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Writing Friendly Letters
Friendly letters feel like gifts in your mailbox. They are fun to receive and to write. Letters can include drawings, hearts, and even pressed flowers! They help you keep in touch with faraway friends and relatives.
Parts of a Friendly Letter
Friendly letters have five parts: the heading, the salutation, the body, the closing, and the signature.
1. The heading includes your address and the date.
2. The salutation, or greeting, usually begins with the word “Dear” and is followed by the name of the person you are writing to. Place a comma after the name.
3. The body of the letter contains your thoughts and ideas.
4. The closing can be anything from “Love” to “See you soon.” Follow the closing with a comma.
5. Put your signature below your closing.
3. The body of the letter contains your thoughts and ideas.
4. The closing can be anything from “Love” to “See you soon.” Follow the closing with a comma.
5. Put your signature below your closing.
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Sample Friendly Letter
Sara Smith wrote to her friend Angie, who had moved away to live on a farm in Michigan. Sara and Angie agreed to write letters to keep their friendship going.
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Writing a Letter
Prewriting
Pick Someone to Write To 🟪 Maybe your best friend has moved away. Or maybe you would like to share big news with a cousin or your grandma.
Plan What You Will Say 🟪 Make a short list of the things you want to say. Trina made this list for a letter to her cousin Lynn:
- my new bike
- pictures of Mr. Pudge and Whiskers
- class picnic
- Milwaukee Public Museum
Writing a Draft
Include Your Best Ideas 🟪 Start with an idea from your list. Then add ideas and details until you say everything you want to say.
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Revising
Review Your Work 🟪 Think of what the reader already knows. Think of what the person needs to know.
- Does your letter provide enough details?
- Are the details interesting and fun?
- Do you need to explain anything?
Editing & Proofreading
Check for Errors 🟪 Make sure your letter has complete sentences and follows the rules.
- Correct spelling and punctuation errors.
- Write a neat final copy to send.
- Make sure you have correctly addressed the envelope.
© Thoughtful Learning 2025
© Thoughtful Learning 2025