Title:
Writing Away For
Information
Grade Level: 4th grade and
up
Curriculum Areas: Writing, Composing, Editing,
Organizational, & Revising Skills
Tools: Computer Program: AppleWorks Mac/Win
(word processing)
E-mail Program: Eudora or any
other e-mail program
Research: Students must
decide what kind of information they need and where to obtain it.
Teacher can assist with the phone book or internet
addresses.
Goal: As part of the research techniques
taught in order to gain information, students must write a friendly
letter according to proper form, and e-mail it to a place of
business.
Objectives:
1. Students will review letter writing format.
2. Students will learn to develop good questioning techniques.
3. Students will learn to send e-mail.
4. Students will learn how to copy a document and paste into an
e-mail program
(or use the 'attach document')
5. Students learn to coordinate and organize ideas.
Procedure:
1. Students will prepare ideas for a letter using prewriting
organizational skills.
2. Students will use good questioning techniques and prepare a letter
asking for
information.
3. Teacher will introduce the program, AppleWorks (Word
Processing), to entire
class using projection device, detailing with an example of a
document.
4. Students will use a rough draft sheet in order to organize
ideas.
5. Students are ready to go to the computers, in pairs to work from
their planning sheets.
6. Students will develop a letter, editing the text and using the
spell check.
7. Teacher will introduce the program, Eudora (or other e-mail
program), to entire class using projection device, detailing with
an example of how to copy their letter from AppleWorks and paste it
into their e-mail program and finally how to send e-mail. (or use
'attach document'). ***DO NOT use real name***
Related Activities:
This idea can be applied to interviewing through e-mail. Send a list
of interview questions and have the reply come back to the school.
Classes can send penpal messages, photos, scanned drawings, video
clips, and get involved with other school internet projects.