an informal letter into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson information

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds pupils about the importance of knowing the parts of an informal letter for clear communication and encourages them to practice writing to friends and family. The teacher thanks the pupils for their participation.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Informal letter concept consolidated

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: In your English notebook, draw and label the parts of a simple informal letter. You can write a short message to a friend or family member.

1. Draw the outline of a letter.
2. Write a short informal letter to your best friend, telling them about your favourite subject in school.
3. Clearly label the following parts: Sender’s Address, Date, Salutation, Body, Closing, and Signature.

Lesson Keywords

• Informal Letter – A personal letter written to friends or family.
• Sender’s Address – The address of the person writing the letter.
• Date – The day the letter was written.
• Salutation – The greeting in a letter (e.g., Dear Mum).
• Body – The main message of the letter.
• Closing – The way to end a letter (e.g., Yours sincerely).
• Signature – The name of the writer.

Differentiation

Support for Weaker Learners: Provide simpler sample letters with fewer words and larger fonts. Use colour-coding for different parts of the letter. Allow them to work in pairs to identify features. Provide a template with blank spaces for them to fill in the names of the parts.

Extension for Faster Learners: Encourage them to write a short informal letter on a given topic, ensuring all parts are correctly included. They can also identify and discuss the differences between informal and formal letters if they have prior exposure to formal letters.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, teachers and pupils can search on YouTube for: parts of an informal letter for primary school nigeria

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have a clear and legible sample informal letter prepared, either on a chart, flashcards, or a projected image. The sample letter should be simple and appropriate for Primary 4 pupils. Begin by engaging pupils in a discussion about letters they may have seen or written to activate their prior knowledge. Systematically introduce each part of the informal letter, using the sample letter as a visual aid. Encourage pupils to actively point out and name the parts as you explain them. During the activity phase (Step 6), guide them to correctly identify and, if possible, arrange the features. Pay attention to common errors like incorrect placement of the address or confusing salutations. Remind pupils to copy the Board Summary notes neatly into their notebooks during Step 8. Conclude by reiterating the practical importance of writing informal letters correctly.