Email Etiquette Lesson Plan Email Etiquette: Send It Right!
Grade 9 • 30-Minute Tier 1 Lesson
Lesson Plan
Objective
Students will be able to identify the key components of a professional email and compose a basic professional email.
Time
30 Minutes
Why This Matters
Effective email communication is a crucial skill for academics, future careers, and personal interactions. Mastering it now will benefit students throughout their lives.
Prep & Materials
Review slides, worksheet, and quiz
Projector or Smartboard set up
Optional: Student device access
Instructional Steps
1
5 Min
Warm-Up: Email Brainstorm
• Begin by asking students: "When was the last time you sent or received an email? What was it for?" (Allow a few students to share).
• Introduce the lesson by stating that email is a powerful communication tool, but like any tool, it needs to be used correctly. Today, we're going to learn how to 'Send It Right!' with proper email etiquette.
2
10 Min
Guided Instruction: The Anatomy of an Email
• Display the Email Etiquette Slides and go through the key components: Subject Line, Salutation, Body, Closing, and Signature.
• For each component, discuss its importance and provide examples of what to do and what to avoid.
• Engage students with questions like: "Why is a clear subject line important?" or "What's the difference between 'Hey' and 'Dear Mr. Smith'?"
3
10 Min
Practice: Crafting an Email
• Distribute the Email Practice Worksheet .
• Instruct students to choose one of the scenarios on the worksheet and compose an email based on the etiquette discussed.
• Circulate around the room to offer support and answer questions. Encourage them to refer to the slides if needed.
4
5 Min
Wrap-Up & Quick Check: Email Etiquette Quiz
• Collect the worksheets (or have students save if digital).
• Administer the Email Etiquette Quiz as a quick check for understanding.
• This can be done individually or as a brief whole-class review, with students indicating their answers (e.g., thumbs up/down, whiteboard response).
Email Etiquette Slides Deck Email Etiquette:
Send It Right!
Why is email important?
School assignments
Connecting with teachers
Job applications
Teacher Notes Welcome students and introduce the topic of email etiquette. Ask them to share their experiences with emails.
The Anatomy of an Email
What makes a good email?
1 Subject Line
2 Salutation (Greeting)
3 Body (Message)
4 Closing (Sign-off)
5 Signature
Standard Email Structure
Teacher Notes Explain that every professional email has key parts. We'll break each one down.
1. Subject Line: Get to the Point!
Best Practices
Clear and Concise: Tell the reader what the email is about immediately.Specific: Avoid vague terms.Professional: No emojis or slang.
Good Examples
"Question about History Project - [Your Name]"
"Meeting Request - Science Club"
Bad Examples
"Hey"
"Important!!"
Teacher Notes Emphasize clarity and conciseness. Give examples of good and bad subject lines.
2. Salutation: Say Hello Professionally
Formal
"Dear Mr./Ms./Mx. [Last Name],"
Semi-Formal
"Hello [First Name],"
Avoid!
"Hey," "Yo," "Sup"
Teacher Notes Discuss appropriate greetings for different audiences (teachers, friends, etc.).
3. Body: What You Want To Say
Clear and Direct State your purpose early.
Concise Get your message across efficiently.
Proper Grammar Always proofread your work!
"Be polite and respectful—even when you are discussing difficult or frustrating topics."
Teacher Notes Stress the importance of clear, respectful, and organized content in the body. Remind them about proofreading.
4. Closing: Wrapping It Up
Professional Closings
"Sincerely,"
"Best regards,"
"Thank you,"
"Respectfully,"
Avoid These
"Later,"
"Talk soon,"
"Thx"
Teacher Notes Explain how to end an email appropriately. Discuss different closings.
5. Signature: Who Are You?
Always Include:
Your Full Name
Your Grade Level
Your School Name
Contact Info (Email)
Pro Signature Example
Sincerely,
Jordan Smith
9th Grade
Lincoln High School
Teacher Notes Highlight the purpose of a signature and what information to include.
Remember the 5 Key Parts!
1
Subject
2
Salutation
3
Body
4
Closing
5
Signature
ALWAYS PROOFREAD!
Teacher Notes Quick recap slide to reinforce the main points.
Email Practice Worksheet Email Practice Worksheet
Send It Right: Professional Communication
Name:
Date:
Directions: Choose ONE of the scenarios below and compose a professional email in the workspace provided. Remember to include all five key components: Subject Line, Salutation, Body, Closing, and Signature.
Scenario Options
Option 1: You were absent from school yesterday and need to ask your history teacher, Ms. Davis , what you missed and if there's any homework. (ms.davis@school.edu )
Option 2: You want to join the Photography Club . Email the advisor, Mr. Chen , to ask about meeting times and how to sign up. (mr.chen@school.edu )
Option 3: You found a lost textbook . Email your English teacher, Mrs. Lee , to see if she can help you identify the owner. (mrs.lee@school.edu )
New Message
To:
Subject:
Message Body (Salutation + Message)
Closing
Signature
Send Email
Email Etiquette Quiz Email Etiquette Quiz
Testing Your Digital Communication IQ
Name:
Date:
1
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate subject line for an email to your teacher asking about homework you missed?
Hey
Question about homework
History Class Homework - [Your Name]
URGENT - Missed Class
2
What is the best way to start a professional email to a teacher?
Yo Mr. Smith,
Dear Ms. Jones,
Hey There,
To Whom It May Concern,
3
Why is it important to proofread your email before sending it? Provide at least two reasons.
4
Which of the following is an appropriate closing for a professional email?
Later,
Thx,
See ya,
Sincerely,
5
Principal Email Draft
Imagine you are emailing your principal, Mrs. Clark, to ask for permission to start a new school club. Write a clear and concise opening sentence for the body of your email.
Email Etiquette Quiz Answer Key Email Etiquette Quiz
Answer Key & Grading Guide
Teacher Resource
1 Subject Line Selection
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate subject line for an email to your teacher asking about homework you missed?
Correct Answer: History Class Homework - [Your Name]
Reasoning: A professional subject line should be clear, concise, and include essential information like the topic and the sender's name. Options like "Hey" or "Important!!" are either too informal or not specific enough for a teacher to manage their inbox efficiently.
2 Salutation Mastery
What is the best way to start a professional email to a teacher?
Correct Answer: Dear Ms. Jones,
Reasoning: Starting with a formal salutation like "Dear Ms./Mr./Mx. [Last Name]" is the standard for professional correspondence with authority figures. "To Whom It May Concern" is too generic for a known teacher, while "Yo" and "Hey" are too informal.
3 Proofreading Importance
Why is it important to proofread your email before sending it? Provide at least two reasons.
Sample Answer: "It's important to proofread to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors, which can make you seem unprofessional. Additionally, proofreading helps confirm your message is clear and conveys the correct tone, avoiding misunderstandings."
4 Professional Closings
Which of the following is an appropriate closing for a professional email?
Correct Answer: Sincerely,
Reasoning: "Sincerely," is the gold standard for formal email closings. Options like "Thx" or "Later" are appropriate for friends but undermine your professionalism in a school or workplace setting.
5 Application Exercise
Write a clear and concise opening sentence for an email to Mrs. Clark asking to start a new club.
Sample Answer: "I am writing to request permission to start a new Photography Club at our school."
Key Criteria: Does the sentence immediately state the purpose of the email? Is the tone respectful?
