3 Writing postcards

Outside school, there are many different types of writing that people read for different purposes. Writing often includes illustrations and design to make the message more exciting, dramatic or clear. Students enjoy writing activities that mirror the writing they experience in real life.

But much of the writing that students do in school is not read by anyone other than the teacher. In Case Study 1, a teacher has students do writing that is read by others outside the school.

Case Study 1: Mrs Sonali’s class sends postcards

Mrs Sonali teaches Class III in a government primary school.

One day a student asked me, ‘How does a letter know how to get to me?’ I asked the class how many students had ever sent or received a real letter or postcard in the post. No one put their hand up. I brought in some postcards I had at home, to show students what they look like, where the address goes and where the messages goes, and where the stamp is put.

I had students make their own postcards, using heavy card. Students drew their own pictures on one side, and their home address and a very short, simple message in English on the other side. I was able to observe that some students could write independently, and others needed much more help.

I asked the headteacher for money to purchase stamps for each postcard and the whole class walked to the post office to post their cards. My cousin works at the post office and he arranged for them to speak to the postman about his work and how post is delivered. A week later, students were very excited when they received their postcards at home, bringing them into school to show me.

I have adapted this activity. For example, I have students make birthday cards or cards for other celebrations. Sometimes we make a big card all together that everyone signs their name on.

Pause for thought

  • Is the postcard activity appropriate for students of all ability levels? Why, or why not?
  • Do your students have opportunities to write letters or cards that will be read by real people outside school?

Activity 4: Send a postcard

Using Case Study 1 as a guide, plan an activity where your students write a postcard or a very short letter to someone outside the school. See Resource 1, ‘Planning lessons’, to learn more about the value of planning ahead.

  • Organise the resources you will need, and the help of any people outside the school.
  • How will you introduce this activity to students?
  • How will you adapt this activity if your school is not near a post office?
  • If you do this activity with very young students, show interest in their mark-making and writing. Invite them to tell you what their postcard writing says.
  • Did your students enjoy this activity? Were they all motivated? Did they all participate?

2 Students’ writing

4 Practising writing