Secret Pal Envelope Addressing Lesson Plan

You need:

• A stamped, addressed, sealed envelope
• An oversized envelope or large piece of butcher paper
• An index card for each student with their address printed on it
• Pencils
• Stamps or stickers
1. Prepare the week before by mailing a letter to the classroom. When it arrives, it will have the stamp, postal marking, and return and mailing addresses…and the kids will be anxious to read the contents.
2. Show the class the letter. Before opening it, discuss the location of the stamp (upper right hand corner), return address (upper left hand corner), and the mailing address (center). Model how to write down this information. You can use this song to help out, sung to the tune of “Are You Sleeping”.
   (The) mailing address goes in the center
   First line, name!
   Second line, street!
   Third line, write the city, followed by the state.
   Last line gets the zip code.
   
3. Tell students the same information in the same order as the mailing address also goes for the return address. This time the information is placed in the upper left hand corner and they use their own name and address.
4. On an oversized envelope or butcher paper, practice addressing an envelope as a class. Allow students to talk you through the steps.
5. Give students an index card with their address printed on it. Guide them to writing the return address on their own envelope.
6. You may stop the lesson here and return to it the next day. This will keep the lesson short and give you a chance to review the information. However, if things are flowing well, forge on!
7. Collect the index cards, mix them up, and pass them out again. Whatever name and address each student receives will be their secret pal, the one to whom they will write a letter later on.
8. Guide students to copy down their secret pal's mailing address in the correct place.
9. Use real stamps or fun stickers for stamps. Help students place their stamp in the correct place.
10. Collect envelopes and save for tomorrow’s lesson.