10/30/10 9:38 PM

Social Studies Project Pen Pals

Learning about Spain

Writing Connection

Title - Pen Pal Letters

Subject - Writing

Topic Reading/Writing - Friendly Letters

Standards

State Standard: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes. Learning

Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and structure.

Write paragraphs that include a variety of sentence types.

Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.

Write for a variety of purposes and for specific audiences.

Student Objectives: When asked, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an ability to create a letter of at least 2 paragraphs

2. Edit letters for clarity, punctuation, capitalization, and correct verb

tense

Materials

All about me sheet (optional)

writing materials

Example letter, showing format

Materials Preparation: Create an All About Me sheet for students to record

their interests, hobbies, etc. The students will be able to use these sheets to

refer back to when needing ideas for their first letter. This sheet will be filled

out by the students before introducing Pen Pal Letter.

Integration of Technology

The students with use Microsoft Word to type the final copy of their letters.

Criteria: letters must include:

1. At least two paragraphs

2. Correct use of punctuation

3. Correct use of capitalization

Motivation component

Ask students to define what they think a "pen pal" is. Ask students if they

have ever had a pen pal. Explain how when you were a bit younger than they

are now, you started writing to a girl in Washington. Talk about the

experience and how just two years ago, you went to Washington, to be in the

girl's wedding. Explain to class that we are now going to start writing to

students in another class, in Spain. Ask a student to come to the map to

point out Spain.

Procedures

1. Brainstorm ideas to write in the first letter. Make the first suggestion, then

ask the students for further possibilities. Remind the students that this other

class lives in Spain and may have never been to Illinois.

a. Suggested ideas: hobbies; what you did over the summer; talk about the

country; if you have ever had a pen pal; , etc.,

b. Remind student that they should try to ask their pen pal questions, so that

person has something to respond to.

2. Write all ideas on the board for the students to refer back to.

3. Review the format of a friendly letter. Create a large sample letter on the

board; label the following: date, greeting, body, closing, signature.

4. Either on the board or on a large piece of poster board, model a sample

letter with the students. Tell the students to refer back to the brainstorming

ideas or to their "All About Me" sheet for ideas.

5. Define criteria: letters should have at least two paragraphs and must

include capital lettering and correct punctuation.

6. Explain that because there may be an uneven number of boys and girls in

the two classrooms, boys may write to girls and visa versa. So, all the names

of the students in Spain are written on index cards. Students will pick from

the face down cards, so it is all by chance who you get. Have students begin

writing their letters. Circulate around the room.

7. Once letters are completed, they should be checked (and edited, if

needed). Once edited, they may begin writing their final copy of the letter.

8. For the final copy, the students will use the computer laptops and type

their letters using Microsoft Word. The final draft will be mailed to the school.

All other copies should be kept in the writing folders.

10/30/10 9:38 PM

10/30/10 9:38 PM