Комплект материалов к уроку A Letter to Santa

Introduction to Writing a Letter to Santa Claus

Gather the children on the carpet and read a story about Santa Claus. Once the story is finished ask the students who would like to write Santa Claus. Most if not all hands will be eagerly waving in the air.

Ask students what they would need to write a letter to Santa Claus. On the blackboard or chart paper record all of their answers. You may need to prompt the children to complete the list for letter writing. The Santa Claus letter list should include; date, Santa Claus’s address, writer’s address, salutation, closing, body of the paragraph, stamp, and envelope. After you have all the information on the list, it is time to write a letter to Santa Claus.

Begin the lesson with reading a letter you wrote to Santa Claus when you were a little girl or boy. In the letter include all of the appropriate information for a letter. After the letter is written ask the students if they are ready to write a letter to Santa Claus.

Shared Letter Writing

Together as a class, write a letter to Santa Claus. Have students refer to your letter to write the classroom letter. Always ask open ended questions to allow children to problem solve. Begin the letter and emphasis capitals, spacing, and punctuation. You may wish to make mistakes on the letter and have students assist you in making the corrections with a different marker. Once the letter is written, the class will read the letter.

Independent Letter Writing

Students will write their own letter to Santa Claus following the outline during the shared activity. After the letter is written students are to reread and make any corrections. Once students are self-edited, the teacher will edit. Students will write a second copy with the absence of errors.

Stamps

Students are given a small piece of paper that they will create into a stamp. The stamp may be coloured or be a symbol of Christmas. Students will decide on how to decorate the stamp. Some stamp suggestions; candy cane, Santa’s hat, or a Christmas tree.

Mailing Santa Claus Letters

Students will address the envelope to Santa Claus and will glue their stamp to the envelope.

Santa’s Address: Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H OH0

Teachers are asked to send the letters by December 4th to ensure students receive a letter from Santa Claus before Christmas. Over 1 million children take advantage of the program all over the world, and letters are answered in the child’s language including Braille.

Writing a letter to Santa Claus is an excellent Christmas activity to start the Christmas unit for the primary grades. Late November or early December is the time to begin the letters to ensure there is enough time for the letters to be delivered to the North Pole and for students to receive a response from Santa Claus.

Content
Students will write a persuasive letter

Benchmarks
Later Elementary 1. Write with developing fluency for multiple purposes to produce a variety of texts, such as stories, journals, learning logs, directions, and letters.

Grade 3-5: Students explore various technology resources that could assist them in pursuing personal goals. 
Learning Resources and Materials
Pen/Pencil
Paper
Computer (Internet access for Webquest)
Word Processing Software

Development of Lesson
Introduction
Teacher would ask students if they know what they want from Santa.
Students would be asked “What if your name wasn't on Santa's list and he doesn't know if you've been 'Naughty or Nice'.”
Students would be ask “How could you persuade Santa you've been good and deserve the goodies you're asking for?”
Students letters will be mailed to the “North Pole” 
Teacher would go through the Frosty webquest along with the students: http://www.sturgeon.k12.mo.us/elementary/numphrey/projects&webquests/frostywebquest/frostywebquest.html

Methods/Procedures
Students will create a list of what they want from Santa
Students will brainstorm and write down reasons they deserve to get these items
Students will write and type up the letter and turn in the first draft.
Students will then apply corrections to the letter per the teachers instructions
Letter will be mailed to the “North Pole” and a copy sent home to parents

Lesson Plan (A Letter to Santa)

(on the board – A LETTER TO SANTA)

Greeting and aim

Hello class. How are you? (We are fine)

Look around. What can you see? (I can see a sock. I can see Santa. I can see a Christmas tree. I can see an elf. I can see a snow man…) You are right.

Why do we have them here? (We have got Christmas.) Can you read this? (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!)

We have a lot of guests: they are your mothers, grandmothers and teachers. Say hello and let’s sing for them. (Deck the halls)

Who is he? (He’s Santa Clause). What colour are his hat, jacket and suit? (Red) Do you like Santa? (Yes, I like Santa.) Why do you like Santa? (He’s kind/funny. He gives presents. He gives toys.) Yes, Santa gives presents to good boys and girls. He doesn’t give presents to bad and naughty children.

Today we are going to write letters to Santa and ask for presents. In Russia children write a letter to Ded Moroz. In America they write a letter to Santa. Today we are going to write a letter in English. Ded Moroz can’t speak English. So we are going to write a letter to Santa.

Vocabulary

Look at the board. They are presents: toys, clothes, pets, accessories and gadgets.

X come out and choose toys. Say what you choose. (doll, yo-yo, ball, teddy, puzzle, kite, bike, train, car…) Well done. Now, X come out and choose clothes. (dress, T-shirt, trousers, shorts, shoes, coat, hat) Fine. Here we have pets. What are they? (dog, cat, fish, turtle). + laptop, I Pad, I phone, MP4, + necklace, ring, earrings, bracelet.

Now work in groups (three groups). Can you write the words? (Yes.) (Раздать листы бумаги: Toys Clothes Pets, каждая группа должна написать слова) Now come to the board and write the words. (Students come to the board and write the words)

Speaking

What do you want for Christmas? (I want a car… a teddy….) Do you want a red… ? (I want a blue…)Do you want a big…? (Yes, I want a big…) Have you got a …?

Video

Now we are going to watch a video and say what the girl wants for Christmas.

So, what does the girl want for Christmas?

Model Text

I’ve got two letters to Santa. (На доске письмо - образец) Look this is a letter from Tim.

1. Who writes the letter?

2. How old is Tim?

3. Is Tim a good boy?

4. What does he want?

5. What does he want for his sister?

6. What does he want for his cousin?

7. How does he start the letter?

8. How does he finish the letter?

9. Is Tim a good boy? Is he kind? Why? (He wants presents for his sister and cousin)Correcting mistakesNow look at Billy’s letter. (On a sheet of paper to correct in a big envelope) What’s wrong with his letter? Let’s correct it. I’ve got three copies of his letter. Work in groups.

This is for you to write your letters to Santa. This is a model letter. (Tim’s letter on the screen) (Give the children 10 minutes to write their letters) While they are writing, walk about and help. Those who have written can colour their letters. – Colour your letters.

So, your letters to Santa are written. Fold you’re your letters and put them into the envelopes. Now write the address (To Santa North Pole) and stick your stamp to the envelope (stickers)

(The teacher puts on Santa’s hat) Ho-ho-ho! Hello, children. I’m Santa. How are you? Are you good children? OK. Give me your letters.

Dear Santa,   How are you? My name is Tim and I’m eight. I am a good boy. Please, give me - a puppy (I really want it), - a new dress for my sister, - a toy giraffe for my cousin Billy.  Thank you very much. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!   Love, Tim