Letter Writing: Meaning, Purpose, Parts and Characteristics of Informal Letters for JSS 1

Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Writing
Focal competence: Writing informal and formal letters
Skills:

• Writing letters

Previous Lesson: Parts of Speech: Meaning, Features, Types and Uses of Verbs
Topic: Writing Informal And Formal Letters
Subject Matter: meaning of informal letter, purpose of informal letter, parts of an informal letter, characteristics of informal writing

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define informal letter.
• State the purpose of an informal letter.
• Identify the main parts of an informal letter.
• List characteristics of informal writing.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of informal letters in personal communication.

Psychomotor Domain

• Outline the structure of a simple informal letter.

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 JSS 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Audiobooks
• Interactive Videos
• Audio-visual materials
• Course books
• Various passages (examples of informal letters)
• Whiteboard/Chalkboard
• Markers/Chalk

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it introduces students to a fundamental form of written communication used in everyday personal interactions. Understanding informal letters helps students connect with friends and family effectively. It also lays a foundational understanding for more complex writing tasks in the future.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of sentence construction, punctuation, and general English vocabulary.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Writing Informal Letters

Meaning of Informal Letter

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

Purpose of Informal Letter

Informal letters are written for various personal reasons, such as:

1. To share news or updates.
2. To express feelings or emotions.
3. To invite someone to an event.
4. To thank someone.
5. To congratulate someone.
6. To ask for or give advice.
7. To maintain personal relationships.

Parts of an Informal Letter

An informal letter usually has the following main parts:

1. Writer’s Address and Date: This is the sender’s address and the date the letter is written, usually placed at the top right corner.
2. Salutation/Greeting: This is the friendly opening, such as “Dear [Name],” “Hello [Name],” or “Hi [Name].”
3. Body: This is the main content of the letter, divided into paragraphs. It contains the message the sender wants to convey.
4. Complimentary Close: This is the polite ending, such as “Yours sincerely,” “Best regards,” “Love,” or “Yours affectionately.”
5. Signature/Name: This is the sender’s first name or nickname, written below the complimentary close.

Characteristics of Informal Writing

Informal letters have distinct characteristics that make them different from formal letters:

1. Casual Tone: The language used is relaxed and conversational, like talking to a friend.
2. Personal Language: It often includes personal pronouns (I, you, we) and direct address.
3. Contractions and Abbreviations: Shortened forms of words (e.g., “don’t,” “can’t”) and common abbreviations are acceptable.
4. Slang and Colloquialisms: Everyday language and informal expressions can be used.
5. Emotional Expression: The writer can freely express feelings and opinions.
6. Less Strict Structure: While it has parts, the structure is more flexible compared to formal letters.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them if they have ever written a letter to a friend or family member. The teacher then introduces the topic of informal letter writing.

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

Learning Point: Introduction to letters

Step 2: Meaning of Informal Letter

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what an informal letter is, providing simple examples of who it is written to (e.g., friends, family). The teacher can use an interactive video or an example passage to illustrate.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarity, and identify the recipients of informal letters from examples.

Learning Point: Informal letter meaning

Step 3: Purpose of Informal Letter

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the various purposes of writing informal letters, such as sharing news, inviting, or thanking. The teacher encourages students to share their own experiences.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion by mentioning reasons they might write a letter to someone they know.

Learning Point: Informal letter purpose

Step 4: Parts of an Informal Letter

Time: 9 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher lists and explains the main parts of an informal letter (address, date, salutation, body, complimentary close, signature) using a sample letter displayed on the board or via audio-visual materials.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the different parts as the teacher explains and may point them out in a provided example letter.

Learning Point: Informal letter parts

Step 5: Characteristics of Informal Writing

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Comparison

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the characteristics of informal writing, such as casual tone, use of contractions, and personal language. The teacher may briefly contrast this with formal language.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and note down the characteristics, asking questions for clarification.

Learning Point: Informal writing traits

Step 6: Guided Practice

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a short, incomplete informal letter and asks students in pairs or small groups to identify the missing parts or characteristics. The teacher walks around to provide support.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils work in pairs/groups to complete the task and discuss their answers.

Learning Point: Applying informal letter knowledge

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 purposes of writing an informal letter.
3. List three parts of an informal letter.
4. State two characteristics of informal writing.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding informal letters

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the meaning, purpose, parts, and characteristics of informal letters into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson points

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarisation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students of the importance of informal letters for personal communication and encourages them to practice writing to friends and family.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the importance of the lesson.

Learning Point: Lesson summary

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Write a short informal letter to a friend or family member, inviting them to your birthday party. Ensure you include all the parts of an informal letter and use an informal tone.

1. Write your address and the date.
2. Write a suitable salutation.
3. Write a short body inviting your friend/family.
4. Write a complimentary close.
5. Sign your name.

Lesson Keywords

• Informal letter – A personal letter written to friends, family, or acquaintances.
• Salutation – The greeting at the beginning of a letter.
• Body – The main content or message of a letter.
• Complimentary close – The polite ending of a letter.
• Casual tone – Relaxed and friendly language.

Differentiation

Support for weaker learners: Provide a template or a partially completed informal letter for them to fill in. Offer simplified explanations and more direct examples. Pair them with stronger learners for group activities.

Extension for faster learners: Challenge them to write an informal letter describing a recent event or holiday, encouraging them to use more descriptive language and varied sentence structures. They could also identify and explain the difference between informal and formal language in given sentences.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search YouTube for: informal letter writing jss1 english

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have clear examples of informal letters, either printed, written on the board, or displayed using audio-visual aids. You may also prepare a simple template for students to follow during practice. Begin by engaging students with their personal experiences of communication. Clearly explain each part of the informal letter, using the provided examples to illustrate. Encourage class participation through questions and discussions. During the guided practice, monitor students closely and offer immediate feedback. For the note-taking stage (Step 8), ensure students copy the Board Summary accurately. Pay attention to common errors like incorrect placement of address or inappropriate tone. Emphasise that informal letters are for personal communication, helping students understand when and how to use them effectively.