These are the Georgia Performance Standards met by the following lesson for second grade: ELA2W1 The student demonstrates competency in the writing process. ELA2LSV1 The student uses oral and visual strategies to communicate. ELA2R4 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade- level text. ELA2R3 The student acquires and uses grade-level words to communicate effectively. S2CS5. Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly. S2CS1. Students will be aware of the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science and will exhibit these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world works.

Table of Contents Ways to communicate –Telephone –Writing letters –Computers –Talking Parts of a friendly letter –Heading –Greeting –Body –Closing –Signature Heading Greeting Body Closing Signature Who am I going to write to? Favorite Animal Bar Graph Favorite Animal Pie Chart Writing Organizational Chart Checklist

What are some ways we communicate? Telephone Writing letters Computers Talking

Parts of a Friendly Letter Heading Greeting Body Closing Signature

The heading is the first part of your letter. The heading is the date. It goes on the top right side of the letter. Look at the example! Example: July 12, 2005

The next part of the letter is the greeting. The greeting goes on the left side of the paper under the heading. It begins with a capital letter and you must put a comma after the greeting. Example of greeting: Dear Sue, July 12, 2005 Dear Sue, How are you? I am having a great summer break. I have been swimming, riding my bike, and playing with my friends. What have you been doing? I am excited for school to start and can’t wait to see you! Your friend, Mary heading greeting

What is next? the body this is the main message of the letter each paragraph should be indented it should be at least 5 sentences July 12, 2005 Dear Sue, How are you? I am having a great summer break. I have been swimming, riding my bike, and playing with my friends. What have you been doing? I am excited for school to start and can’t wait to see you! Your friend, Mary heading greeting body

The closing is how you finish the letter. Make sure you begin the closing with a capital letter and place a comma after the closing. Examples: Sincerely, Your Friend, Love, The signature is the name of the person who wrote the letter. The signature goes on the line below the closing. Example: Sincerely, Miss Bunsold July 12, 2005 Dear Sue, How are you? I am having a great summer break. I have been swimming, riding my bike, and playing with my friends. What have you been doing? I am excited for school to start and can’t wait to see you! Your friend, Mary closing signature

Who am I going to write to? You are going to choose your favorite animal to write to. Then as a class we will create a bar graph and pie chart representing our choices.

These are the animals that the class chose to write a friendly letter to. Which animal is most popular? Which animal is the least popular? What type of graph is this?

What type of graph is this? Does it show the same information as the bar graph? How are the two graphs different and alike? Which one do you like better?

Brainstorming your animal detail Now that you have chosen the animal you are going to write to, you need to brainstorm about what you write about in you letter. Follow this chart to help you brainstorm. You may include information about the animal’s habitat, diet, and other interesting facts.

Remember to… include the five parts of a friendly letter capitalize all proper nouns, the greeting, and the closing indent each paragraph write at least 5 sentences use neat handwriting, punctuation, and check your spelling Click on the schoolhouse to go back to the first slide.