Lesson 5-7: Spamming 20th Century Style

English	Spanish
Worksheet	Worksheet
Notes Worksheet	Notes Worksheet

LESSON SUMMARY
​In this lesson, students will learn how to perform a mail merge—a powerful tool used to create personalized documents such as letters, labels, or emails for multiple recipients. They will explore how to link a main document with a data source, insert merge fields, and generate customized outputs efficiently. The lesson emphasizes real-world applications in business, particularly in marketing and professional communication, where personalization and productivity are essential. Through hands-on activities, students will build technical proficiency using word processing and spreadsheet software, while also developing an understanding of how mail merge supports direct marketing strategies.

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Lesson Objectives & Instructional Outcomes

Lesson Objectives: Define what a mail merge is and identify its primary business uses. Understand the components involved in a mail merge (main document, data source, merge fields). Create a data source using spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel or Google Sheets). Perform a mail merge using word processing software (e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs). Troubleshoot common mail merge issues and finalize personalized documents for printing or email. Instructional Outcomes Accurately explain the purpose and function of a mail merge. Successfully create a basic recipient list (data source) with headers like First Name, Last Name, Address, etc. Insert and format merge fields within a document template (e.g., a business letter). Execute a mail merge to generate multiple personalized letters from a single template. Demonstrate the ability to preview, edit, and print/email the merged documents. ​

Aim & Essential Questions

​Aim: How can businesses and professionals efficiently create personalized communication for multiple recipients using mail merge? Essential Questions: What is a mail merge and why is it useful in marketing and communication? How does a mail merge save time and improve efficiency? What software tools are typically used to conduct a mail merge? What are the key components of a successful mail merge? How can errors in a mail merge process be avoided or corrected? ​

Vocabulary

Mail Merge – A process used to produce multiple documents from a single template and a data source. Main Document – The base document containing standard content and merge fields (e.g., a letter). Data Source – A file (often a spreadsheet or database) containing recipient information used in the merge. Merge Field – A placeholder in the document that gets replaced by data from the source file. Recipient List – A list of names and details that will be used to personalize each document. Field Code – A command inserted into the document to pull data from the data source. Preview Results – A tool that shows how the final merged documents will look before printing or emailing. Filter – A tool to limit which records in the data source are included in the merge. Sort – Organizing records in the data source by a particular field (e.g., alphabetically by last name). Merge to Printer/Email – The final step where documents are sent directly to a printer or an email program.

Higher Level Questions

What are the benefits of using a mail merge instead of manually editing each letter or email? What software programs are commonly used for mail merge tasks? How do you prepare a data source for use in a mail merge? Where do you insert merge fields in the main document? How do you preview the output before completing the merge? What are some common mistakes to avoid during a mail merge? How might marketers use mail merge in direct mail or email campaigns? What privacy or data accuracy concerns might arise from using a mail merge? Can you think of non-business uses for a mail merge? How would you troubleshoot a merge that doesn't pull the correct data? ​

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Do Now:

In 3-4 sentences, explain how you would send the same letter to 100 people. What would be the most efficient method? List the steps you might take.

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How Did People Spam Before The Internet?

Step 1: Download and open the two documents below. 

Video From 00:00 to 00:47

Excel Document

Word Document

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Step 2: Open The Excel And Word Document

Video 00:47 to 1:01

Step 3: Special Instructions

Video 1:01 to 2:01

Step 4: Placeholders

Video 2:01 to 6:12

Step 5: Filling Out The Yellow Sections Of The Spreadsheet (Excel Document)

Video 6:12 to 8:11

Step 6: Save It And Rename It

Video 8:11 To 9:13

Step 7: And Now We Mail Merge

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Rubric

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Not Applicable For This Project