Writing Corner: Cards and Letters
To develop purposeful mark-making and early writing through authentic card and letter writing.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Makes marks for communicative purpose
- Understands writing carries messages
- Attempts to form letters
- Writes own name or initial
Materials
- Card templates and blank cards
- Envelopes
- Stamps (real where possible)
- Mark-making tools
Instructions
Establish the writing corner as a purposeful space, not just for free mark-making. Provide envelopes and cards alongside writing tools. Occasionally provide a specific prompt: 'It's Mrs Jenkins' birthday today. Would you like to make her a card?'
Model writing a card yourself: 'I'm going to write a card to my friend. First I write 'Dear [name]' at the top — that means I'm writing TO them. Then I write my message. At the end I write my name.'
Encourage children to dictate messages you can scribe: 'What shall we write to your mum? You say it and I'll write it.' Write slowly, saying each word. Then read back, pointing to each word.
Encourage any marks as valid: 'That's your writing! What does it say?' When the child tells you, write their words beneath their marks: 'I've written what you told me it says so Grandma can read it too.'
Make delivery real wherever possible: put cards through the setting's own letterbox, deliver them to the recipient in person, post real letters with stamps. When writing has a real recipient and journey, motivation soars.
After a letter is received and replied to, celebrate: 'Mrs Jenkins got your card! She wrote back! Look — here's your name in her letter!' This completes the communicative circuit and makes the next writing experience even more compelling.