Flat Stanley Project

(Student Activities)

1.      The first step in the project is to Read Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown.

2.    Next, have the students make their own Stanleys.

3.    For a week or so, students should take their Stanleys on adventures with them and record these adventures in an online journal or a paper journal. Students should be encouraged to take pictures of their Stanleys on their adventures. Students should also take their Stanleys with them and record their daily routines and happenings.

4.    The students will then choose a friend or relative to which they will send their Stanley and write a friendly letter requesting their participation in the project. The letter should request that the friends or relatives take the Stanley on adventures, record those adventures in a journal, and then mail Stanley and any souvenirs back to the student.

5.    The students will mail their Stanleys, their Stanley journal, and their letter to friends or relatives.

6.    After the Stanleys return to the students, the students will map the travels, record the mileage, and give presentations on the experiences, speaking as if they were Stanley.

Teacher’s Role

1.      The teacher sends home a letter explaining the project and requesting the parents help by providing addresses of friends or relatives that would be willing to participate in such a project. Some educators have suggested politicians and grandparents as excellent candidates as they readily answer this kind of student request.

2.    The teacher helps the students address the envelopes or boxes. The following may be placed inside the envelopes or containers:

·        Student’s letter to recipient and informational letter from classroom teacher

·        Student’s original Flat Stanley

·        Student’s journal of Stanley’s adventures

·        Postcard from student’s town or city

·        Disposable camera

·        Return address on envelope or postage for return

Information to request in the Letters

Letters are easier to respond to if there is some common information included. Good content also makes this more of a learning experience. Consider including the following in your letter:  

Weather- Current temperature as well as some seasonal ranges.  

Location- Latitude and longitude and proximity to major cities.

Population- How many people in your city and in your school?  

Flora/fauna and Wildlife- What plants and animals are indigenous to your area?

Special to Your Location- Describe favorite local attractions, activities, sports, hobbies and sites of interest and industries. 

What do you like best about where you are? What would you change?   

Wish List- What's important to you? What could you do to make things in your school, your neighborhood or even the world better? 

What causes or projects are you involved in? Could Flat Stanley contacts elsewhere in the world help you?  

Books- What books are students in your area reading? What are you currently reading?

Seasonal Activities- Winter sure is different in Boone than it is in Charleston, SC. What are the differences? What do we have in common?  

Freebies- Consider requesting little inclusions with your replies. Local leaves, coins, stickers, post cards and photographs all add to the learning. Also, if you are mailing your Stanley overseas, stamps, currency, or anything with the language or culture will be informative and interesting.

Helpful Websites

http://flatstanley.enoreo.on.ca/

(Official Flat Stanley Website)

http://scican.net/~jsheppar/stanley/StanPrint.html

(includes technology integration)

http://www.gardenofpraise.com/lesson.htm#flat2

(includes word study and vocabulary activities)

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Galaxy/3410/fslessonplan.html

(integrated plans)

http://emints.more.net/ethemes/resources/S00000819.html

(e-theme unit)

http://www.hawaii.edu/hga/GeoMatters/hstapresent/Literature-Geography/FlatStanley.htm

(site for states study including options for PowerPoint presentation)

http://www.nisd.net/cmptecww/DeptWebSite/TIP/Elementary/TIP%204/Flat%20Stanley/flatstanley.htm

(excellent site with integration and great classroom letter)

http://scican.net/~jsheppar/stanley/StanPrint.html

(activities and questions)