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!!!