Friendly Letter

  

Suggested Time:   2 sessions of 45 minutes each

 

Maryland State Curriculum:

Standard:  4.0 Writing

Topic: A. Writing

      Indicator: 2. Compose oral, written, and visual presentations that express personal ideas, inform, and persuade

Objective: a. Students will write to express personal ideas using drawings, symbols, letters, words, sentences, and simple paragraphs

 

Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students:

2.0  Digital Citizenship:  Demonstrate an understanding of the history of technology and its impact on society, and practice ethical, legal, and responsible use of technology to assure safety

    A.  Technology and Society

    1.  Explain how technology affects individuals and institutions

                b) Identify examples of how technology has affected the environment past and present

                c) Identify how technology tools have been and are used to meet peoples needs

3.0 - Technology for Learning and Collaboration:  Use of a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration

    A.  Learning

    1.  Use and understand how technology enhances learning

                a) Use technology tools, including software and hardware, from a range of teacher selected options to learn new content or reinforce skills

    B.  Collaboration

    1. Use and understand how technology encourages collaboration

                a) Participate in class lessons using technology for brainstorming and shared writing

    C.  Encourage Productivity

    1.  Use and understand how technology increases productivity

                c) Edit work created using concept mapping, word processing or presentation software

 

Objectives:  Day 1                       

Students will contribute to a shared writing (friendly letter) then write a friendly letter independently.  Students will identify and recognize ways that technology affects daily life.

 

Objectives: Day 2

Students will use editing strategies to publish writing.  Students will identify and recognize ways that technology affects daily life using editing techniques.

 

Resources Needed: Computer Lab, presenter, Friendly Letter Power Point, Friendly Letter Template, Kidspiration "I Can Write" web

 

Links to Prior Knowledge: Students should be able to log on and off a computer, manipulate mouse, and be familiar with Microsoft Word.  Teacher should know how to work presenter and use a Power Point Slide Show.  Students could have hand written a friendly letter to publish.

 

Readiness Activity:  Discuss previously written letters.  Discuss technology and how modern day communication is different from before (snail mail vs. email). Brainstorm ideas for friendly letter using Kidspiration "I Can Write" web if students do not have a draft already written.

 

Day 1 Procedures:

 

  1. Teacher log on and start presenter
  2. Teacher open Friendly Letter Power Point.  Discuss purpose of letter and format of letter using the power point directions.
  3. Complete shared writing with students by clicking on the Friendly Letter Template.
  4. Leave presenter on and have students log on their computers.  (You may use the Daily Procedures Show to model this.)
  5. Students will load the friendly letter template, saving the file in their network  folder labeled with their ID number. 
  6. The students will then type their own friendly letter. There are typing hints on slide #3 of Friendly Letter Power Point.
  7. Save for next day.
  8. Log off.

Day 2 Procedures

  1. Teacher log on and start presenter
  2. Teacher will open Friendly Letter Power Point.  Review parts of a friendly letter
  3. Leave presenter on and have students log on their computers.  (You may use the Daily Procedures Show to model this.)
  4. Students will open the friendly letter. 
  5. The students will then continue to type their own friendly letter.
  6. At a stopping point, continue Friendly Letter Power Point for editing. 
  7. Give students time to edit.
  8. Save and print letter.
  9. Log off.

 Assessment: Friendly letter that includes the format and elements identified in instruction.

 Follow-Up:

Students could send their letter through the mail.

The template could be placed on the classroom computer to use for a center.

 

Accommodations: 

Extra time for first draft

Partner Editing

Dictate for students and you type-then print and have student type from the model.

Provide hard copy of editing checklist

 

 Extensions:

Students could add a picture to their letter.