Scaffolding activities
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#1 Email hunt
Students carry out an ‘email hunt’ to identify and explore the main functions of the school email application.
#2 Explore meaning
Students explore the meaning of the symbols and words found in typical email applications.
#3 Do's and don'ts
Students analyse examples and generate email ‘rules’ (e.g. words in the subject line, use of fonts, font sizes, colours, capital letters, the use of bullet points, etc.) . They explore what is appropriate in different contexts.
#4 Special language
Students explore how emoticons and txtspeak can be used in email communication. They investigate when it is appropriate to use these.
#5 Structure
Students consider how email texts and their structures can be shaped by the contexts, audience and purpose of their email (e.g. opening, closing, etc.).
#6 Email types
Students brainstorm different email types and discuss in what context they can be used (e.g. apology, thank-you email, invitation, complain, etc.).
They explore phrases which can be used in different types (e.g. Please, accept my apology for...).
#7 Power of language
Students explore how language in emails can be used for manipulation and persuasion (e.g. being polite, scammers' tricks, etc.).
#8 Stranger-danger
Students make a list of features of unsafe emails. They generate and present a list of strategies to deal with unsafe emails.