Letter Writing

We use the picture of a child for the cover of our letter writing activity. I'll take a picture of it when I am at school over the holidays. We also use a little song that one of our student teachers (Jessica, I can't remember her last name) taught which also uses movement.

The "Friendly" Letter Song

sung to the tune of the Farmer in the Dell

The heading is the date,

The heading is the date,

Hi-ho the letter parts,

The heading is the date!

(tap head each repetition)

The greeting is the name,

The greeting is the name,

Hi-ho the letter parts,

The greeting is the name!

(touch mouth and move hand out from mouth

like "Thank You" in sign language)

The body is all the words,

The body is all the words,

Hi-ho the letter parts,

The body is all the words!

(rub stomach in circles)

The closing is Sincerely,

The closing is Sincerely,

Hi-ho the letter parts,

The closing is Sincerely!

(tap knees each repetition)

The signature is my name,

The signature is my name,

Hi-ho the letter parts,

The signature is my name!

(tap foot each repetition)

I tried this without tapping the foot and my students seemed confused. We have a small person like the friendly letter person seen at MJ's teaching in heels blog. So, we teach each part according to the song above so the children get in their mind where the letter part goes in the letter. The heading (head) goes at the top. The greeting goes near the mouth, the body is all the area of the body. The closing is around the knees, and the signature is at the very bottom...the feet! Hope this helps! :)