Informal Letters: Writing a complete informal letter for a familiar purpose for Primary 4

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

• write informal letters

Previous Lesson: Comprehension: Answering literal/inferential questions and
Topic: Informal Letters: Independent Writing
Subject Matter: Writing a complete informal letter for a familiar purpose

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the purpose and intended recipient of an informal letter.
• State the correct layout of an informal letter.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of clear communication in informal letters.
• Show interest in writing informal letters to friends and family.

Psychomotor Domain

• Write a complete informal letter for a familiar purpose.
• Organise the body of an informal letter into clear paragraphs.

Social Domain

• Share their informal letters with peers for constructive feedback.

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 (e.g., address, date, salutation, body, closing).
• Sample informal letters (written on chart paper or projected).
• Course books.
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Dictionaries.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson enables pupils to develop practical writing skills essential for everyday communication. Understanding how to write informal letters helps them maintain personal relationships and express thoughts clearly to family and friends. It also builds a foundation for more complex writing tasks in the future.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have a basic understanding of sentence structure, punctuation, and some common vocabulary. They should also be familiar with the concept of sending messages to others.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Informal Letters: Independent Writing

What is an Informal Letter?

An informal letter is a personal letter written to a friend, family member, or someone you know well. It is usually written in a friendly and relaxed tone.

Purpose and Intended Recipient of an Informal Letter

The main purpose of an informal letter is to communicate personal news, share feelings, ask questions, or simply keep in touch. The intended recipient is always someone you have a close relationship with, such as:

1. Parents
2. Siblings
3. Friends
4. Cousins
5. Grandparents

Layout of an Informal Letter

A complete informal letter has the following parts:

1. Writer’s Address: Your address, usually at the top right corner.
2. Date: The date the letter is written, below the address.
3. Salutation/Greeting: A friendly greeting like “Dear [Name]”.
4. Body: The main message, organised into paragraphs.
5. Complimentary Close: A friendly closing like “Yours lovingly,” or “Best regards,”.
6. Signature/Name: Your name below the complimentary close.

Suitable Salutation and Complimentary Close

Salutations:

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

Complimentary Closes:

1. Yours lovingly,
2. Best regards,
3. With love,
4. Your friend,

Organising the Body into Clear Paragraphs

The body of an informal letter should be divided into paragraphs to make it easy to read. Each paragraph should focus on a different idea or piece of information. For example:

1. Opening Paragraph: Ask how the person is and state the reason for writing.
2. Middle Paragraphs: Share your news, ask questions, or discuss topics.
3. Closing Paragraph: Wish them well and say goodbye.

Informal Vocabulary and Tone

Informal letters use everyday language. The tone should be friendly, conversational, and relaxed, just like you are talking to the person. Avoid very formal words or structures.

Drafting, Editing, and Final Presentation

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

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Guided Practice, Independent Practice, Question and Answer, Peer Editing.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Elicitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they have ever written a letter to a friend or family member. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Today, we will learn how to write a complete informal letter on our own.”

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

Learning Point: Introduction to informal letters

Step 2: Discussing Purpose and Recipient

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays flashcards with names of different people (e.g., “Mummy,” “Best Friend,” “Principal”). The teacher asks pupils who they would write an informal letter to and why. The teacher explains that informal letters are for close relations and personal communication.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify suitable recipients and explain reasons. They listen to the teacher’s explanation.

Learning Point: Purpose and recipients

Step 3: Explaining Informal Letter Layout

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a sample informal letter on a chart or whiteboard. The teacher points out and explains each part of the letter: writer’s address, date, salutation, body paragraphs, complimentary close, and signature. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the sample letter, listen to the explanations, and ask questions about the layout.

Learning Point: Informal letter layout

Step 4: Focusing on Salutations and Closings

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes various salutations and complimentary closes on the board. Pupils practice saying them aloud and identify which ones are appropriate for informal letters. The teacher guides them to choose suitable options.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice and identify appropriate salutations and closings for informal letters.

Learning Point: Salutations and closings

Step 5: Structuring the Body Paragraphs

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Example

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the importance of paragraphs in the body of the letter. The teacher gives examples of what each paragraph might contain (e.g., opening, main message, closing remarks) and emphasizes using simple, friendly language.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and understand how to organise the body of their letters into clear paragraphs.

Learning Point: Paragraph organisation

Step 6: Independent Writing Activity

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Independent Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils to write a short informal letter to a friend or family member, inviting them to their birthday party or sharing news about their holiday. The teacher moves around to provide individual support and guidance.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils independently write a draft of an informal letter based on the given scenario.

Learning Point: Drafting informal letters

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. Mention three parts of an informal letter.
2. Who do you write an informal letter to?
3. What kind of language should you use in an informal letter?
4. What is a suitable complimentary close for a letter to your mother?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding informal letter writing

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 layout and parts 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: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds pupils that informal letters are personal and friendly, and encourages them to practice writing them often. The teacher praises their efforts and ends the lesson.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the concluding remarks and prepare for the next lesson.

Learning Point: Informal letter writing reinforced

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Write a complete informal letter to your favourite aunt or uncle, telling them about something exciting that happened at school recently. Remember to use the correct layout and friendly language.

1. Write your address and the date.
2. Start with a suitable salutation.
3. Write the body in at least three paragraphs.
4. End with a friendly complimentary close and your name.
5. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes before submitting.

Lesson Keywords

• Informal letter – A personal letter written to someone you know well, like a friend or family member.
• Layout – The way the parts of the letter are arranged on the page.
• Salutation – The greeting at the beginning of a letter (e.g., Dear John).
• Complimentary close – The polite ending of a letter (e.g., Yours lovingly).
• Drafting – Writing the first version of a letter.
• Editing – Checking and correcting mistakes in a written piece.

Differentiation

For struggling learners: Provide a partially completed informal letter template with blanks for them to fill in. Offer sentence starters for the body paragraphs and a word bank for appropriate salutations and closings. Give extra support during the independent writing activity.

For advanced learners: Challenge them to write a longer informal letter with more details or to a less common recipient (e.g., a pen pal). Encourage them to use more descriptive adjectives and adverbs, and to experiment with different friendly tones.

Suggested Lesson Videos

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

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare sample informal letters and flashcards clearly showing each part of a letter. Emphasise the friendly and personal nature of informal letters. Guide pupils through the layout step-by-step, ensuring they understand where each component goes. During the independent writing activity, circulate the classroom to provide individual assistance and encouragement. Remind pupils to copy the Board Summary notes neatly during the note-taking phase. Encourage peer review for editing their drafts. Ensure pupils understand that the purpose of an informal letter is to communicate personally with someone they know well, using a relaxed tone and everyday language.