Historical Figure & Event

Write letters that make things happen!

Write letters that make things happen!
Date
July 07
Calendar Activity Type
Historical Figure & Event

Event Description

On July 7, 1983, Samantha Smith, a U.S. schoolgirl, flew to the Soviet Union at the invitation of Premier Yuri Andropov, all because of a letter that she wrote. Smith wrote a letter to Andropov asking, "Why do you want to conquer the whole world, or at least our country?" The Soviet leader replied to her letter, and Samantha ultimately visited the nation, becoming a good-will ambassador.

Classroom Activity

Have your students write their own letters that make things happen. Students can write individual letters, or work in small groups or as a full group. Letter writing can be a culminating project after you've completed a unit of study on a particular topic. For instance, if you've just completed a unit on animals, students might write letters to the local zoo, praising them for the ways that they care for animals or making suggestions for changes. After exploring freedom of speech in a censorship unit, students might write letters to the editor of the local newspaper explaining their feelings about specific books that are (or aren't) included in the library.

In addition to the resources available in the Letter Generator and on the Letter Generator page, there are resources available from Gallaudet University that demonstrate how to write advocacy letters. The American Civil Liberties Union provides tips on writing letters to the editor and letters to elected officials, which can be useful for projects where students are looking at issues of civil rights, freedom of speech, and student rights.

 

Websites

SamanthaSmith.info

This site includes information about Samantha Smith, her famous letter to Andropov, her subsequent work as a goodwill ambassador, and the continuing work of the foundation devoted to her memory.

 

PBS Kids: Arthur: Letter Writer Helper

Students can find tips from Arthur on letter and e-mail writing, which can serve as a resource for independent letter writing.

 

Foundation for the Individual Rights in Education

The FIRE Student Network recognizes the importance of advancing civil liberties in schools. Visit the site for resources on the topic.

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

View the Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting site for resources that help identify and respond to inaccurate or unfair news coverage.

Related Resources

  • Lesson Plans
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  • Student Interactives
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  • Strategy Guides
Grades
K - 2
|
Lesson Plan
|
Unit
Teaching Audience Through Interactive Writing
Through interactive writing, students work together and then independently to create invitation letters for a group of their peers and their families.
Grades
3 - 5
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Can You Convince Me? Developing Persuasive Writing

Through a classroom game and resource handouts, students learn about the techniques used in persuasive oral arguments and apply them to independent persuasive writing activities.

Grades
6 - 8
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Book Report Alternative: A Character's Letter to the Editor
Students write a persuasive letter to the editor of a newspaper from a selected fictional character's perspective, focusing on a specific issue or situation explored in the novel.
Grades
9 - 12
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Communicating on Local Issues: Exploring Audience in Persuasive Letter Writing

Students will research a local issue, and then write letters to two different audiences, asking readers to take a related action or adopt a specific position on the issue.

Grades
3 - 5
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Who's Got Mail? Using Literature to Promote Authentic Letter Writing
Students discuss and chart letter elements and write their own letters to adults at school, reinforcing letter-writing skills beyond the classroom lesson.
Grades
K - 2
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
What's the Difference? Beginning Writers Compare E-mail with Letter Writing
Students compare e-mails to traditional letters, identifying style and intended audience for each. They then write both an e-mail and a letter about the same topic.
Grades
9 - 12
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Persuading an Audience: Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
Students use persuasive writing and an understanding of the characteristics of letters to the editor to compose effective letters to the editor on topics of interest to them.
Grades
3 - 5
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Dear Librarian: Writing a Persuasive Letter
Students write persuasive letters to their librarian requesting that specific texts be added to the school library. As they work, students plan their arguments and outline their reasons and examples.
Grades
3 - 5
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
A Genre Study of Letters With The Jolly Postman
Students read The Jolly Postman, in which a postman delivers letters to storybook characters. They explore different types of mail and categorize letters from the book and their own mail.
Grades
6 - 8
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Sí, Se Puede: Making a Difference, One Letter at a Time
After reading the book ¡Si, Se Puede!/Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A., students learn about labor unions, strikes, and organizing for change. Students interview staff members in their school to learn about their daily work life, and write persuasive advocacy letters.
Grades
6 - 8
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
Persuading the Principal: Writing Persuasive Letters About School Issues
Students learn that you don't have to raise your voice to raise a point. Writing a persuasive letter to your principal is a great way to get your opinions heard.
Grades
9 - 12
|
Lesson Plan
|
Standard Lesson
The Correspondence Project: A Lesson of Letters
After exploring business and friendly letter formats, students write letters for various audiences and real-world purposes.
Grades
K - 12
|
Student Interactive
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Writing & Publishing Prose
Letter Generator

The Letter Generator is a useful tool for students to learn the parts of a business or friendly letter and then compose and print letters for both styles of correspondence.

Grades
Grades
K - 12
|
Strategy Guide
Write Alouds
This strategy guide explains how to use write-aloud (also known as modeled writing) to teach effective writing strategies and improve students' independent writing ability.
Grades
Grades
6 - 12
|
Strategy Guide
Developing Persuasive Writing Strategies
This strategy guide describes the techniques used in effective persuasive writing and shares activities you can use to help students understand and use persuasion in their writing and critical thinking.
Grades
Grades
K - 5
|
Strategy Guide
Persuasive Writing
This strategy guide focuses on persuasive writing and offers specific methods on how you can help your students use it to improve their critical writing and thinking skills.