Letter writing topics for kids can include a letter to the teacher or maybe to a best friend. That’s all great, but there are so many other forms of letter writing that most kids never encounter.
If you’d like your students to have opportunities to write various letters, I’m your girl. If you’d like to know how to teach friendly letter-writing skills to students, you can learn more in this blog post.
Here are a few ideas to entice your writers and capture excitement for letter writing for life! Through the variety of letter-writing topics, young writers experience an authentic and real-life purpose.
The Introduction Letter
The Introduction Letter is the first step in building a pen-pal relationship. During these initial writing activities, the student introduces himself/herself and provides any note-worthy facts. Topics range from sports played a favorite activity, and they’re going to fast food desires and anything that makes them special. Of course, these are just a few of the possible topics, and the sky’s the limit here.
Response Letter
Once a student receives an introduction letter, a response is needed. Students start their response letter by answering any questions that their Pen Pal has asked them. Then they introduce themself as well.
It’s during this point that the Pen Pal relationship will continue, with letters flying back and forth between the two Pals.
Sharing News
The Sharing Letter is an opportunity for a writer to share an experience, some good news, or an accomplishment. The Sharing letter really has no limits. Students can get things off their minds by sharing with a Pen Pal.
Opinion Letter Writing Topics
Students often want to encourage their parents to take action. Maybe the writer is creating a well-developed letter to their mom requesting an extended bedtime. Or it may be a letter stating a strong feeling about serving broccoli with dinner. The opinions vary but are definitely there.
A Proper Apology
The Apology Letter is a great resource for teaching students steps to make an apology. Too often, students feel a disconnection; “I’m sorry” is enough. I beg to differ. Students learn to take ownership of their past actions, state that they will make a better choice in future similar situations, and ask for forgiveness. (The apology format is something many adults could use as well.)
Get Well Card
The Get Well Letter allows students the opportunity to express empathy. A sincere get-well card has a special touch. Often, a get-well letter can lift spirits and brighten someone’s day.
Congratulations Letter Writing Topics
A Congratulations Letter is another one of those letter writing topics that’s great to receive but is even nicer to write. Instead of students always receiving them, they will now be sending them out.
Thank You Letter
Most people appreciate a well-crafted Thank You Letter and will take note of it. Therefore, students learn to value the traditional Thank You Letter once they have taken the time to experience the thoughtful sentiment.
I like to tie this activity to Veterans Day. The students take the time to thank a veteran for their service. Often, this is the first time young children have ever thought about the importance of their job.
Email Writing
An Email certainly is not “traditional” in any sense, but nevertheless, it is a letter. While students learn traditional forms of communication, we also need to teach the proper structure for email communication.
Writing to the President
A Letter written to the President of the United States of America is a show stopper of activity for your children. Students determine an issue they would like to have the President consider. Students learn how to write a formal lesson when writing to the President. The piece de resistance is when they receive a letter in return from the President!
Letter to Santa
A letter written to Santa can be a tradition for young students. Let’s change that by making sure every child has the opportunity to send their list of requests. It’s one more experience that leaves a lasting impression.
A Sweet Valentine’s Letter
Often, Valentine’s cards are short and sweet. The little store-bought valentine may say, “Wishing my Valentine the sweetest, happiest day.” During this activity, students will learn how to express their appreciation and support their statements with details. Someone will feel extremely loved!
A Letter to My Future Self
A favorite end-of-school-year activity is to have students write a letter to themselves that they will read twenty years from now. Parents then keep the card for the next twenty years. That’s when the students will finally get to reread their letters to themselves. This is the most adorable letter ever.
Writing Inside the Pen Pal Club
Students practice various letter writing topics and opportunities inside the Pen Pal Club. Many of the letters are ongoing communication with a Pen Pal, while others provide a rich letter-writing opportunity within their world.
Are your students struggling and making very little progress in writing? Or maybe they’re unmotivated or a reluctant writer? If so, I’ve got your back.
Yes…I…Do!
Let me share my secret sauce when it comes to teaching writing to elementary students.
It’s the Sentences, Paragraphs, and Essays: OH, MY! E-book.
Click this link to learn more about how the E-Book can transform your students’ chicken scratch, hap-hazard writing into strong, effective, glorious writing!
–Melissa
