Letter Writing

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Writing Thank you Notes

This project turned out to be one of the liveliest of all! Each student was given the list of gifts received in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” For each gift received the children were asked to write a thank you note: boys wrote to Edwina and girls wrote to Edward. We discussed each item paying close attention to the type of gift. The first five days perhaps deserved a sincere thank you, but the last seven days of gifts led the children to the conclusion that things had gone a little too far and that they could certainly feel free to express displeasure in their notes. Here are some examples of their replies:

Day 1: A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Dear Smoochie-Koochie forever loving Edwina,

My cute little partridge sings and chirps of love all day. Its rising song reminds me of how my heart leaps every time I see your lovely face. The pears from the pear tree taste like heaven in disguise. I feel like I am in heaven every time I taste your wonderful pears!

Your moochie-koochie lover,

Edward (By Matt)

Edwina, my little buttercup,

Words cannot express how touched I am to receive the wonderful gift from you. The adorable little bird perched in the pear tree is a sight to behold. The pears are delicious, crisp, and sweet. The cooing of the melodious partridge is music to my ears and keeps you forever dear in my heart.

Affectionately,

Edward (by Will)

Day 2: Two Turtledoves

My sweet Edward,

The doorbell rang today, and when I opened it there were two turtledoves! How kind and loving of you to send me another present. I am most flattered! The two birds make a lovely couple just like you and me. Now I have three beautiful birds to care for and to remind me of you.

Love from your Edwina (by Nicole)

Day 3: Three French Hens

Dearest Edwina,

Imagine my surprise when I looked out of my window and saw three French hens in my front yard! What a sweet surprise, my buttercup. Honey, you are very thoughtful and most kind to me. I love the French hens just like I love you!

With all my love,

Edward (By Tyler)

Day 4: Four Calling Birds

Dear Edwina,

The four calling birds make the most wondrous of sounds. All of the birds now sing sweetly, and I have my own personal bird choir. What a pleasant surprise! I never thought I’d have this much of what I’ve always wanted. Thank you so much; my heart overflows with joy!

Your most loving Edward (By Andrew Mac)

Day 5: Five Golden Rings

Dear Edwina,

You are my wishbone! You are my sunshine on a cloudy day. You are my heart and soul. You are my golden girl. Speaking of gold, those five golden rings are spectacular! They shine so beautifully in the sunlight. When I run my hands over them I feel the bumpy writing that says, “Made in China,” and my hand tingles with joy! You are definitely my little husky on a cold winter day!

Your forever loving Edward (By Matt)

Day 6: Six Geese

Dear Edwina,

These geese you sent aren’t so nice. They nip at me like crazy, and I really do dislike them. I mean, really, who ever heard of geese as a gift?

Edward (By Jose)

Day 7: Seven Swans

Dear Edward,

Thanks for the seven swans even though my house is beginning to look like a zoo! All these birds! And—those swans; they’ve taken over my pool. These gifts are getting a little out of hand and on my nerves. If you insist on giving me gifts, I would love something that is not alive like those precious golden rings.

Disturbed Edwina (By Nicole)

Dear Edwina,

What is wrong with you? You are going berserk! Every time I open my front door I step on something. You have to stop. I am begging you to stop. Do I thank you for the seven swans or not?!

Edward (By Tyler)

Day 8: Eight Maids

Dear Edward,

I have enough calcium in my body, thank you. I don’t need any milking maids or cows anyway. My refrigerator is stocked with milk, butter, cream, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products. I’m training the maids to be hair stylists, because they were sick of the cows anyway. They are all going together to open a place named “Milk Maid Makeover Miracles.” Edward, in looking at your photograph, I think it might be a good idea if you visited their new salon. Your face makes me want to scream!

Your FORMER girlfriend,

Edwina (By Aliza)

Day 9: Nine Ladies

Edward,

I don’t understand it. If you’re wondering why this note is all wrinkled, it is because I was trampled by nine ladies dancing. I am demanding that you come over here and take them back! One lady is doing a cha-cha, another one is doing a mambo, and all of the rest are doing the tango except one. I made the mistake of inviting her to share a glass of wine with me, and now I have no idea what she is doing except tripping over all of the other girls. She doesn’t exactly qualify as one of the best dancers in town, and when all is said and done, neither do YOU, Edward!

Edwina (By Caitlin)

Day 10: Ten Lords

Edwina,

These ten new lords are leaping all over the place! You have just added more clowns to the little circus in my front lawn. The eleven pipers haven’t stopped piping since they’ve been here and are turning blue. The ten lords just jumped over my hens, geese, swans, and the cows. Even the neighborhood dogs are into the act barking like crazy. DON’T send any more presents!

Edward (By Andrew Mac)

Day 11: Eleven Pipers

Dear Edwina,

What’s with these guys with pipes? I just don’t get it. The first problem was that you shipped them in a box to me and put the wrong address on it. Even though you sent it overnight mail, I didn’t receive the box until about 8:00 in the evening. By the time it arrived these pipers were all climbing around screaming, “I need air,” so I immediately let them out of the box. I can’t believe that you didn’t even put air holes in it! Their music is horrible, not to mention that fact that I told you that I didn’t want any more gifts. If you send me another gift, I swear I will never speak to you again!

A fuming Edward (By Andrew Z.)

Day 12: The Last Straw!

Listen up, Edwina,

There’s a butcher shop down the road from my house. If you ever go there, expect to see: a roasted partridge, grilled turtle doves, fried chicken, sautéed calling birds, and baked goose and swan.

Edward (By Will)

P.S. I’m keeping the golden rings.

Other Letter Writing Ideas

1. Write letters to Santa requesting gifts not only for yourself, but for others as well. Here is a sample:

Dear Santa,

Please bring my mother a new watch,

And my father a warm, fuzzy sweater.

Give my friend Rob a new skateboard,

And Sam a bike that’s red.

As for me, I would like a computer,

And a telephone of my own!

2. Write the principal/director a warm, friendly letter to tell him/her how much you enjoy going to school and why.

3. For business letter practice, look on the back of cereal boxes and other items for “send ins” and write a response. Another source to use is “Freebies for Kids.”

4. Write a friendly letter to a teacher who taught you in another grade to thank him/her for helping you.

5. “Buddy Letter Journals”: Have children buy a hundred page spiral notebook. Each week every child writes to one classmate and that same classmate writes to him/her. A day or two later they exchange and write a response. The following week each child writes to some other classmate who also writes to him/her, etc. This makes a nice memory book at the end of the year.

6. Write letters to school nurses, custodians, lunchroom helpers, etc. throughout the year to thank them for what they do.

7. Make a thank you booklet for classroom mothers.

8. Write letters to authors/poets who are studied in the classroom.

9. WRITE TO YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER!!!

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