Email lesson plan

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

So, I have to do an email lesson (or two) with my reception group. (Yes, Bean, I do have one in mind already). The teacher really wants me to email a real person outside the school. In the past, they've emailed Postman Pat (not a possibility anymore) and the Queen (for her Jubilee, so no longer appropriate). 

 We could email the Bishop to say thankyou for his recent visit (I just had that idea), but I bet they've made cards already.

 So, do any of you have exciting people (for 5 year olds) that you can think of that we can email, or alternatively, do you have a Kindergarten/Reception class that's dying to contact a class in England?

Comments

[eponymousarchon.livejournal.com]

President@whitehouse.gov ?

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

postman.pat@entertainmentrights.com

But you don't get to email Postman pat, just the 'postman pat website'.

Perhaps you could ask for the parents' emails, and the children could email their own parents?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Yes. It used to be that you got a reply from Postman Pat.

The trouble with emails home is that they have to use my or the teacher's email address, so it's best to do it as a whole class activity.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Of course, they can't actually write yet, let alone type. Are you teaching them to send attachments?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Actually, we're pretty much down with typing. Much easier than writing. Spelling is another matter.

Attachments come much later... not before year 3.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

touch typing?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

No, of course not. It doesn;t need to be dast, they're only little.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Yes, but will they ever learn touch typing? It's not the speed, it's using the fingers properly. All these people nowadays who just expect to do their jobs on computers, and they can't actually type or anything...

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Proper touch typing is not something I ever expoect to teach. Nor is it something I ever expect to learn.

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

Lazy Town characters? I have absolutely no idea what that would entail, or bring truly honest even what Lazy Town is, I just seem to see the logo on every piece of children's merchandise from here to Dundee.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the BBC (my usual first port of call for early years ICT) can not furnish me with any email addresses. Nice thought, though.

[bean-bunny.livejournal.com]

(Yes, Bean, I do have one in mind already).

Hee. To be fair, you have more restrictions than "Teach eighth graders something."

Could they mail a famous book author? I don't know what all the cool kindergarteners in England are reading these days, otherwise I'd be more helpful.

Or, better yet, my mother is a kindergarten teacher, so if you wanted an e-pal, you could probably do it with her class.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Thankyou. I'll run it past the teacher tomorrow, and see what she says.

The trouble with emailing an author is that they all do it in year 3 anyway, and so the teacher isn't keen.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Teacher thinks it's a brilliant idea; yes, please do set us up with your mother.

Thankyou!

[bean-bunny.livejournal.com]

What do I need to ask/tell her?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Oops, I was meant to reply to this already, sorry!

Give her my work email address, which is kwatson@stlaurence.cambs.sch.uk and ask whether she'd mind exchanging a few whole class/group emails with a reception (youngest class in school, age 5) class in England?

Thankyou!

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

And now my work email isn't working. I can't use personal email because it's not reachable from school, and the lesson before (which was meant to take two sessions) looks like it's swallowed up the whole of this half term.

Sorry!

But if she doesn't get a response, it's because the county's servers have gone mad. Usually, they object to rain (seriously, *much* slower in heavy rain), but apparently they don't like the heat either.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

They're a bit young for everyone interesting/famous I can think of, unfortunately, but I can ask some US-based teachers on my f-list if you want?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Thankyou, but I think if my teacher and Bean's mum both agree, I'll go that route.

My usual first call deserted me... there are no child friendly Cbeebies email addresses, except the one for birthday announcements!

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Also, try looking for CBeebies people on the web (I often use answers.com) rather than on CBeebies. For example, Sarah Jane Honeywell from Higgledy House:

http://www.sarah-jane.biz/

Christ Jarvis has a myspace:


http://www.myspace.com/chris_jarvis

Eva Alexander left CBeebies in 2006, so perhaps not her, but she has a website and email info@evaalexander.com <info@evaalexander.com>

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's cunning, thankyou!

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Try Justin Fletcher. There's a petition to get him an OBE.

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that should read Chris Jarvis... I wonder if there is any Charlie and Lola stuff? But of course, they are not real people.

[lisekit.livejournal.com]

The Mayor-incumbent (whoever that may be)?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Might be a bit advanced for our children. I think they think 'the council' is basically the guy who comes around to talk about rubbish. (He's a very nice man, though.)

For older children, though, it's a great idea, thanks.