Writing Friendly Letters to Imaginary Friends

Grade 7 · English

Semester 1 | Period 1 | Week 3

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Subject: English

Semester: 1

Period: 1

Week: 3

School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: English Language
Grade Level: Grade 7
Date:
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 3, Period 1
Topic: Writing Friendly Letters to Imaginary Friends
Sub-topic: Meaning, Purpose, Parts, and Practice of Friendly Letters

Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

  1. Explain the meaning and purpose of a friendly letter.
  2. Identify and describe the parts of a friendly letter.
  3. Compose a friendly letter to an imaginary friend, applying correct format.

Previous Knowledge
Students already know:
• The meaning of a sentence and kinds of sentences.
• Basic writing skills such as punctuation and paragraphing.

Instructional Materials
• Textbook: English Language textbooks for Grade 7
• Teaching aids: Sample friendly letter chart, flash cards, chalkboard/marker board
• Students’ notebooks and writing materials

Lesson Development – ABC Model

A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Activity: The teacher will ask the class:
• Have you ever written a note or letter to someone?
• What kind of things do you usually write to friends?
The teacher will write their responses on the board and introduce “friendly letters.”
Teacher’s Role: Guide discussion and connect prior experiences to the lesson.
Learner’s Role:
• Share personal experiences of writing notes.
• Respond verbally and listen actively.

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

Teacher’s Role (Expanded)

  1. Explain the meaning and purpose of friendly letters
  • A friendly letter is a personal letter written to friends or family members.
  • It is used to share news, feelings, experiences, or ask questions in a casual way.
  • Unlike business letters, friendly letters use simple, warm, and informal language.

Examples of situations where friendly letters are used:

  • Writing to a cousin about your holiday.
  • Writing to a friend in another school about your new teacher.
  • Writing to an uncle or aunt thanking them for a gift.

 

  1. Teach the main parts of a friendly letter
    (a) Address – Your home address (top right-hand corner).
  • Example:
  • 10 Benson Street, 
  • Monrovia, Liberia. 

(b) Date – The date you are writing the letter.

  • Example: 20th March, 2025

(c) Salutation (Greeting) – Use “Dear” + name of friend/family.

  • Examples: Dear Sarah, / Dear Uncle James,

(d) Body (Main message) – Usually written in 2–3 paragraphs.

  • 1st paragraph – greeting/opening (How are you? I hope you are fine.)
  • 2nd paragraph – main information (I want to tell you about my new school…)
  • 3rd paragraph – conclusion (I look forward to hearing from you soon.)

(e) Closing – polite ending phrase.

  • Examples: Yours sincerely, / Your loving friend, / Best wishes,

(f) Signature/Name – Write your first name or full name.

  • Example: David

 

  1. Display a sample friendly letter on the board or chart

 

Sample Letter:

No. 12 Peace Street, 

Monrovia, Liberia. 

12th May, 2025. 

 

Dear John, 

How are you doing today? I hope you and your family are fine. I miss playing football with you. My new school is very exciting and I have made new friends here. 

 

I also joined the school choir, and we are preparing for a big event next month. I wish you were here to sing with me because I know how much you love music. 

 

Please write back soon and tell me about your new teachers. I am eager to hear from you. 

 

Yours sincerely, 

David 

 

  1. Guide learners to analyze each part
  • Teacher underlines and labels the parts (address, date, salutation, body, closing, signature).
  • Ask learners: “What part shows the greeting? What part shows the writer’s name?”

 

  1. Instruct students to write their own friendly letter
  • Teacher gives writing prompts such as:
    • Write a letter to an imaginary friend telling them about your best subject in school.
    • Write a letter to an imaginary cousin describing a festival or celebration you attended.
    • Write a letter to an imaginary friend in another country describing your favorite Liberian dish and how it is prepared.

 

Learners’ Activities (Expanded)

  • Listen attentively and copy notes on the meaning, purpose, and parts of a friendly letter.
  • Read aloud the sample letter with correct tone.
  • Identify and label the parts of the sample letter on the board.
  • Ask questions about parts they find confusing (e.g., why address is at the top).
  • Write their own friendly letters to imaginary friends (minimum of 3 paragraphs).
  • Exchange letters in pairs and check if all 6 parts are included.

 

Assessment Checks

  • Teacher asks: “What is the purpose of a friendly letter?” (Expected answer: for personal communication with friends or family).
  • Teacher points to parts of the sample letter, learners identify them (address, date, salutation, etc.).
  • Teacher monitors learners while writing their letters, correcting format and grammar.
  • Oral questioning: “What comes after the salutation? What is written at the end of the letter?”

 

Notes (Expanded & Detailed)

  • Friendly letters are personal, informal letters written to people we know well.
  • They are different from formal/business letters which are official.
  • Parts of a friendly letter:
  1. Address
  2. Date
  3. Salutation (Dear…)
  4. Body (main message in 2–3 paragraphs)
  5. Closing (Yours sincerely,)
  6. Signature/Name

 

Correct Example (Well-written):

15 Palm Street, 

Buchanan, Liberia. 

5th June, 2025. 

 

Dear Mary, 

 

I hope you are doing well. How is your new school? I miss studying with you. 

 

My teacher gave us a project to plant vegetables in our backyard. I planted okra, and they are growing fast. I can’t wait to harvest them. 

 

Please tell me about your new friends and teachers. I look forward to your reply. 

 

Your loving friend, 

Grace 

 

Faulty Example (Incorrect, Missing Parts):

Dear Mary, 

I miss you. How is your school? Bye. 

Grace 

  • Missing address, date, closing. Too short and not well-structured.

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Summary:
• Teacher will ask students to recall: meaning of a friendly letter, its purpose, and its parts.
Evaluation Method (Expanded):
• Exit slip/quiz: Students will answer:

  1. What is a friendly letter?
  2. List three parts of a friendly letter.
  3. Write a short closing statement you would use in a friendly letter.
    Teacher reviews answers and gives oral feedback.
    Assignment (Expanded):
    • Write a complete friendly letter to your imaginary friend telling them about your first week in Grade 7.

Follow-up Activity:
• Exchange friendly letters with classmates for peer review.

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies
• Struggling Learners: Provide a letter template with parts labeled.
• Advanced Learners: Encourage them to write longer, detailed letters with anecdotes.
• Students with Disabilities: Use oral dictation or peer support in letter writing.

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)
• What worked well? ______________________________________________________
• What needs improvement? _________________________________________________
• Students’ engagement level: □ High □ Medium □ Low