This KS2 lesson plan, based on The Train to Impossible Places by PG Bell, invites pupils to immerse themselves in a magical world where impossible becomes possible!
Despite the fact that we’re in an age of email and instant messaging, letter writing remains an essential skill. This lesson uses a series of ‘top tips’ from postmaster and letter-writing expert, Wilmot Grunt.
These will inspire children to find the fun in writing, improve their comprehension and inference skills, and help them compose their own letters.
What they’ll learn
- Discuss the importance of letter writing and how this has changed over time
- Identify the components of a successful letter
- Understand and define the terms ‘formal’ and ‘informal’
- Write a letter using the correct form, structure, language and tone
Start here
Begin by asking pupils when they last wrote or received a letter. Who was it to, or who was it from? To follow, ask the class to speculate about why people don’t write letters any more.
It might be useful to share ideas by asking children to write their thoughts on Post-it notes and bring them to the front of the class, facilitating discussion about how and why communication has changed.
Jenny Baldwin is a former head of English and a marketer for Scholastic UK. She is the founder of Shapes for Schools, an award-winning education agency. Visit the Usborne website to find out more about The Train to Impossible Places and download the all-important list of Wilmot Grunt’s Top Tips. Browse more great letter writing resources.
