Monday 29th June 

Informal letters
LO: To understand the
difference between formal and
informal writing 
 SPAG –
Contraction
s activity
Formal VS informal
• When writing, its important to use the right tone to suit who you're
writing for and your reason for writing. This can be either formal or
informal. A thank you letter can be either depending on who you're
writing to. If you're writing a letter to someone you don't know then
you will use formal language. 

• Please watch the video below and write down any informal or formal
language used:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z69mt39
Which of the following would you NOT
write using informal language?

a) A letter to a friend.
b) An essay about a Shakespeare play.
c) A talk aimed at students your own age and younger.
d) A diary entry.
e) A story written from the point of view of a character
(in the first person).
Informal writing 

• Writing is informal when it

has features similar to a
conversation with a friend.
• Used in an appropriate
context, an informal tone can
help make your writing seem
more friendly and natural.
How is this letter different
to a formal letter?

Is there anything we could

add?
Look at the examples below. Where
would you place the following
audiences on the Stylometer? Reorder
them from most formal to least
formal.

• Give us your pen, Smithy.

• I ain't got nothing for you.
• Excuse me, but do you have a pen I
could possibly borrow, please?
• Can I have a pen please Sir?
• Have you got a pencil Sean?
Hot seating – Informal language 
• What questions could we ask a friend about their recent trip to a theme park?
• What informal vocab will we use?
• As this activity takes place I would like you to write down the questions and
vocab/language that is used. 

• Year 5's you will need to complete this activity by hot 

Seating with someone at home. Pretend you have recently
Been to a theme park – what questions will you ask?
Don't forget to record your answers.
 Tuesday 30th June 

Informal letters
LO: To use contractions to write
informally
SPAG – Informal greetings 
• Tell you partner what you did you the weekend.
• Write down what you did on the weekend using informal language.
• What are you plans for this weekend? Write it down as if you were
telling an adult in your family.
• Did the tone change?
 Contractions – use these to write about the pictures above.
E.g. I didn't like the gigantic spinning rollercoaster as it made me feel extremely
sick. 
Missing features and paragraphs
• You will now each be given an example of an informal letter. Can you
identify what is missing?
• Can you add 1-2 paragraphs to complete the letter? Think carefully
about who you are writing to and the language you are using.
• You may want to use abbreviations when writing e.g. ASAP.
 Wednesday 1st July 

Informal letters
LO: To plan an informal letter
SPAG – Synonyms activity  
• Powerful vocab.
• How can we upscale our writing?
• Year 5's – please can you use the
Words below and a thesauraus to
Find powerful vocab?
Informal letter checklist
• Chatty style
• Ask questions which require an answer
• Contractions – didn't, we're, aren't
• Addresses the reader directly e.g. I'm glad I received your letter
• Your writing is more like speech (but does not include speech marks).
• Appropriate language – remember I will be reading these letters so no
inappropriate words!)
• Paragraphs – clear and easy to read
Task
• You will be writing an informal letter to a friend or family member
about your recent trip to a new theme park (this could be your theme
park you created last term).
• You will be writing to them clearly explaining what you enjoyed, didn't
like and talking about your favourite ride.
• You may also wish to write about the following: a new ride they were
building, food, celebrities you saw at the park, what ride made you
feel sick and your favourite part of the trip. 
Planning an informal letter

• We are now going to use the

planning template to plan
our letter.
• Think carefully about your
audience.
• Use the success criteria to
help with planning. 
• Lots of detail which is clear
and easy to read.
 Thursday 2nd July 

Informal letters
LO: To write an informal letter
Informal letter writing

• Today we will look at a model

example before writing our own
letters. 
• Remember you are writing to a
member of your family or a friend
so will be writing in a chattier
style. 
• Use the questions and vocabulary
we have collected throughout the
week to help you write your
letters.