Writing an Informal Letter Describing Your School for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 11
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Topic: Writing
Subject Matter: Identify type of letter; List features of type of letter; Write letter a model format
Previous Lesson: Identifying Writer’s Purpose from Keywords and Expressions

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify an informal letter from other types of letters.
• List at least three features of an informal letter.
• State the correct parts of an informal letter.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of informal letters in personal communication.
• Show interest in writing clear and well-structured informal letters.

Psychomotor Domain

• Write a simple informal letter following a model format.
• Apply the features of an informal letter in their writing.

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 Language textbook for JSS 2
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Sample informal letters
• Whiteboard/Blackboard
• Markers/Chalk
• Textbooks
• Charts showing the format of an informal letter

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it equips students with the practical skill of writing informal letters, which is essential for personal communication with family and friends. Mastering this skill helps students express themselves clearly and maintain personal connections through written correspondence.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of sentence construction, punctuation, and the general idea of writing to communicate.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Writing an Informal Letter

What is an Informal Letter?

An informal letter is a personal letter written to family members, friends, relatives, or close acquaintances. It is usually friendly and conversational in tone and does not follow strict rules like a formal letter.

Features of an Informal Letter

Informal letters typically have the following characteristics:

1. They are written to people we know well, such as family and friends.
2. The language used is personal, friendly, and conversational. Contractions (e.g., ‘I’m’, ‘don’t’) and slang can be used.
3. The tone is relaxed and casual.
4. It usually expresses personal feelings, experiences, or news.
5. It does not require a subject line or recipient’s address.

Format of an Informal Letter

An informal letter follows a specific structure to ensure clarity and proper presentation. The main parts include:

1. Writer’s Address: This is the address of the person writing the letter. It is usually placed at the top right-hand corner of the page.
2. Date: The date the letter is written is placed directly below the writer’s address.
3. Salutation: This is the greeting to the recipient. It is informal, e.g., “Dear Father,” “Dear John,” “Hi Mary,” etc. It is placed on the left side of the page, below the date.
4. Body of the Letter: This is the main content of the letter, divided into paragraphs. It contains the message, news, or feelings the writer wants to convey. The language is personal and friendly.
5. Subscription/Closing: This is the polite closing of the letter. Examples include “Yours affectionately,” “Yours lovingly,” “Best regards,” “Love,” etc. It is placed on the right side of the page, below the body.
6. Signature/Name: The writer’s first name or full name (depending on the closeness to the recipient) is written below the subscription.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Demonstration, 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 greets the students and asks them if they have ever written a letter or received one. The teacher then asks about the different types of letters they know (e.g., formal, informal).

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the teacher’s questions, sharing their experiences with letters and mentioning types they know.

Learning Point: Types of letters

Step 2: Identifying Informal Letters

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what an informal letter is, contrasting it briefly with a formal letter. The teacher shows samples of both types of letters and guides students to identify the informal letter.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, observe the sample letters, and identify the informal letter based on the teacher’s explanation.

Learning Point: Informal letter identification

Step 3: Discussing Features of Informal Letters

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Analysis

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the key features of an informal letter, using the sample letter identified in Step 2. The teacher highlights the friendly tone, personal language, and absence of formal elements.

Pupils’ Activity: Students participate in the discussion, pointing out features they observe in the sample letter and contributing their ideas.

Learning Point: Informal letter features

Step 4: Explaining the Format of an Informal Letter

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a chart showing the correct format of an informal letter. The teacher explains each part of the format (writer’s address, date, salutation, body, subscription, signature) and its placement.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the chart, listen to the explanations, and ask questions for clarification.

Learning Point: Informal letter format

Step 5: Model Writing an Informal Letter

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Modelling/Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes a short informal letter on the board, describing a school event to a parent, following the explained format. The teacher verbalizes the thought process for each section.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the teacher’s writing process, paying attention to the application of the format and features.

Learning Point: Model letter writing

Step 6: Guided Practice – Writing to Father

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher instructs students to begin writing an informal letter to their father, describing their school. The teacher moves around the classroom, providing individual guidance and correction.

Pupils’ Activity: Students start writing their informal letters, applying the format and features learned, and seeking assistance from the teacher.

Learning Point: Practical letter writing

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. Who do we usually write informal letters to?
2. Mention two features of an informal letter.
3. List three parts of an informal letter.
4. Where is the writer’s address placed in an informal letter?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Informal letter knowledge

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 informal letters, their features, and format into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Note-taking skills

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

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

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and prepare to submit their work.

Learning Point: Informal letter importance

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the letter you started in class or write a new informal letter based on the following instruction:

1. Write an informal letter to your best friend, telling them about your favourite subject in school and why you enjoy it. Remember to follow the correct format and use friendly language.

Lesson Keywords

• Informal letter – A personal letter written to family, friends, or close acquaintances.
• Features – Characteristics or qualities.
• Format – The way something is arranged or set out.
• Salutation – A greeting used at the beginning of a letter.
• Subscription – The polite closing of a letter.

Differentiation

Support for weaker learners: Provide a partially completed informal letter template for them to fill in, focusing on the body content. Offer sentence starters for the body paragraphs.
Extension for faster learners: Challenge them to write a longer letter, including more descriptive details about their school or adding a postscript (P.S.) to their letter.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding and visual examples, search on YouTube for: “How to write an informal letter JSS 2” or “Parts of an informal letter English Language”.

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have several clear samples of informal letters and a chart illustrating the letter format. Begin by engaging students in a brief discussion about letters to gauge their prior knowledge. Clearly explain the distinction between formal and informal letters, focusing on the latter’s characteristics. Guide students through each part of the informal letter format, providing a clear model on the board. Allow ample time for guided practice, offering individual support as students begin to write their own letters. Emphasize the importance of friendly language and correct punctuation. Students should copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching and practice activities, typically during Step 8. Review their draft letters to provide constructive feedback on content, format, and language use.