Who and why?
Think of someone who has done something kind. Tell a partner: Thank you for ___ because ___.
Writing · Level 2 · Years 3 and 4 · Unit 5 of 6 · Letter
A letter of thanks
Children write a warm, personal thank-you letter with a reason, a detail and a friendly sign-off.
7sessions
45minutes each
Years 3 and 4ages 8 to 10
A1 to A2CEFR
By the end
Children write a letter with an address block, greeting, two short paragraphs giving reasons with because and so, and a sign-off.
How the unit runs
7 sessions, 8 parts
Every writing unit follows the same eight parts: read, talk, learn the sentence skill, plan, write together, write alone, check, publish. This unit fits them into 7 sessions of about 45 minutes.
| Session | Parts | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Part 1: Read and enjoy | Read and enjoy "A letter to Aunt Jo". Find 3 features to notice. |
| Session 2 | Part 2: Talk it | Oral rehearsal games: Who and why?, Say it kindly, Because and so. |
| Session 3 | Part 3: Sentence skill | Teach the sentence skill: Giving reasons with because and so. |
| Session 4 | Part 4: Plan | Plan on the frame: my thank-you letter plan. |
| Session 5 | Part 5: Shared write | The teacher models the writing, thinking aloud. |
| Session 6 | Part 6: Independent write | Children write independently, with support and stretch. |
| Session 7 | Part 7: Check + Part 8: Publish | Check against the success criteria and the editing checklist. Publish for a real reader on the printable template. |
Curriculum link. Years 3 and 4 composition: composing and rehearsing sentences orally; organising paragraphs around a theme. Appendix 2: expressing cause using conjunctions (because, so). Sources: see the end of this page.
Part 1 of 8
Read and enjoy a model text
Read it aloud first, or press the button. Talk about what the writer has done before anyone writes. This text was written for Litlings and is free to copy for your class.
14 Elm Road, Brighton. 12 December.
Dear Aunt Jo,
Thank you very much for the blue scarf. I love it because it is soft and warm, and the colour is my favourite. It was freezing on the way to school this morning, so I wore it all day.
My friends noticed it straight away, and Mia asked where I got it. I told her it came from the best aunt in the world!
I hope you are well. Please come and visit soon, because we have a lot to tell you.
With love from Thiri
What to notice
- Address and date, then Dear Aunt Jo,A letter starts with an address, a date and a greeting with a comma.
- because it is soft and warm / so I wore it all dayReasons make thanks sound real and personal.
- With love fromA friendly letter ends with a warm sign-off and the writer's name.
Part 2 of 8
Talk it: oral rehearsal
Talk comes before writing. Children say the sentences, then the paragraph, before the pencil moves.
Say it kindly
Practise a friendly tone aloud: Thank you very much, I really love it. Compare with a short, cold version. Which sounds warmer?
Because and so
Give a reason with because; a result with so. I loved the book because it was funny. It was funny, so I read it twice.
Part 3 of 8
Sentence skill: Giving reasons with because and so
Give reasons to make writing thoughtful: I liked the book because it was funny. It was funny, so I read it twice.
Teach it in four steps
- Write the address, date and Dear plus the name and a comma.
- Say thank you and say exactly what for.
- Give a reason with because and a result with so.
- Close with a friendly wish and a sign-off.
Examples
| Start | Becomes or shows |
|---|---|
| Thank you for the scarf. It keeps me warm. | Thank you for the scarf because it keeps me warm. |
| It was cold. I wore my gloves. | It was cold, so I wore my gloves. |
| Dear Aunt Jo | Dear Aunt Jo, |
Part 4 of 8
Plan: My thank-you letter plan
Choose who to thank. Plan each part of the letter. Children say each part aloud to a partner first, then jot notes. Type here, or print the frame to use on paper. It prints on one A4 page.
My thank-you letter plan
NameDate
Choose who to thank. Plan each part of the letter.
Who and what for?Dear ___, thank you for ___.
Why do I love it?I love it because ___.
What did I do with it?It was ___, so I ___.
Friendly endingI hope ___. With love from ___.
Part 6 of 8
Independent write
The task
Write a thank-you letter to someone for a gift, a visit or a kind thing they did. Give reasons using because and so.
Sentence starters
- Dear ___,
- Thank you very much for ___.
- I love it because ___.
- It was ___, so I ___.
- I hope ___.
- With love from ___
Word bank
- thank
- wonderful
- kind
- thoughtful
- because
- so
- favourite
- enjoyed
- visit
- soon
Support
Give a letter frame with the greeting and sign-off in place. Children write the middle.
Stretch
Add a postscript (P.S.) with a funny detail, or write a reply from the recipient.
English as an additional or foreign language. Show a real letter and label each part. Provide polite phrases on a mat: thank you very much, I really appreciate.
Part 7 of 8
Check: success criteria and editing
Children read their writing aloud, tick what they have done and fix what they have not. Ticks are saved on this device only.
Success criteria
Editing checklist
Part 8 of 8
Publish for a real reader
Write the best copy on the printable template and really send it, in a school envelope or by hand. Real readers matter.
Printable template: Letter
One A4 page, blank for handwriting. Print from the browser or download the PDF.
My letter
NameDate
Write your address, the date, your greeting, your message and your sign-off.
Your address and the date
GreetingDear ...,
My letter
Sign-off and nameYours sincerely, With love from
Keep going
In this course
Elsewhere on the site
Sources
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (DfE)
- English Appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation (DfE)
- Improving Literacy in Key Stage 2 (EEF)
Curriculum statements are paraphrased from the documents above. Model texts and activities are original to Litlings.