Return to Better Letters: Lesson Plans for Teaching Letter Writing

Subjects Arts & Humanities Language Arts Educational Technology Social Studies Civics Government History U.S. History World History

Grades 6-8 9-12 Advanced

Brief Description Students read and reflect on the letters of Harry Truman, the 33rd president of the United States. What do those letters reveal about the man and the times in which he lived? What do the letters you write today reveal about you? Objectives Students will read a variety of Harry Truman's letters to his wife Bess Truman and his daughter Margaret; these letters reveal the personal side of Harry Truman. analyze and draw conclusions about Truman's character, attitudes, ethics, lifestyle, and interpersonal relationships. note the differences and similarities in language and style between Truman's letters and modern personal letters. compose letters, including a letter to a living person you admire, such as a teacher or relative, and to an individual or company to "right a wrong." generate conclusions about what letters reveal about the letter writers. Keywords president, Truman, letter, writing, character, ethics Materials Needed All materials, including copies of the Truman letters, can be downloaded from the site referenced below. Lesson Plan Harry Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, served from 1945-53. In this lesson, students reflect on what Harry Truman’s letters reveal about the man and the times in which he lived. Students then write a series of letters of their own and reflect upon what those letters might reveal if found 25 years in the future. For the complete lesson, go to the lesson plan The Lost Art of Letter Writing, at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum Web site. Assessment This lesson plan includes a rubric for rating student performance. Lesson Plan Source Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum Submitted By Gary Hopkins National Standards LANGUAGE ARTS: English GRADES K - 12 NL-ENG.K-12.1 Reading for Perspective NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills SCIENCES: Civics GRADES 5 - 8 NSS-C.5-8.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government NSS-C.5-8.2 Foundations of the American Political System NSS-C.5-8.3 Principles of Democracy NSS-C.5-8.4 Other Nations and World Affairs NSS-C.5-8.5 Roles of the Citizen GRADES 9 - 12 NSS-C.9-12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government NSS-C.9-12.2 Foundations of the Political System NSS-C.9-12.3 Principles of Democracy NSS-C.9-12.4 Other Nations and World Affairs NSS-C.9-12.5 Roles of the Citizen SOCIAL SCIENCES: U.S. History GRADES 5 - 12 NSS-USH.5-12.8 Era 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945) NSS-USH.5-12.9 Era 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s) SOCIAL SCIENCES: World History GRADES 5 - 12 NSS-WH.5-12.8 The 20th Century See more language arts lessons from Education World. Return to the letter-writing lesson plan page. Originally published 09/27/2002 Last updated 05/28/2007