Lauren Novak Children’s Literature Activity Title: Never Mail an Elephant Author: Mike Thaler Activity: Letter Writing ‘Summary of book: This is a story about a boy who wanted to mail an elephant to his cousin for his birthday. This boy goes through all the steps that it would take to mail an elephant to his cousin. He talks about wrapping the elephant up, then putting stamps on. it. After he prepares the elephant to be mailed, he tries to put it in the mailbox. He stuffs the elephant in the mailbox and it goes to the mail processing center. When they try to get the package ready to go out, the elephant escapes and runs back to the boy's house. After the failed attempt to mail the elephant, he decides to just ride the elephant to his cousin's party. Materials: is book, chart paper, writing paper Grade Level: 2" Grade Common Core Standards: © CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g.,because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section. . EUACL 1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. © CCSS.ELALLITERACY.L2.2.8 Use commas in greetings and closings of letters. Objectives: + Ican write a book-recommendation letter to a friend Ian use commas in my letter © Icanaddress my letterLauren Novak ‘Activity: Write @ Letter Recommending a Book to a Friend Since letter writing is @ section within Lucy Calkins Unit 3, Writing About Reading, | thought I would use this book to introduce writing and mailing letters to friends. This read aloud would be the fun anticipatory set to get students interested in writing a letter. ‘¢ Read the book, Never Mail an Elephant by Mike Thaler as a read aloud to the class Then, instruct the students that they are going to write letters to a friend recommending a book that they think their friend might lke. * Doan example with the class with a read aloud book that the whole class would be familiar with. + On chart paper, show an example of what their letters might look like. ‘© Start with the date in the top right comer ‘Then add a greeting. (Dear ) Next show students how to indent their writing. Start writing with the purpose for writing, (I think you will lke this book..} Instruct students to add examples so that the reader knows why they should read the book. © Have students close with a closing. (sincerely, ) «After the students have thelr letters done, refer back to the book where the boy addresses the ‘elephant to mail it. (This could be done another day so students have more time to work on their letters) ‘Show the students how to address an envelope so that they can mail their letters. + Make sure to show them where the return address and stamps go since the book doesn’t show that part very well. ‘¢ Actually let the students mail their letters (You can pass them through the school instead of actually mailing them if you prefer. You could even let students design their own stamp to put con the envelope if you choose. oooo