Write a letter to send home detailing your email lesson. Make sure that all of the parents are on board with teaching their children how to email. Some families may have strict rules or strong feelings about children's computer usage.
Create an email account for each preschooler to use. This can be one account for the entire class or individual accounts for each student. Ask parents if they have a preferred email address already for their child.
Discuss email communication with the class. Begin by talking about letter-writing and written communication. Move on to modern technology and email writing. Ask the children what they know about computers and email. Invite questions, personal stories and comments.
Position the child next to you in front of the computer. Help the child to sign into the email account. Younger children from age 3 to 4 will need you to do this step for them. Older children in the late 4 to 6 age group will be able to type one character at a time as you speak the letters or numbers.
Choose an email recipient. This should either be you, another preschool student in the class or one of the child's family members. Ask the child what he or she would like to say to the recipient. It can be something simple such as "Hello. How are you?" or a holiday greeting.
Help the child to spell the recipient's email address. Spell out each letter or character one at a time as the child types. Repeat for the subject line and body of the email. Young preschoolers may need to dictate and have you type for them. Older preschoolers, 4 and 5 years of age, can hunt and peck to type individual letters. Encourage the child to look for the letter symbols on the keyboard as an added lesson in literacy and writing skills.
Instruct the child to click on the "Send" button or link.