In this unit children learn to use e-mail (electronic mail) to send and receive messages. They learn about communicating over distances and will need to consider and compare different methods of communication.
Using e-mail can help children develop their reading and writing skills and develop their knowledge of the wider community. The unit requires collaboration with other schools.
Children will apply what they have learnt in this unit when using e-mail, gathering information, developing collaborative projects, and writing for other audiences.
Where this unit fits in
This unit assumes that children:
- are familiar with writing for different audiences and with reading others' writing
- are familiar with the conventions used to control computer applications, eg pointers and icons.
- attachment
- address
- address book
- e-mail with address book
Images
Sounds
Video
Software suitable to use:
2Simple 2E-mail
lgfl-mail
stickies, my messages (Fronter)
Online Resources-for Teachers:
Online Resources- for Pupils:
Objectives:
key idea: that e-mail can be used to send messages over distances
technique: to read e-mail
technique: to read, annotate and reply to e-mail
key idea: that e-mails are sent to addresses
technique: to send an e-mail using an address book
technique: to add an attachment to an e-mail
Section 1: SETTING THE SCENE
Discuss ways of sending messages over distances, eg letter, radio, telephone. Describe some earlier methods of communication, eg signalling flags, bonfires, Morse code. Ask the class to think about the advantages and disadvantages of these methods, eg speed, confidentiality, permanence. Tell the class they are going to use e-mail to send messages to another school.
Section 2: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Ask teachers at another school to get their class to send you a number of e-mails containing simple messages. Show the class how to open the mail box and read the messages. Ask each child to open a message, read it and reply to it. Discuss writing conventions, such as opening and closing remarks.
Section 3: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Ask teachers at another school to get their class to send e-mails containing first drafts of short pieces of writing, eg poems. Remind the class how to open and read messages. Show children how to print a message and discuss the advantages of printing messages, eg allowing others to use the machine, providing a permanent record.
Ask the children to print out the e-mails. Tell them that they are first drafts and that they are going to improve them. After the children have annotated the drafts by hand, show them how to send replies which include annotations that explain why they are suggesting changes.
Section 4: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Prepare an address book with a number of e-mail addresses. Explain that addresses make sure that e-mails are received by the correct person. Demonstrate how to send a message by selecting an e-mail address from the address book.
Tell the class that they are going to organise an event, eg a party for visitors from another school. Ask them to find out something about the children who will be coming by drafting questionnaires to e-mail to them (as body text). Suitable questions might include: how many are coming; what are their names; what do they like to eat? When replies are received, ask the children to print them out and to think of any further questions that they need to ask.
Section 5: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Remind the class how to send e-mails. Show them how to attach a picture or text file to an e-mail. Ask the children to attach work that they have done in another unit to an e-mail and to send it to someone for comment.
Section 6: INTEGRATED TASK
The techniques learnt in this unit can be used to enhance work in all later units. Some suggestions are given in the 'Points to Note' of other units.
Expectations
most children will: send, receive and reply to e-mails; develop and refine text messages
some children will not have made so much progress and will: receive and reply to e-mails
some children will have progressed further and will: send, receive and reply to e-mails; develop and refine text messages; send text and images as attachments
Assessment
2Simple 2Assess
Activities
Reply to school,
E-mail your teacher,
Address book,
Inbox spam,
E-mail attachments
Activities by QCA- Reply to school, E-mail your teacher, Address book, Inbox spam, E-mail attachments
technique: to read, annotate and reply to e-mail
key idea: that e-mails are sent to addresses
technique: to send an e-mail using an address book
technique: to add an attachment to an e-mail
- to gather, exchange and develop information using e-mail
Section 1: SETTING THE SCENE
Discuss ways of sending messages over distances, eg letter, radio, telephone. Describe some earlier methods of communication, eg signalling flags, bonfires, Morse code. Ask the class to think about the advantages and disadvantages of these methods, eg speed, confidentiality, permanence. Tell the class they are going to use e-mail to send messages to another school.
Section 2: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Ask teachers at another school to get their class to send you a number of e-mails containing simple messages. Show the class how to open the mail box and read the messages. Ask each child to open a message, read it and reply to it. Discuss writing conventions, such as opening and closing remarks.
Section 3: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Ask teachers at another school to get their class to send e-mails containing first drafts of short pieces of writing, eg poems. Remind the class how to open and read messages. Show children how to print a message and discuss the advantages of printing messages, eg allowing others to use the machine, providing a permanent record.
Ask the children to print out the e-mails. Tell them that they are first drafts and that they are going to improve them. After the children have annotated the drafts by hand, show them how to send replies which include annotations that explain why they are suggesting changes.
Section 4: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Prepare an address book with a number of e-mail addresses. Explain that addresses make sure that e-mails are received by the correct person. Demonstrate how to send a message by selecting an e-mail address from the address book.
Tell the class that they are going to organise an event, eg a party for visitors from another school. Ask them to find out something about the children who will be coming by drafting questionnaires to e-mail to them (as body text). Suitable questions might include: how many are coming; what are their names; what do they like to eat? When replies are received, ask the children to print them out and to think of any further questions that they need to ask.
Section 5: SHORT FOCUSED TASKS
Remind the class how to send e-mails. Show them how to attach a picture or text file to an e-mail. Ask the children to attach work that they have done in another unit to an e-mail and to send it to someone for comment.
Section 6: INTEGRATED TASK
The techniques learnt in this unit can be used to enhance work in all later units. Some suggestions are given in the 'Points to Note' of other units.
Expectations
most children will: send, receive and reply to e-mails; develop and refine text messages
some children will not have made so much progress and will: receive and reply to e-mails
some children will have progressed further and will: send, receive and reply to e-mails; develop and refine text messages; send text and images as attachments
Assessment
2Simple 2Assess
Activities
Reply to school,
E-mail your teacher,
Address book,
Inbox spam,
E-mail attachments
Activities by QCA- Reply to school, E-mail your teacher, Address book, Inbox spam, E-mail attachments
