Writing a Friendly Letter Jane Sheffield ECOMP 5002

Georgia Performance Standard ELA2W1 The student begins to demonstrate competency in the writing process. e. The student will begin to use appropriate formatting conventions for letter writing (e.g., date, salutation, body, closing) .

What is a friendly letter? A friendly letter is a letter that you write to someone you know well like a special friend or relative. In a friendly letter, you often tell about what you have been doing or share interesting information you want them to know.

This is a sample of a friendly letter. July 9, 2010 Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in the ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, Liz

A friendly letter has five parts: Heading Greeting (also called Salutation) Body Closing Signature

The heading is the date the letter is written The heading is the date the letter is written. It includes the month, the day, and the year. heading July 9, 2010 Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, Liz

When Liz wrote Dear Grandma, she wrote the greeting. The greeting is also called the salutation. It starts with the word Dear. A comma is always used at the end of the greeting. July 9, 2010 Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, Liz greeting

The main part of the letter is the body The main part of the letter is the body. The body is what the letter is about. Always indent each paragraph in the body. July 9, 2010 Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, Liz body

When Liz wrote Love, she wrote the closing. Closings may include other words such as Sincerely, Your friend, or From. A comma always comes at the end of the closing. July 9, 2010 Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, Liz closing

Signature means writing your name. You should always write your signature under the closing. July 9, 2010 Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, Liz signature

Can you name the five parts of the friendly letter? Say the name of each part. Click on the arrows to check your answers. July 9, 2010 heading Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, closing Liz signature greeting body

You’re right! The heading is the correct answer. July 9, 2010 heading Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, closing Liz signature greeting body

That’s right! Body is correct. July 9, 2010 heading Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, closing Liz signature greeting body

Yes! Greeting is the correct answer. July 9, 2010 heading Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, closing Liz signature greeting body

Great job! Closing is the correct answer. July 9, 2010 heading Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, closing Liz signature greeting body

Fantastic! Signature is correct. July 9, 2010 heading Dear Grandma, We got back in town today after our vacation to the beach. It was really hot in Florida, so playing in ocean water helped us stay cooler. We enjoyed riding the waves, searching for shells, and building sand castles. I hope you can go with us next year. Love, closing Liz signature greeting body Now click on the pencil to sing the Friendly Letter Writing Song!

Friendly Letter Writing Song To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb First you write the heading, the heading, the heading, First you write the heading, The month, the day, the year. Next you write the greeting, the greeting, the greeting, Next you write the greeting, You start it off with Dear. Then you write the body, the body, the body, Then you write the body, You ask and tell some things. Then you write the closing, the closing, the closing, Then you write the closing, “Your friend” or “I love you,” Sign your name right under this, under this, under this, Sign your name right under this, And now your letter’s through.

Now that you know how to write a friendly letter, try writing one to someone who is special to you.