Just about this time every May, I go down to my basement and take out a box or large envelope which has "Mail in 2022" (or whatever year it happens to be) written on it. Then, I pull out the letters which I had my students write to themselves five years ago. I give them a few ideas (listed below), a piece of paper and an envelope which they address to themselves, and give them several minutes to write. I tell them that in five years, I will mail the letters to them. And I do.
I give them the option of sealing them so that I won't read them, or of leaving them unsealed if they don't mind my reading them. I also tell them that they can put whatever souvenirs they want to from their desks or lockers in the letter. Some of them go a little overboard, but I don't mind.
I also include a letter from myself telling them what I'm up to, and I include my contact information. Very often I will hear back from several of them, and that makes my day.
And here they are my students' letters from 2017, five years later, waiting to go to the post office.
I write these on the board and let the students answer them in their letters.
Who are you sitting by?
What was the most exciting event this year?
Who are your closest friends?
What was the most exciting event this year?
Who are your closest friends?
What is something that happened this year that is really funny?
What is something that happened that is sad?
What is something that happened that is sad?
What are your best memories from this year?
What do you think you'll be doing when you get this letter in 5 years?
What are you looking forward to next year?
Related Post:
This is a writing assignment from Journal Writing 101.