Teaching The Art Of Letter Writing To KS2 Kids
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The art of letter writing is something everyone should strive to achieve, whether it’s writing regular letters to family or pen pals or simply writing them for fun, it’s a chance to express yourself and communicate in a unique and exciting way.
Plus, given current times it means that we aren’t always able to physically see our loved ones and whilst video calling and text messaging are great ways to keep in contact, letter writing is just that extra bit special!
Yes, letter writing can seem old-fashioned and outdated but not only does it promote mindfulness and help to stimulate creativity but it also makes a super fun surprise for the person on the receiving end - who doesn’t love seeing their name on the post?
However, we appreciate that it can be a little tricky to encourage youngsters to write letters so we’ve listed below our top tips for writing the perfect letter and outlined some traditions of letter writing to ensure you’re all clued up before putting pen to paper!
Typical Letter Structure:
- Date and Address:
Every good letter needs a date in the top right-hand corner and of course the address of the recipient. Not only is writing the date in a letter an age-old tradition, but it’ll also help you to identify when it was written in years to come, which is super important when it comes to reminiscing about the past!
When writing the address it should follow this format:
House Number/Name, Street Name
Town, Postcode
At first, it might feel a little unnatural to be writing addresses and perhaps even a bit old-fashioned but correctly formatting a letter is some of the fun!
- The Greeting:
Whether you’re writing a formal letter, perhaps to your teacher (or even the Prime Minister! ), or a more informal letter to family or friends, the greeting is super important.
If it’s a formal letter, the greeting is typically ‘Dear …’ or ‘To whom it may concern’ when the recipient's name or title is unknown, for example, if you’re writing to a company.
Alternatively, if you’re writing a letter to a family member, friend or someone of a less formal nature, a simple ‘To ...’ or even ‘Hi ...’ is perfectly acceptable. Plus, don’t forget to leave a line after writing the greeting and to start your next sentence with an indent.
- Body of The Letter:
Now comes the best part - the actual message! Here you’re free to write whatever you wish; whether it be an update on what life is like in lockdown or maybe you want to write to a hospital to thank them for the incredible work they are doing, it’s your chance to express yourself and be creative!
- Closing:
After you’ve written the body of your letter, it’s not ready to send until you’ve signed it off. For a more formal letter, the traditional sign-offs are either ‘Yours Sincerely’ or ‘Best Wishes’ and for an informal letter it’s entirely up to you. Then just sign your name and you’re good to go!
Our Top Tips For Writing Letters
Explain to your little ones why writing letters is so brilliant! Perhaps they’ve written letters to Santa Claus in the past - this is a great example of how letters can be used to communicate with someone who, let’s be honest, is pretty difficult to get a hold of!
And in the current circumstances, it’s important to find alternative ways to communicate with our loved ones and writing letters is a super simple and heartfelt way that is bound to put a smile on the recipient's face!
Stick to the style - although letter traditions can seem outdated, that’s what makes letters, letters! Follow our structure above and you’ll have yourself the perfect letter.
It’s super important to ensure that all contact details are written clearly at the top and that your letter includes all the necessary details - that way it’ll go straight to the right address. Missing letters are the worst!
Letters don’t have to be super long - when you think of letters, lengthy pages of writing might come to mind but fear not, your letters can be as short or as long as you wish!
Letter writing is a chance to be super self-reflective and express your feelings and thoughts and no one can put a judgement on how long or short you want to write for.
Plus, sometimes it’s nicer to send shorter, more frequent letters, that way it’s something you can do more regularly and maybe even build into your weekly lockdown routine.
You can even send your letters online - Now we know most letters are traditionally sent via post or even in some cases, posted through the front door of the recipient but given these strange circumstances, it might be a better option to ‘post’ your letters online.
We suggest following the same format, perhaps on a Word document or GoogleDoc, and then email it over to the recipient.
Not only is this a super simple and free way of ‘posting’ your letter but it also means that you can insert pictures as you wish, to bring the writing in your letter to life!
Keep it up and encourage others to get involved! Not only is consistently writing letters super exciting as your kids eagerly wait for the response but it’s also a great activity to keep little ones occupied and allow them to reflect on the current circumstances, which is extremely beneficial for mental wellbeing and positivity in general.
Who Can You Write Letters To?
Not all letters have to be addressed to family or friends, you can be as creative as you want when writing. See below for our top 3 creative suggestions to get your imagination going and to help your little ones practise.
1) Your favourite character - have your kids been watching a little more television during lockdown and found themselves obsessing over new cartoons and characters?
Why not write a letter to your favourite character(s)! Tell them about your life in quarantine, maybe describe your daily routine in lockdown and explain why you love watching them on television!
If you’re feeling super creative, why not draw a picture of them and send that along with the letter - or if you don’t feel like drawing, there are plenty of black and white sketches of characters just a Google away!
2) Someone you haven’t seen in awhile - whether it be a family member or a friend that you’ve been missing in lockdown, sending them a letter is a great way to communicate and is bound to put a smile on their face!
Picking up a pen and putting it to paper is so much more heartfelt than a quick text message, plus, writing down your thoughts and feelings instead of typing them on a screen can sometimes prove more relaxing and great for putting any feelings of anxiety at ease.
3) NHS workers - the heroes of our current time! Writing to hospitals is an extremely heartfelt gesture that doesn’t go unnoticed.
Now’s your opportunity to thank them for the incredible work that they are doing and show your support. Plus, it’s a chance to use some of the more formal aspects of letter writing that we mentioned earlier.
For example, the opening ‘To whom it may concern’ would be appropriate here as you’re addressing an entire hospital and an entire body of workers, not a single worker specifically. As well as this, you might want to attach an A4 picture or drawing of a rainbow to show your support for the inclusivity of the NHS!
What are the basic elements of a letter that KS2 children should learn?
Teach KS2 children the key components of a letter: the heading (sender's address and date), greeting, body, closing, and signature. Emphasize the importance of organizing their thoughts clearly and using polite language appropriate for their recipient.
How can I make letter writing engaging for KS2 students?
To make letter writing more engaging, incorporate fun activities like writing letters to fictional characters, pen pals from other schools, or family members. Also, use creative prompts or storytelling elements to inspire them to write. Crafting personalized stationery or using different types of writing materials can also add excitement to the process.
What types of letters should KS2 students be encouraged to write?
Encourage students to write a variety of letters, including thank-you notes, friendly letters, formal requests, and invitations. This variety helps them understand different tones and styles of writing, which are applicable to different audiences and purposes.
How can I assess the letter writing skills of KS2 students?
Assess their letter writing by looking at their ability to communicate effectively and use the proper format. You can use rubrics that focus on creativity, clarity, grammar, and adherence to the letter format. Peer review sessions can also be a helpful and interactive way for students to receive feedback and learn from each other's writing.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English
Ellie SylvesterBachelor of Arts specializing in English
As a passionate Londoner, Ellie enjoys exploring the city's theaters and food markets with her younger siblings. She has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Nottingham. She's particularly fond of Primrose Hill and the Natural History Museum, as well as the constantly changing Spitalfields Market. In addition to her love of theater, Ellie also enjoys trying new foods and dabbling in musical theater.
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