Writing Letter Asking Special Favours (Request Letters) Primary 5 (Basic 5) Second Term Week 5 English Studies

WRITING LETTER ASKING FOR SPECIAL FAVOUR (REQUEST LETTERS) PRIMARY 5 (BASIC 5) SECOND TERM WEEK 5 ENGLISH STUDIES

ENGLISH STUDIES

SECOND TERM

WEEK 5

PRIMARY 5 (BASIC 5) 

THEME – WRITING 

TOPIC – REQUEST LETTERS 

LEARNING AREA

1. Introduction

2. Situations Where Request Letters Are Used

3. Format of a Request Letter

4. Writing Request Letter

5. Assessment Test and Answers

6. Summary

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

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

1. Explain the meaning of a request letter.

2. Identify situations where request letters are used.

3. Write a simple request letter correctly.

4. Use correct format in writing request letters.

5. Express polite language in letters.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

The pupils already know how to write formal letters. This lesson helps them write letters asking for special favours.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Sample request letters

2. Whiteboard and marker/chalkboard and chalk

3. English textbook

4. Flashcards

5. 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

A request letter is a formal letter written to ask for something or to seek permission or special favour from someone in authority.

Situations Where Request Letters Are Used:

• Asking for permission to be absent from school

• Requesting books from the library

• Asking for school materials

• Requesting help from an organization

• Asking for permission to attend an event

Format of a Request Letter

• Writer’s address

• Date

• Receiver’s address

• Salutation

• Title

• Body of the letter

• Closing

• Signature

REQUEST LETTER 1

No. 10, Peace Street,

Lagos.

12th March, 2026

The Headteacher,

Solid Step International School,

Lagos.

Dear Sir/Ma,

REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO BE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL

I write to request your permission to be absent from school on Monday, 15th March, 2026 because I have a medical appointment.

I promise to catch up with all lessons missed during my absence.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Johnson

REQUEST LETTER 2

No. 6, Hope Street,

Lagos.

20th March, 2026

The Headteacher,

Award International School,

Lagos.

Dear Sir/Ma,

REQUEST FOR SPECIAL FAVOUR

I write to kindly request a special favour from you. I need your permission to allow me to leave school early on Friday, 22nd March, 2026, because I have an important family engagement.

I promise to complete all my school work and catch up on any lesson I miss during my absence.

I will be very grateful if my request is granted.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Ayanfe Treasure

ASSESSMENT TEST AND ANSWERS

A. Answer the Questions.

1. What is a request letter?

2. Mention two situations where request letters are used.

3. List three parts of a request letter.

4. Why do we write request letters?

5. What type of language should be used in a request letter?

B. Complete the Sentences.

6. A request letter is written to ask for _______.

7. We write a request letter to a person in _______.

8. The body of a letter contains the _______ of the message.

9. A request letter must be written _______.

10. The closing of a request letter is “Yours _______.”

C. Write a Simple Request Sentences.

11. Write a sentence asking for permission to be absent from school.

12. Write a sentence requesting for books from your teacher.

13. Write a sentence asking for a special favour.

14. Write a polite sentence asking for help.

15. Write a closing sentence for a request letter.

ANSWERS

Part A

1. A request letter is a formal letter written to ask for permission or special favour.

2. Asking for permission, requesting books, asking for favour (any two).

3. Address, date, salutation, body, closing.

4. To ask for permission or special favour politely.

5. Polite language.

Part B

6. favour / permission

7. authority

8. message

9. politely

10. faithfully

Part C

11. Please, may I be absent from school?

12. Kindly, I request for books from my teacher.

13. Please, I need a special favour.

14. Could you please help me?

15. ours faithfully.

SUMMARY

Pupils learned that request letters are formal letters used to ask for permission or special favours and must be written politely using the correct format.

PRESENTATION

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

1. The teacher introduces the lesson by asking pupils:

• Have you ever asked someone for help in writing?

• How did you ask politely?

• What do you do when you need permission from your teacher or headteacher?

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils respond and share ideas.

2. The teacher explains the meaning of a request letter.

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

3. The teacher states situations where request letters are used.

Examples:

• Asking for permission to be absent

• Requesting for books or materials

• Asking for special favour

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils mention more examples.

4. The teacher presents the format of a request letter.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils identify the parts of the letter such as address, date, salutation, body, and closing.

5. The teacher presents a sample request letter and reads it aloud.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen carefully.

6. The teacher explains the content of each part of the letter.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils listen and ask questions.

7. The teacher guides pupils to write a simple request letter on the board.

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

8. The teacher asks pupils to suggest polite expressions used in request letters.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils respond orally.

9. The teacher corrects pupils’ spelling, grammar, and format where necessary.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils make corrections.

10. The teacher summarizes the lesson by revising how to write a request letter politely and correctly.

Pupils’ Activities: The pupils participate in the summary.

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 request letter?

2. Mention two situations where request letters are used.

3. List three parts of a formal request letter.

4. Why do we write request letters?

5. Write one sentence asking for a favour.