Handwritten Pen Pal Letter
About 30 minutes, indoors, for ages 8 to 10.
Where it works
Works in any indoor space
Who it's for
ages 8 to 10
Make These:
- sealed envelope
- decorated letterhead
- a question for them to answer
- something drawn in the margin
- the date at the top
- a stamp put on straight
Today's Challenge
- 1.What is the most interesting thing to share?
- 2.How will we decorate the envelope?
- 3.Why is physical mail special?
Quick Start: What you need
- 1stationery
- 2envelopes
- 3stamps
- 4pens
The Goal
Draft, decorate, and send a physical letter to a distant friend or grandparent.
How to start
- 1
Gather what you need: stationery, envelopes, stamps and pens. Nothing else required.
- 2
Head indoors and make: sealed envelope, decorated letterhead, a question for them to answer, something drawn in the margin.
- 3
Talk about what you made. Start with "What is the most interesting thing to share?"
- 4
Print the worksheet to plan it out and keep what you make.
Plan Your Envelope
Sketch how you will decorate your envelope below before you draw it on the real one.
Postage stamps date back to 1840. Before that, the person receiving a letter paid for it.
If you want to push it further
- Ask one question so they have a reason to write back
- Read it out loud before you seal it
Print it and go
The worksheet has the checklist, the prompts, and a space to draw in. One page, ready for a bag or a glovebox.