The Correspondence Project: A Lesson of Letters

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

Computers with Internet access for student use

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   K – 8  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing & Publishing Prose

Postcard Creator

The Postcard Creator helps students learn to identify all the typical parts of a postcard, and then generate their own postcard messages by typing information into letter templates. After printing their texts, students can illustrate the front of their postcards in a variety of ways, including drawing, collage, and stickers.

 

Grades   K – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Writing & Publishing Prose

Letter Generator

The Letter Generator is a useful tool for students to learn the parts of a business or friendly letter and then compose and print letters for both styles of correspondence.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Contemplating Correspondence
  
  
• Contemplating Correspondence Key
  
  
• Correspondence Project Prompts
  
  
• Business and Friendly Letter Samples
  
  
• Rubric for Correspondence Project
  
  
• Venn Diagram

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WEBSITES

• Writing the Basic Business Letter
• Sample Letters
• Sample Complaint Letter & E-mail

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PREPARATION

• Review the Correspondence Project Prompts and determine the requirements for the class. Decide on the number of letters students will write as well as any letters that you will require. You may wish to choose specific prompts to ensure that students write at least one letter using business format and one using friendly format. You can also require 2 letters and allow students to choose additional letters freely.
  
  
• Make one copy per student of each of the following handouts:
  
  
  • Contemplating Correspondence
    
    
  • Business and Friendly Letter Samples
    
    
  • Venn Diagram handout (if computer access is not available)
    
    
  • Correspondence Project Prompts
    
    
  • Rubric for Correspondence Project
    
    
• Make one copy of the Contemplating Correspondence Key for yourself.
  
  
• Make overhead transparencies of the Business and Friendly Letter Samples and the Venn Diagram handout (needed only if computer access is not available).
  
  
• Test the interactive Venn Diagram and Letter Generator on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.

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