Writing Formal Invitation As Opposed to Formal Letters Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 2 English Studies

WRITING FORMAL INVITATION AS OPPOSED TO FORMAL LETTERS PRIMARY 5 (BASIC 5) SECOND TERM WEEK 2 ENGLISH STUDIES

ENGLISH STUDIES

FIRST TERM

WEEK 2

PRIMARY 5 (BASIC 5) 

THEME – WRITING 

TOPIC – FORMAL INVITATION AND FORMAL LETTER 

LEARNING AREA

1. Introduction

2. Formal Invitation and Formal Letters

3. Differences Between Formal Invitation and Formal Letter

4. Practice Exercise/Test Questions and Answers

5. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain the meaning of a formal invitation.

2. Explain the meaning of a formal letter.

3. Identify the features of a formal invitation.

4. Identify the features of a formal letter.

5. State the differences between a formal invitation and a formal letter.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

The pupils already know how to write formal invitations and formal letters. This lesson helps them distinguish between the two forms of writing.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Samples of formal invitations

2. Samples of formal letters

3. Whiteboard and marker/chalkboard and chalk

4. English textbook

5. Flashcards

6. Pupils’ notebooks

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. 9 – Years Basic Education Curriculum

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

CONTENT OF THE LESSON

INTRODUCTION

People communicate for different reasons. Sometimes they write letters, while at other times they send invitations.

A formal invitation is used to invite people to official events, while a formal letter is used for official communication and requests.

In English writing, we use different forms of writing to communicate for different purposes.

Two important types of formal writing are:

• Formal Invitation

• Formal Letter

FORMAL INVITATION

A formal invitation is a written request asking someone to attend an official event.

It is usually short and gives important details such as:

• Name of the organizer

• Purpose of the event

• Date of the event

• Time of the event

• Venue of the event

• Polite language

Examples of Events:

• Prize-giving ceremony

• Wedding ceremony

• Graduation ceremony

• Chieftaincy installation

• School anniversary

FORMAL LETTER

A formal letter is an official letter written to a person, organization, or institution.

Examples:

• Application for admission

• Request for permission

• Complaint letter

• Letter to a principal

Features of a Formal Letter

• Writer’s address

• Date

• Receiver’s address

• Salutation

• Title

• Body of the letter

• Closing

• Signature

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FORMAL INVITATION AND FORMAL LETTER

• A formal invitation invites people to an event, while a formal letter communicates information or requests.

• A formal invitation contains details of an event, while a formal letter contains paragraphs explaining a message.

• A formal invitation is usually short and direct, while a formal letter is longer and more detailed.

• A formal letter has a title and closing, while a formal invitation mainly provides event details.

IMPORTANCE OF THE LESSON

This lesson helps pupils to:

• write correctly in formal situations.

• understand the difference between invitations and letters.

• communicate politely and clearly.

• improve writing skills in English

Pupils should pay attention and learn how to write both formal invitations and formal letters correctly.

EXAMPLES OF FORMAL INVITATION AND FORMAL LETTER

1. FORMAL INVITATION

The Family of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson

cordially invites

Mr. and Mrs. Adeyemi

to the Wedding Ceremony of their daughter,

Miss Mary Johnson

and

Mr. David Okoro

Date: Saturday, 15th August, 2026

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Venue: St. Paul’s Church Hall, Abuja

Your presence will be highly appreciated.

2. FORMAL LETTER

No. 5, Unity Street,

Abuja.

10th August, 2026

The Headteacher,

Green Valley Primary School,

Abuja.

Dear Sir/Ma,

REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL

I write to inform you that I will not be able to come to school on Monday, 12th August, 2026 due to a medical appointment.

I kindly request your permission to be absent for that day. I promise to catch up with all missed lessons.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Johnson

PRACTICE EXERCISE/ASSIGNMENT/TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

A. Answer the Questions

1. What is a formal invitation?

2. What is a formal letter?

3. Mention two occasions where formal invitations are used.

4. Mention two examples of formal letters.

5. State one difference between a formal invitation and a formal letter.

B. Identify the Type

Write Formal Invitation or Formal Letter:

6. A message inviting people to a wedding ceremony.

7. A letter written to the principal requesting permission.

8. A card showing date, time and venue of an event.

9. A letter of complaint to a company.

10. An invitation to a graduation ceremony.

C. Complete the Sentences

11. A formal invitation is used to invite people to an ______.

12. A formal letter is written for official ______.

13. A formal invitation usually contains date, time and ______.

14. A formal letter has a writer’s ______.

15. Formal writing should be ______ and polite.

ANSWERS

Part A

1. A formal invitation is a written message used to invite someone to an official event.

2. A formal letter is an official letter written for communication, requests or complaints.

3. Wedding, graduation, prize-giving (any two).

4. Application letter, complaint letter, request letter (any two).

5. A formal invitation invites people to events, while a formal letter is used for communication or requests.

Part B

6. Formal Invitation

7. Formal Letter

8. Formal Invitation

9. Formal Letter

10. Formal Invitation

Part C

11. event

12. communication

13. venue

14. address

15. polite

SUMMARY

Pupils learned that a formal invitation is used to invite people to official events, while a formal letter is used for official communication. They also learned the features and differences between both forms of writing.

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

1. The teacher introduces the lesson by showing pupils a sample formal invitation and a sample formal letter.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils observe the two samples and identify differences.

2. The teacher explains the meaning of a formal invitation.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen attentively and repeat the meaning.

3. The teacher explains occasions where formal invitations are used.

Examples:

• Wedding ceremony

• Prize-giving day

• Graduation ceremony

• Chieftaincy installation

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils mention other occasions requiring formal invitations.

4. The teacher explains the meaning of a formal letter.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen and take notes.

5. The teacher discusses situations where formal letters are written.

Examples:

• Application for admission

• Request for permission

• Complaint letter

• Letter to a principal

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils identify examples of formal letters.

6. The teacher explains the features of a formal invitation.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils identify the date, time, venue, and purpose of an event.

7. The teacher explains the features of a formal letter.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils identify the address, salutation, body, and closing.

8. The teacher compares both forms of writing and highlights their differences.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils list differences between formal invitations and formal letters.

9. The teacher guides pupils to write a simple formal invitation and a simple formal letter.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils practise writing in their notebooks.

10. The teacher summarizes the lesson and corrects pupils’ work.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils participate in the summary and make corrections where necessary.

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

LESSON EVALUATION 

Teacher asks pupils,

1. What is a formal invitation?

2. What is a formal letter?

3. Mention two features of a formal invitation.

4. Mention two features of a formal letter.

5. State one difference between a formal invitation and a formal letter.