SUBJECTS
Language Arts, Social Studies
GRADE LEVEL
Primary (K-3) / Junior (4-6) / Intermediate (7-8)
PLEDGE
1 - Protection of Water
Resources Needed:
- Dear Earth… From Your Friends in Room 5 by Erin Dealey
- Link to Virtual reading by author, Erin Dealey
- A buddy class to correspond with (this is ideally done between a Primary class and an older class who can respond in the voice of Water).
- Letter writing paper Letter Writing Templates (see attachment)
Introduction:
- This lesson is best done after the introductory lesson, Dear Earth… From Your Friends in Room 5 (Introduction) .
- Read the story, Dear Earth… From Your Friends in Room 5. Virtual reading by author, Erin Dealey
- Primary: Tell students that they will now be corresponding with Water.
- Older class: Tell students that they will now be responding to a primary student’s letter to Water and that they will be writing in the voice of Water.
Lesson:
- Primary Class: Tell students that they are going to write a letter to Water and hopefully get a response!
- Handout the Letter Writing template and have students write a letter to Water telling about what they are doing to help water. Remind students that writing a letter is similar to a conversation and that asking questions is always a good idea. What would you like to ask Water? Include your questions in your letter. You may want to first have students brainstorm ideas (or revisit the ideas students had from the previous lesson) before beginning their letters. For young classes, write a class letter as a shared writing activity.
- Older Class: Hand out completed primary letters to students and have them respond in the voice of Water, answering the questions and sharing ideas that students could do. Also remember to have them ask questions of the primary students to give them a purpose for writing back.
Follow Up Activities:
- Foster this relationship by having students write monthly.
- Plan an end of year get together where students meet their Water penpals!
- Share your class letters on author, Erin Dealey’s Classroom Blog Takeovers found on her website.