Created By: Janay Brim

Grades: Kindergarten

Subject:  Language Arts

Activity:

In an effort to create my students to become strong writers I will provide my students with pen pals. Using http://www.epals.com/#!/main  I will find a teacher of a kindergarten class that is located in the United States. Once a month the students will write a story about an exciting event they want to share with their pen pal, respond to previous letters, or ask questions. In addition the students will include a picture with their text. After the students are finished I will have each student (with assistance) scan their document then I will attach them through email to send to the responding teacher.  The teacher will then do the same in return. When I receive the letters from the other students I will print them and give them to each student. Students will have the opportunity to share with the class what their pen pal has wrote. The teacher and I will arrange specific dates; this will take place monthly and it will be a reoccurring project that will start in the middle to the end of the school year.  Each student will have a file that contains their letters to track their success and share their progress with their parents.

This assignment is built around the common core literacy standard W.K.3. I am encouraging the children to use a combination of drawing and text to communicate an event to their pen pals. Also, students will be practicing their penmanship, reading comprehension, and verbal skills through sharing what their pen pals have wrote. In addition, students will have practice using technology by helping scan the documents in preparation to send the email. The children will be using the equipment in a safe effective manner to support EALRS 2.1 and 2.2. EALR 2.1 states, Practice safe, legal and ethical behavior in the use of information and technology, when the students help me scan their documents they will be practicing safe and ethical behavior with the scanner.  EALR 2.2 expresses students use common applications effectively and constructively, the scanner is a common tool and with routine practice the students will learn how to use the scanner effectively.

Standards Addressed:

Common Core Standard

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.3 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.

EALRS

2.1: Practice Safety: Practice safe, legal and ethical behavior in the use of information and technology.

2.3: Select and Use Applications: Use productivity tools and common applications effectively and constructively.