• The children will identify methods of communication.

• The children will understand the workings of the postal system.

• The children will recognise e-mail as an effective and efficient means of communication.

• The children will identify the main elements of e-mail.

Materials/Resources: Letters, postman’s hat, home addresses, e-mail addresses, large blank e-mail form.

1.       Teacher will initiate class discussion on the means of communication e.g. telephone, letter, fax, e-mail, speech, and the effectiveness and efficiency of each.** LD children invited to narrate their experiences of using any of the above.

2.       Discussion on and demonstration of the workings of the postal system. Individual children will post letters addressed to classmates in the classroom post office. An appointed “postman / postwoman” will then deliver them to the appropriate children. Discussion on the need for accuracy in the addresses and the efficiency of the postal system. **LD children given an action role here.

3.       Display of e-mails and discussion of the children’s experiences of same. Discussion of requirements for sending an e-mail.

-          computer

-          system (e.g. Outlook Express)

-          telephone line          

4.       Children will examine and read hard copies of e-mails.
The teacher will highlight the To: and Subject: boxes. **LD children could have a colouring exercise at this point to colour code the boxes.

5.   The e-mails will be displayed in the classroom. **Include a colour coding exercise for the benefit of LD children.

• The children will identify e-mail as an effective and efficient means of communication.

• The children will be able to launch the E-mail program.

• The children will be able to receive and open E-mail messages.

Materials/Resources: Several e-mails in the Inbox from a variety of sources

1.       The children will recall methods of communication and discuss the benefits of e-mail.

2.       The teacher will draw the children’s attention to the E-mail Program icon (e.g. Outlook Express) and discuss with the children the appropriateness of the symbol.**LD children have the similarity to Eircom pointed out to them.

3.       Individual children will click on the symbol to launch the E-mail program.

4.       Discussion on the different services available in the e-mail program:

-           read mail

-           compose message

-           address book  ****LD children : refer back to colour coded boxes.

5.       Children’s attention will be drawn to the Inbox / Outbox and the identification of mail contained in each.

6.       Individual children will click on the Inbox. Discussion of the list of mail contained therein, noting date, sender and subject. **LD children : invited to do the clicking.

7.       Individual children will click on a selected e-mail to open it, noting it being highlighted each time.

8.       Individual children will read the e-mails. Discussion of the To: and Subject: boxes. **LD children asked to do the pointing to the boxes in response to class calling names

9.       Teacher will demonstrate the printing of an e-mail.**LD children do the printing for teacher.

During the forthcoming week children will open e-mails, print them and display them in the classroom.

• The children will revise the main elements of the previous lesson.

• The children will check their Inbox for new mail.

• The children will learn to compose and send an e-mail.

 Materials/Resources: E-mail addresses and an e-mail in the Inbox

1.       Individual children will recall by demonstrating the launch of the e-mail program.

2.       Individual children will open the Inbox. Children’s attention is drawn to the bold text, unopened envelopes and subject headings. The connection with the server should be terminated.

3.       Individual children will read and print e-mails.

4.       Individual children will click on the ‘Compose a Message’ or ‘New Message’ icon. Discussion of the window will follow To: and Subject: boxes.

5.       Individual children will type in E-mail addresses with the teacher highlighting the importance of accuracy. The Subject box  gives the recipient some idea of the subject of the message.**LD children asked to suggest the subject having listened to the content.

6.       Children will collectively compose a short message.

• The children will revise the main elements of the previous lesson.

• The children will learn to compose and send an e-mail.

• The children will be able to reply to an e-mailusing the ‘Reply to’ facility.

Materials/Resources: E-mail addresses and an e-mail in the Inbox

1.       Individual children will launch the E-mail program.

2.       Children will note if Inbox contains Mail and these messages will be opened and read – highlighting the bold text, unopened envelope and subject matter.**LD children asked to check is there mail ?

3.       Individual child will type and send a message composed by the class. **LD children joined with more able pupils for this exercise.

4.       The teacher will draw the children’s attention to the ‘Reply to’ button. A message from the Inbox is selected and using the ‘Reply to’ button, children will compose a reply. The children will note the completion of the To: box.

5.       Individual child will send the message. The class will note where the message is stored and the need to go on line to send the message.

During the forthcoming week, individual children will check the Inbox and reply to messages using the ‘Reply to’ button.
E-mails received will be printed and displayed in the classroom.

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