Title: Handwriting        

Author: Katie Law

Grade: 1^st

NE STANDARDS:

1.1.3 By the end of first grade, students will demonstrate knowledge of the organization of print when reading and writing.

INTEGRATED DISCIPLINE: Art

OBJECTIVES:

·        Students will be able to compose a letter to “Santa” in legible handwriting.

·        Students will be able to read their letter they wrote to “Santa.”

·        Students will be able to read the letter they get back from an upper grade “buddy” who pretends to be “Santa.”

·        Students will be able to send something through the mail to someone far away from them.

ASSESSMENT:

·        Students will write a letter to “Santa” and get it approved by the teacher.

·        Students will read their letter to volunteer parents and teachers.

·        Students will read the letter they get back from their upper grade “buddy” who pretends to be “Santa.”

·        Students will send the mail to “Santa” or whomever with the envelope addressed.

MATERIALS:

Paper
Pens
Pencils
Markers
Colored paper
Santa faces
Colorful Mailbox
Envelopes

PROCEDURES

Anticipating Set:  When it gets close to Christmas, have the students make a list of what they want from Santa.  Have them also write or talk about what Christmas means and what happens outside during winter.

    Vocabulary:

Santa
letter
mail
mailbox
South Pole
reindeer
Rudolph
envelope

    Activities:

    T: Ask an upper grade in school if they would answer the Santa letters for the 1^st graders that write them.

    T: Have students draw a picture of what it looks like outside and what they think of when the word Christmas is mentioned.

    S: Draw a picture of what it looks like outside and what they think of when the word Christmas is mentioned.

    T: Give each student a piece of paper that has a Santa face on it.  Have them write a letter to Santa or whomever they want.

    S: Write a letter to Santa or whomever and read it to the teacher or volunteers in the class.

    T: Ask students how you would get it to the South Pole to the person they wrote it. 

    S: Explain how the mail works and what they need.

    T: Give the students an envelope and have them address it, with nice handwriting, from the model on the board.

    T: Give the letters to the upper class that agreed to write letters back.

    S: Will read the letter they get back from the upper class.

    Provision for Sp. Needs:  I will make special accommodations for any students who do not celebrate Christmas or for students that cannot write.

CLOSURE:  This activity will allow the students to write letters in correct and nice handwriting to Santa or whomever they want.  It will be a good activity during Christmas.  They will write letters, read them, and then read the reply letters.