Informal Letters: Guided writing of an informal letter for Primary 4

Class: Primary 4
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 9 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Writing
Focal competence: Writing informal letters
Skills:

• write informal letters

Previous Lesson: Comprehension: Using nearby words/sentences to infer meanings of unfamiliar words in a class-appropriate
Topic: Informal Letters: Guided Writing
Subject Matter: Guided writing of an informal letter, Guided writing of an informal letter using the correct format

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the correct parts of an informal letter.
• State the purpose of writing an informal letter.
• Recall suitable vocabulary and tone for informal letters.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of clear communication in informal letters.
• Show neatness and care when writing their letters.

Psychomotor Domain

• Write a simple informal letter following the correct format.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Studies textbook for Primary 4
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Flash cards showing parts of an informal letter
• Course books
• Flannel board (for displaying parts of a letter)
• Chart showing a sample informal letter
• Writing materials (notebooks, pens/pencils)
• Dictionaries

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils develop essential writing skills by teaching them how to compose informal letters. Mastering informal letter writing enables pupils to communicate effectively with friends and family, fostering personal connections and improving their overall literacy.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should be able to write simple sentences, recognise different types of addresses, and understand basic punctuation.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Informal Letters: Guided Writing

Purpose and Intended Recipient of an Informal Letter

An informal letter is a personal letter written to a friend, family member, or someone you know well. Its main purpose is to share news, ask questions, express feelings, or maintain a personal connection. It is usually friendly and conversational.

Correct Informal Letter Layout

An informal letter follows a specific layout:

1. Writer’s Address: This is your address. It is written at the top right-hand corner of the letter.
2. Date: The date the letter is written. It comes directly below the writer’s address.
3. Salutation/Greeting: This is how you greet the person you are writing to. It is usually “Dear [Name of recipient],” followed by a comma.
4. Body: This is the main message of the letter, organised into clear paragraphs.
5. Complimentary Close: This is how you end the letter politely. Examples include “Yours sincerely,” “Your friend,” “Best wishes,” or “Love.”
6. Signature/Writer’s Name: Your name written below the complimentary close.

Suitable Salutation and Complimentary Close

For informal letters, common salutations include:

1. Dear John,
2. Dear Mummy,
3. Hello Sarah,

Common complimentary closes include:

1. Yours sincerely,
2. Your friend,
3. Best wishes,
4. Love,

Organising the Body into Clear Paragraphs

The body of an informal letter should be organised into paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a different idea or topic. For example:

1. Opening Paragraph: Start by asking about the recipient’s well-being or referring to a previous conversation.
2. Middle Paragraphs: Share your news, ask questions, or discuss specific topics.
3. Closing Paragraph: Conclude by expressing good wishes or looking forward to seeing them.

Informal Vocabulary and Tone

Informal letters use everyday language. The tone should be friendly, warm, and conversational, just like you are speaking to the person. Avoid very formal words or complex sentences.

Drafting, Editing, and Final Presentation

When writing an informal letter:

1. Drafting: Write your first version, focusing on getting your ideas down.
2. Editing: Check for mistakes in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Make sure the message is clear and friendly.
3. Final Presentation: Write out the neat, corrected version of your letter, ensuring all parts are in the correct place.

Sample Informal Letter

25, School Road,
Ikeja, Lagos.
23rd October, 2024.

Dear Auntie Bola,

How are you and Uncle Tunde? I hope you are both doing well. I am fine here in Lagos.

I am writing to tell you about my school holiday. It was very interesting. I visited my grandmother in the village and played with my cousins. We went to the farm and helped her harvest some vegetables. It was a lot of fun.

School has reopened now, and I am in Primary 4. My new teacher is Mrs. Ade. She is very kind. I am learning many new things, especially in English and Mathematics.

I miss you very much. When will you visit us again? Please greet Uncle Tunde for me.

Yours lovingly,

Chinyere

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Individual Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils if they have ever received or sent a letter. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Informal Letters: Guided Writing,” explaining that today they will learn to write personal letters to friends or family.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils share their experiences with letters and listen attentively.

Learning Point: Introduction to informal letters

Step 2: Identifying Purpose and Recipient

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that informal letters are for friends and family, and their purpose is to share personal news or thoughts. The teacher asks pupils who they might write an informal letter to.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify possible recipients like mum, dad, friend, aunt, uncle, etc.

Learning Point: Purpose and recipients

Step 3: Introducing Letter Layout

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a chart with a sample informal letter. The teacher points out and names each part of the letter: writer’s address, date, salutation, body, complimentary close, and signature, using flashcards for each part.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the chart and flashcards, identifying and naming the parts of the letter.

Learning Point: Parts of an informal letter

Step 4: Guided Practice on Salutation and Close

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to suggest appropriate salutations and complimentary closes for different recipients (e.g., “Dear Mummy,” “Your loving son,” “Dear John,” “Your friend”).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils suggest and practice writing various salutations and complimentary closes.

Learning Point: Suitable greetings and endings

Step 5: Organising the Body and Tone

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how to organise the body of the letter into clear paragraphs (introduction, main message, conclusion). The teacher also discusses using friendly, informal language and tone.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss how to structure paragraphs and identify informal language examples.

Learning Point: Paragraph organisation and tone

Step 6: Guided Writing Activity

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to imagine writing a letter to a friend about their last holiday. The teacher guides them step-by-step to draft a short informal letter, focusing on the correct format and content discussed.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils draft their informal letters in their notebooks, following the teacher’s guidance.

Learning Point: Drafting an informal letter

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. Mention two parts of an informal letter.
3. Give an example of a suitable salutation for a friend.
4. Why is it important to organise the body of your letter into paragraphs?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding letter components

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 parts and format of an informal letter into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the key points of writing an informal letter, reminding pupils of the importance of correct format, friendly tone, and clear message. The teacher encourages them to practice writing more informal letters.

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

Learning Point: Summary of informal letter writing

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Write a short informal letter to your grandmother, telling her about your favourite subject in school and why you like it. Remember to follow the correct format.

1. Include your address and the date.
2. Use a suitable salutation.
3. Organise your letter into at least three paragraphs.
4. Use a friendly tone.
5. End with a suitable complimentary close and your name.

Lesson Keywords

• Informal letter – A personal letter written to a friend or family member.
• Salutation – The greeting at the beginning of a letter (e.g., Dear John).
• Complimentary close – The polite ending of a letter (e.g., Yours sincerely).
• Body – The main message of the letter.
• Format – The correct arrangement of parts in a letter.

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide a partially completed informal letter template for them to fill in the blanks. Offer sentence starters for the body paragraphs. Focus on identifying just three main parts of the letter.

For faster learners: Challenge them to write a letter to a pen pal in another state, asking questions about their school and culture. Encourage them to use a wider range of informal vocabulary.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding and visual examples, search on YouTube for: informal letter writing primary 4 nigeria

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare a large chart with a clear, simple example of an informal letter, highlighting each part. Also, prepare flashcards for the different parts of an informal letter (e.g., “Writer’s Address,” “Date,” “Salutation”). Begin by engaging pupils with questions about letters they have seen or written. Systematically introduce each part of the informal letter, demonstrating its position and purpose using the chart and flashcards. Guide pupils through suggesting appropriate salutations and complimentary closes. During the guided writing activity, walk around the classroom, offering individual support and correcting common errors such as incorrect placement of the address or date, or mixing formal and informal language. Ensure pupils understand that the Board Summary should be copied neatly after the main teaching points have been covered. Check their understanding throughout the lesson by asking questions and reviewing their drafted letters. Encourage neatness and legible handwriting in all written tasks.