This set of slides can be used to lead early elementary students in a conversation about how we communicate with others.

Students will be shown a YouTube Video about different types of electronic communication. There will then be a whole class discussion about 3 specific types (e-mail, social media, and text messages). They will then be given individual LCD tablets and asked to either write A (Email), B (Social Media), or C (Text Messages) for what they would use to send information in certain scenarios that the teacher gives. The teacher will have 3 cards made with A and a picture of email on it, B and a picture of social media platforms on it, and C with a picture of a cell phone on it to help guide students and remind them what to write on their panels. They will hold these up when they are done and a discussion will be done of each scenario.

Students can explore maps and electronic communication with this hands on map activity. Add an extension to make a classroom quilt map!

Technology has not just changed over time.  It has changed the way citizens live their lives and perform their jobs.  This lesson will discuss how communication has changed over time in the local community.

Students will construct an information network for a new town using train tracks. This will provide an opportunity for students to learn what a network is through a visual representation using a train and train tracks.

These slides contain the vocabulary from the Virginia Department of Education for this strand

Students will explore old and new ways to communicate information across long distances.  This lesson includes information on the Virtual Education Programs available through the National Park system.

Let’s learn about community helpers!  What do you want to be when you grow up?  A farmer, police officer, teacher, librarian, doctor…?

Do you want to learn about community helpers?  Would you like to discuss how community helpers can communicate electronically?  If you would like to learn about and discuss community helpers and how they use technology to communicate then this is the lesson for you!

In this lesson, students will be learning about different ways we communicate and how some of this communication has changed.  The students will also be learning about different community helpers and discuss ways the community helpers use communication in their jobs. 

Students experiment with different modes of communication to see first hand which way is more efficient.

We may not be jumping on the “Magic School Bus with Miss Frizzle” but thanks to the impact of technology in our classrooms, our students can use virtual glasses to expand the walls of our classroom. We can also use networking and the internet to communicate instantly through email with anyone in the world.