Here Comes A Letter

A letter is a written message sent from one person to another. It can be written by hand or typed. People write letters to share news, say thank you, invite someone, ask for something, or simply to keep in touch.

Why do we write letters?

• To tell family and friends how we are.
• To invite someone to a party.
• To say thank you or sorry.
• To ask for information or help.

Parts of a letter

1. Sender's address - where the letter is from (sometimes written on the envelope).
2. Date - when the letter was written.
3. Greeting - how you say hello (for example: Dear Grandma).
4. Body - the main message in a few short paragraphs.
5. Closing - a short goodbye (for example: Yours lovingly).
6. Signature - the name of the person who wrote the letter.

Envelope and stamp

To send a letter you put it in an envelope, write the receiver's address clearly in the middle, write the sender's address on the top-left, and place a stamp on the top-right. Then drop it in a postbox or give it at the post office.

Simple tips for writing

• Use neat handwriting or type the letter.
• Keep the message short and clear.
• Start with a proper greeting and end with a closing and your name.

An envelope is a paper cover used to send letters and small flat items. Knowing the parts of an envelope helps us write addresses correctly and put stamps in the right place so the post office can deliver the letter.

• Front: The main side where the receiver's address is written. This side usually has space for the stamp in the top-right corner.
• Back: The opposite side of the front. It is often plain and shows the flap when closed.
• Flap: The triangular or rectangular piece that folds over to close the envelope. We lick, moisten, or use glue/tape to seal it.
• Seal: The place where the flap touches the body of the envelope to keep it closed.
• Stamp area: Top-right corner of the front. Stamps pay for postage and must be placed here.
• Receiver's address: The full name and address of the person receiving the letter. It is written in the centre or lower centre of the front.
• Sender's/Return address: The name and address of the person who sent the letter. It is usually written on the top-left corner of the front or on the back flap. If delivery fails, the post office can return the letter to this address.
• Postmark: A stamp or ink mark applied by the post office showing the date and place of mailing. This goes over the postage stamp to cancel it.
• Window (optional): A clear plastic window on some envelopes that shows the address printed on the letter inside.

Key points to remember: write addresses neatly and clearly, place the stamp at the top-right, and make sure the envelope is properly sealed. Do not put valuable items in a plain envelope without additional protection.

What are stamps and postage?

A stamp is a small piece of paper bought from the post office and stuck on an envelope or parcel. A stamp shows that you have paid postage. Postage is the money needed to send a letter, postcard or parcel from one place to another.

How postage is decided

• Postage usually depends on the weight of the item. Heavier items need more postage.
• Postage can also depend on where you are sending the item — inside the same town, to another city, or to another country.
• Special services, like speedy delivery or insurance, cost extra postage.

How to send a letter — simple steps

1. Write the address of the person you are sending the letter to on the front of the envelope. Write your return address too.
2. Put the letter inside the envelope and seal it.
3. Weigh the envelope at home or at the post office to know the weight class.
4. Buy stamps for the correct postage and stick them on the top-right corner of the envelope.
5. Drop the letter in a post box or give it to the post office. The post office will stamp or cancel the stamp to show it has been used.

Why stamps and postage are important

• Stamps pay for the work of the postal service — collecting, sorting and delivering letters.
• They help us communicate with friends and family far away.
• Stamps are also used by collectors and can show pictures of animals, famous people, places and events.

A post office is a place in every town or village that helps people send and receive letters, cards and parcels. It is run by postal workers. The post office makes sure messages and packages travel from one place to another safely.

Common services offered at a post office:

• Accepting letters and parcels for delivery to other places.
• Selling postage stamps, envelopes and packing materials.
• Collecting money for postage and giving a receipt.
• Delivering letters and parcels to people’s homes or letterboxes through postmen.
• Speed Post or express delivery for faster service.
• Money Order service to send money to someone in another town.
• Post Office Savings Account where people can keep money safely (like a bank).

How to send a letter (simple steps):

1. Write the receiver's name and full address clearly on the envelope: house number, street name, area, city, PIN code and the state.
2. Write your name and return address at the top-left corner.
3. Buy the correct stamp(s) and stick them on the top-right corner of the envelope.
4. Give the letter at the post office or drop it in a postbox.
5. The post office collects the letter, sorts it, moves it by road/rail/air, and the postman delivers it to the receiver.

Why addresses and stamps are important:

• The address tells the postman where to deliver the letter. The PIN code helps the post office sort mail quickly.
• The stamp shows that the sender has paid for delivery.

Safety and good habits:

• Do not put dangerous or illegal things in the mail.
• Write addresses neatly and use the correct PIN code.
• Keep the post office receipt until the letter is delivered or the service is completed.

Who is a postman? A postman is a person who brings letters, cards and parcels from the post office to people’s homes and collects letters to take to the post office. He wears a uniform and often carries a bag and a list of addresses.

What does a postman do?

• Collects letters and parcels from the post office.
• Sorts letters by area or road (this is often done at the post office).
• Delivers letters and parcels to houses and offices along a route.
• Asks people to sign when they receive registered letters or parcels.
• May also sell stamps, accept small parcels and deliver notices.

Why is the postman important? The postman connects people. Before phones and the internet, letters were the main way to send news, gifts and money. Even today, postmen help deliver exam letters, invitations, medicines and important documents.

How to send a letter? Write the address clearly, put the correct stamp, fold and put the letter in an envelope, and drop it into a postbox or give it to the postman. The post office then sorts and sends it to the right postman for delivery.

Postal items are things sent through the post office so they reach other people. They can be small and flat or big and heavy. Each type has a special name and a different way of being handled by the post office.

• Letter: A written message folded inside an envelope. It usually has the sender's and receiver's address and a stamp. Letters are used for personal messages, school notes and official mails.
• Postcard: A card with a picture on one side and space for a short message and address on the other. It does not need an envelope and is often sent by travellers.
• Envelope/Printed Paper: Documents, bills or school results are often sent in envelopes. Printed paper means newspapers, magazines or booklets sent by post.
• Parcel/Package: A box or packet containing goods like toys, clothes or books. Parcels are heavier and need more postage than letters.
• Registered Letter: A letter sent with special recording so the post office can track it. It is used for important documents and is safer than an ordinary letter.
• Speed Post / Express Mail: A fast service for urgent items. It reaches the receiver quicker and is used for important papers or small parcels.
• Money Order / Postal Order: A service to send money safely through the post office (used more before digital banking).
• Greeting Card / Invitation: Cards for birthdays, festivals or parties sent in envelopes or as postcards.
• Magazine / Newspaper: Periodicals sent by subscription; often bulk mailed to many people.

All postal items must show the receiver's address, return address and usually a postage stamp or payment mark. The postage depends on size, weight and the speed of delivery.

When you send a letter or a card, it goes through several simple steps before it reaches the person you wrote to. Here is how mail travels in an easy-to-understand way:

1. Writing and Preparing the Letter
You write the message on paper and put it in an envelope. On the front of the envelope you write the receiver's name, full address and PIN code (a number that helps the post office find the area). You also write the sender's (your) name and address on the back or top-left corner. Finally you stick the correct stamp on the envelope.

2. Posting the Letter
You drop the stamped envelope in a local postbox or take it to the nearest post office. If you need extra services (faster delivery or proof of delivery) you can choose Speed Post or Registered Post at the post office.

3. Collection and Sorting
The local post office collects mail from the boxes and people. Mail is then sorted. Sorting means putting letters into piles based on where they must go (same street, same town, different city, or another country). Small post offices send their mail to bigger sorting centers where machines and people sort the letters further.

4. Transportation
Once sorted for the correct area, mail travels by different vehicles: bicycles or on foot for short local delivery, vans or trucks between towns, trains for long distances on land, and airplanes for very long distances or international letters. Which vehicle is used depends on how far the letter will travel and how fast it needs to arrive.

5. Local Delivery
When the letter reaches the post office near the recipient, it is sorted into the delivery list for the postman. The postman delivers the letter to the correct house or school mailbox. If the person is not at home and the service requires a signature, the postman might leave a slip asking the person to collect the mail from the post office.

6. Special Services
There are services like Speed Post (faster), Registered Post (proof and safe delivery), and Insured Post (covers loss). These use special handling and sometimes faster transport so the letter can be tracked and reaches safely.

Important Words to Remember: stamp, address, PIN code, postbox, post office, sorting, transport, postman, Speed Post, Registered Post.

Simple Tips: Always write the full address and PIN code clearly, put the right stamp, and use the sender’s address in case the mail needs to be returned.

What is a postbox? A postbox is a locked box placed outside post offices or on streets where people drop letters and small parcels. It collects mail that postal workers pick up and take to the post office for sorting and delivery.

Where are postboxes found and how do they look? Postboxes are usually found near post offices, on busy streets, or at schools. In many places they are painted a bright color (for example, red in India) so people can easily spot them. They have a slot or opening on top or at the front for dropping letters.

How to post a letter — step by step:

1. Write the receiver's address clearly on the front of the envelope. Include name, house number/street, locality, city, state and the PIN/zip code.
2. Write your (sender's) name and address on the top-left corner or on the back of the envelope.
3. Affix the correct postage stamp on the top-right corner. The stamp shows postage has been paid.
4. Seal the envelope properly so nothing falls out.
5. Drop the sealed and stamped letter into a postbox or take it to the post office counter.

What happens after you drop the letter? Postal workers collect letters from the postbox and take them to a sorting office. There the letters are sorted by area and PIN code. Letters are then sent by road, rail or air to the destination post office, where local postmen deliver them to the receiver’s address.

Important terms: Stamp (proof of payment), Post office (place to buy stamps and post letters), PIN code (a code that helps sort mail quickly).

A letter is a written message sent from one person to another. In Class 3 we learn to write simple, friendly (informal) letters to family, friends or a pen-pal. A letter has parts and follows an order so the person who reads it can understand who it is from, who it is for and what the message is.

Parts of a simple letter

1. Heading / Date: Write the date (and sometimes your address) at the top right or left. This tells when the letter was written.
2. Greeting / Salutation: Start with words like "Dear Grandma," or "Dear Riya," followed by a comma.
3. Opening line: A short friendly sentence such as "How are you? I am fine."
4. Body: The main part where you tell news, ask questions, or invite someone. Keep sentences short and clear.
5. Closing line: A short ending such as "With love," "Yours truly," or "Yours lovingly,"
6. Signature / Name: Write your name under the closing so the reader knows who sent the letter.

Steps to write a simple letter

1. Think whom you are writing to and why.
2. Write the date at the top.
3. Use a friendly greeting.
4. Write a short opening line, then 2–4 short sentences in the body.
5. End with a closing line and your name.
6. Write the recipient's address clearly on the envelope. Add the sender's address at the top left.

Tips for young writers

• Use simple words and short sentences.
• Write neatly and leave space between paragraphs.
• Check for spelling and make sure the purpose of the letter is clear (greeting, news, request, or invitation).

Example of a very simple letter format

12 July 2025

Dear Grandma,

How are you? I am fine. Today we had a drawing class and I drew a rainbow. I miss you a lot. Please come to our house next Sunday.

With love,
Riya

What is addressing correctly? Addressing correctly means writing the name and full place details on a letter or parcel so the postman can deliver it to the right person at the right place.

Why it is important: A correct address helps mail reach quickly and avoids it getting lost. Wrong or incomplete addresses cause delays or return to sender.

Parts of a complete address (write in this order):

• Recipient name – who the letter is for.
• House/Flat number and building name – exact home or apartment number.
• Street name / Locality – road, colony or area name.
• Landmark (optional) – a nearby well-known place to help find it.
• Post Office – name of the local post office (useful in villages).
• PIN code – 6-digit postal index number for India; write it clearly.
• City / Town / Village.
• State – the state name.
• Country – needed for international mail.

Where to write on an envelope: write the receiver's full address in the centre of the envelope. Write the sender (return) address at the top-left corner. Put the stamp at the top-right corner. Use neat, dark handwriting or printed labels.

Simple rules for children:

• Write clearly and in straight lines.
• Use the full 6-digit PIN code and the correct city and state.
• Include a phone number if your teacher or parents allow it, for safety and quick contact.
• Do not forget to write the sender’s address; otherwise the post may not return if undeliverable.

A letter is a written message sent from one person to another. Letters are an old and important way to share news, feelings and information.

Uses of letters:

• Communication: Letters help us tell family and friends about our life, such as a holiday or birthday.
• Invitations and thanks: We send letters to invite people to parties and to say thank you.
• Formal work: Letters are used for official things — for example, asking school for leave or applying for admission.
• Record keeping: Letters keep a written record of what was said, so we can read it later.
• Learning to write: Writing letters helps children practice writing, grammar and polite language.

How a letter reaches someone: We write the letter, put it in an envelope, write the address, stick a stamp on it, and drop it in a postbox. The post office and the mailman deliver it to the correct house.

Parts of a letter: date, address of the sender or receiver, salutation (greeting), body (main message), closing (goodbye), and signature.

Modern note: Today we also send electronic letters called emails. They are fast but the idea of writing clear messages is the same.

Why letters are important for children: Letters teach politeness, clear expression, and help keep memories and important information safe.

What it means
Safety means keeping our body and things safe from harm. Manners and etiquette are polite ways to behave so we are kind and respectful to others.

Safety — simple rules

• Road safety: Stop at the kerb, look left and right, use zebra crossing, follow traffic lights, always hold an adult's hand while crossing, wear a helmet on a bicycle and a seatbelt in a car.
• Stranger safety: Do not go with people you don’t know. If lost, stay where you are and tell a policeman, shopkeeper or another parent. Always ask a known adult for help.
• Home and school safety: Do not touch medicines, sharp tools, electric switches with wet hands, or hot pans. Keep walkways clear to avoid falls.
• Fire safety: Don't play with matches or lighters. If there is smoke, stay low and get out quickly. Know a safe meeting place outside the house.
• Emergency help: Learn important phone numbers (parents, neighbours, school) and how to ask for help calmly.

Manners and Etiquette — simple habits

• Greetings: Say “Good morning”, “Hello”, or a polite greeting when you meet someone.
• Polite words: Use “please”, “thank you”, and “sorry”. These show respect and kindness.
• Listening and sharing: Wait for your turn to speak, listen when others talk, and share toys and books.
• Table manners: Wash hands before eating, use a napkin, eat politely without making loud noises, and say “please pass” and “thank you”.
• School manners: Keep your classroom tidy, raise your hand to speak, and respect teachers and classmates.
• Telephone and letter etiquette: Answer the phone politely (“Hello, this is ___”), and in letters use neat handwriting, the correct address, a greeting, a polite body, and a closing (e.g., “Yours lovingly, ___”).

How to remember
Practice small steps every day: follow rules on the road, be careful at home, greet people politely, and always use kind words. These small habits keep you safe and make others happy.

Class Activities and Exercises for the Chapter 'Here Comes a Letter' help children learn what a letter is, the parts of a letter and envelope, how letters travel, and why people send letters. Activities should be hands-on, simple and playful so Class 3 students learn by doing and observing.

Key learning outcomes: identify parts of a letter (heading, greeting, body, closing, signature), write a short friendly letter, address an envelope correctly (name, house number, street/locality, city, PIN code), understand the role of the post office and postman, and practise sequencing the steps of mail delivery.

• Start with observation: read aloud a short letter and point out parts.
• Practice writing: each child writes a 3–4 line letter to a friend or family member.
• Addressing exercise: students paste name, address and a stamp on blank envelopes and sort them using simple addressing rules.
• Role-play: set up a classroom post office—children act as senders, sorters, postman and receivers to experience mail flow.
• Field/activity: visit a local post office or invite a postman (or use a video) to show mail collection, stamping and delivery.
• Sequencing and comprehension: give picture cards of mail steps and ask students to arrange them in order.

Assessment exercises can include: fill-in-the-blanks about parts of a letter, matching address parts to envelope lines, writing a short letter from prompts, and a simple drawing labelling where mail comes from and where it goes. Use group work to involve less confident writers and to encourage discussion.