Reintroduce the art of letter writing with a thank you letter to a community helper.
Letter writing is not as common with the new technology of email, texting, and cell phones. A thank you can be expressed with the simple click of a button, however too often it is a simple thank you.
A simple thank you is polite and appreciated but a thank you letter is a little more personal and thoughtful. Writing a thank you letter requires a little more effort and reflection. The sender must think about why they are thankful and what the person did to make their day a little more enjoyable.
Letter Writing Lesson Plan
Teach students the art of writing letters and the impact they create. Students are to write a friend, teacher, doctor, policeman or other person in the community a thank you letter. The letter is to express the students’ sincere gratitude for their service.
Often younger children are very willing to write to their doctor or dentist to thank them for an enjoyable experience. However, as we age, the time required to write the letter is outweighed by other activities. If a student feels the impact of the letter they may be more willing to write a letter.
If a teacher is able to input the time, write each student a thank you letter over the course of the year. Near the end of the year, distribute the thank you letters to the students before commencing the letter writing lesson. After the child reads their letter they will personally feel the value of the thank you letter.
Teach students the basics of letter writing and give them a sample of a thank you letter.
Letter Writing Etiquette
Date: List the date, the letter is being sent. The date should be written in full with no abbreviations.
Address: Includes street number, name, city, province, postal code, and country if being sent internationally. As well, all the information is written in full with no abbreviations.
Greeting and Salutation: For a thank you letter it is best to address it Dear Mr. Smith. If the letter is informal you may wish to write their full name.
Body Text: Write your letter as if you are speaking to them in person. A conversational tone but refrain from slang.
Closing: Write an informal closing as you are writing a thank you letter. Best regards is suitable for this type of letter writing.
Signature Lines: Everyone should sign their letter.
Proofread: It is imperative to proofread your letter to ensure it is free of grammatical and spelling errors. The letter is sent with good intent but it should show that you have put effort into writing the letter. If the letter has spelling errors it suggests it was rushed and written carelessly.
Folding: After you have written an excellent letter, do not crumple the letter into the envelope. Choose paper size to match your envelope. Be sure to fold the letter with care.
Thank you Letter Template
May 30, 2007
Johnny Gage
Paramedic
123 Sunshine Lane
Toronto, On, M9M 1C5
Dear Mr. Gage:
Body Paragraph: 3-4 paragraphs thanking the recipient for their service to you.
Questions to Answer in the Body
What service they provided and why you appreciated it?
How their service made you feel?
Why you want to thank them?
Best Regards,
Theodore Rainbow
