Message Makeover

This worksheet helps students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 strengthen writing, tone awareness, and digital communication skills by revising emotionally charged online messages. Students read short messages that sound rude or blunt and rewrite them using respectful language, appropriate word choice, emotional regulation, and clear intent while maintaining the original meaning.

Learning Goals

• Tone and Word Choice (Grades 4-6) – Identify how tone affects meaning and revise language to sound polite and constructive.
• Rewriting for Clarity – Improve sentence structure and phrasing while preserving the original message.
• Social-Emotional Skills – Practice empathy, perspective-taking, and respectful communication.
• Digital Citizenship Awareness – Understand how online tone can influence relationships and prevent misunderstandings.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed to align with ELA, SEL, and digital citizenship standards.
• Realistic Examples – Uses authentic online-style messages students can relate to.
• Open-Ended Writing Practice – Encourages thoughtful revisions and student voice.
• Flexible Implementation – Suitable for classwork, small groups, advisory lessons, or independent practice.

This printable worksheet helps students build stronger writing skills while learning how to communicate respectfully in digital spaces. By transforming rude or emotionally charged messages into polite, friendly responses, learners develop awareness of tone, empathy, and responsible messaging behavior. Ideal for both classroom and homeschool use, this activity supports clear communication, emotional control, and positive online interactions that students can apply in real-life digital situations.

This worksheet is part of our texting and online communication etiquette worksheet collection.