Be an Advice Columnist!
Language Arts/Social Studies
Pairs of students will take turns composing a letter that asks an advice columnist for help with a problem and then replying to the letter with advice that solves the problem.What You Need
- Samples of advice columns, especially those written for children, from newspapers and magazines
- Writing paper
- Pencils
What to Do
- Distribute several samples of advice columns and ask students to read them and pass them around. Explain that people who have problems they are unable to solve alone sometimes write to ask advice of newspaper or magazine columnists who specialize in trying to solve the problems of others.
- Identify the letter parts typically found in advice columns: a greeting, the body of the letter, and the name of the sender. Mention that people who write to advice columnists often don't sign their real names. They might use a made-up name, or sign the letter with a phrase such as "Stumped in Springfield."
- Pair students and ask each pair to choose a good name for the columnist. Then tell each student to think of a problem he or she needs help solving and to write a letter to the advice columnist about the problem. Emphasize the fact that the letter should clearly and fully outline the problem.
- When both partners have finished their letters to the columnist, have them exchange papers and write replies offering advice about how to solve the stated problems. Encourage students to use their common sense and personal experiences when suggesting solutions.
- Ask the pairs to read aloud their advice columns, taking turns reading the words of the letter writer and the columnist. If you wish, you could have the class vote to decide whose reply offers the best advice for solving a problem.