The Flat Stanley Project grew out of a classic children’s book by the same name, written by Jeff Brown. In the story, Stanley, a regular boy, is squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. On the bright side, he discovers that his parents can slip him into an envelope and mail him to visit friends in faraway places. In real life, students in thousands of classrooms around the world participate in the Flat Stanley Project. Each class makes its own cardboard flat friend and creates a life story for him (Flat Jessica is his female version). Then, through e-mail or regular mail, students send their friend on vacation with classmates in other countries. When a flat visitor arrives, host children treat him as an honored guest. They take him along on outings, snap travel photos, and keep a journal of their activities and meals, giving insight into life in their part of the world. It is a very successful project. Flat Stanley has travelled all over the world, and has even found his way into the hands of Presidents and leaders of many countries (including our own), spreading a host of literacy skills along the way.
After reading this book in class, my third grade class here in Poughkeepsie decided that they wanted to participate in the Flat Stanley Project. Because of time restraints, they decided not to send the Flat Stanley on vacation, but to show him around their own school instead. They had an absolute blast! They took him on a field trip, introduced him to their friends and Principal, they celebrated Valentine’s Day with him and showed him all of the places inside and outside of school that they thought he would like to see. They created the script for each scene, acted it out, and were so proud to show the finished product to their classroom teacher and friends.
The Flat Stanley Project grew out of a classic children’s book by the same name, written by Jeff Brown. In the story, Stanley, a regular boy, is squashed flat by a falling bulletin board. On the bright side, he discovers that his parents can slip him into an envelope and mail him to visit friends in faraway places. In real life, students in thousands of classrooms around the world participate in the Flat Stanley Project. Each class makes its own cardboard flat friend and creates a life story for him (Flat Jessica is his female version). Then, through e-mail or regular mail, students send their friend on vacation with classmates in other countries. When a flat visitor arrives, host children treat him as an honored guest. They take him along on outings, snap travel photos, and keep a journal of their activities and meals, giving insight into life in their part of the world. It is a very successful project. Flat Stanley has travelled all over the world, and has even found his way into the hands of Presidents and leaders of many countries (including our own), spreading a host of literacy skills along the way.
After reading this book in class, my third grade class here in Poughkeepsie decided that they wanted to participate in the Flat Stanley Project. Because of time restraints, they decided not to send the Flat Stanley on vacation, but to show him around their own school instead. They had an absolute blast! They took him on a field trip, introduced him to their friends and Principal, they celebrated Valentine’s Day with him and showed him all of the places inside and outside of school that they thought he would like to see. They created the script for each scene, acted it out, and were so proud to show the finished product to their classroom teacher and friends.