Teacher Created Web Site
Craig Ellison, Computer Teacher, Pepperell Middle School, Lindale, GA

In Mr. Ellison’s classroom, students learn the touch-typing system and then cover basic computer, word processing, and presentation skills. His Web site features excellent tutorials, scavenger hunts, and computer lessons for both students and teachers.

Mr. Ellison’s Web site can be found at:
http://www.mrellisononline.com

Teacher Created Lesson Plan – The Great Mail Race
Carol McCabe, Business Teacher, Scotland County R-1 High School, Memphis, MO

Download entire lesson plan PDF | DOC

This lesson plan is a great activity to complete after students have learned all of the keys and are ready to utilize their knowledge of keyboarding and computer applications. Ms. McCabe uses this as the final letter to end the unit on business letters.

Students will key a personal letter and envelope to send to another student at another school. Students will need to reference a state and city directory of the United States. Students will use correct communication skills and spelling to produce an accurate letter that can be mailed. Teachers should send an initial letter addressed to the Keyboarding/Computer Applications teacher at the school where the students are sending their letters. This way, the receiving teacher has an understanding of the purpose for the activity before receiving any student letters. This also gives the teacher a chance to explain the activity to his or her own students. Both the sending and receiving teachers need to review the student letters for any inappropriate content before sending them.

Objectives

• Key a personal business letter and envelope.
• Proofread the letter and envelope.
• Use correct written communication skills.

Procedure

1. Students look in a print or online state and city directory. They locate a state based on the first initial of their last name. In the state, they locate a city based on the first initial of their first name. If a state does not correspond with the first initial of their last name, they can use the initial of their first name instead.
2. Students select a middle or high school in the city.
3. Students type a personal business letter and address it to "Any Student" in the "Keyboarding or Computer Applications Class". Then the students type the school they selected and the city, state, and zip code they picked from the directory.
4. Students explain they are in a race to see who will receive the most letters back from students throughout the United States. They write about their interests and their school. In order to protect the students' privacy, students should never use their last name in the letter. Students should not mention their age and should not include any photos.
5. Before a letter can be mailed, the teacher should review the letter to ensure the student's privacy is protected. Teachers should make sure the student's last name isn't included in the letter. The student's age should also not be in the letter. The student should include the school address. The student's home address should not be in the letter or on the envelope.
6. Once a letter is ready to be mailed, the teacher will need to send a letter similar to the one below before any of the students' letters can be mailed. This letter will be addressed to the teacher of the Keyboarding or Computer Applications classes. The purpose of this letter is to get the permission of the receiving teacher to send letters from your students. The letters will be sent directly to the teacher so that he or she can review them before passing them along to their own students. This letter will also help the teachers understand the goal of the activity.
7. The letters can be sent when the receiving teacher contacts the sending teacher with an approval.

Evaluation

• Each letter must have three paragraphs, correct spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.
• A letter must be perfect to be mailed. Any errors must be corrected in order for the letter to be mailed.
• Students receive either Acceptable or Unacceptable for their letter.

Grading Rubric

Pefect Letter Acceptable/Unacceptable Three Paragraphs   Correct Spelling   Correct Grammar   Correct Sentence Structure   Content is Interesting

Download entire lesson plan PDF | DOC

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