Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Send Us a Postcard!


I love when great things happen by accident.

When I started the school year, my sister-in-law went on a cruise and asked if anyone wanted postcards along the way. I asked if she'd send some to my classroom, and she did. Then, she started sending postcards from anywhere she went, and my class began to get hooked.

We opened up the invitation to all of the students' families and friends, and postcards started to trickle in from all over the world. (My school does have a pretty diverse population, which helps!) When kids go on vacation, they're excited to bring back a postcard, too!

One of my students even has a relative who travels the world studying oceans. As she travels, she sends us postcards and asks people she knows if they'll send one. Thanks to her help, we even got a postcard from Antarctica.


When we get a postcard, we find where it is on the map. We identify the state (if it's in the U.S., like most are!), the country, the continent, and the hemisphere. Then, the postcard either goes around the board or into a photo album we are keeping in our library.


We are learning new geography and history, but it doesn't take much time and the kids are excited about it. Plus, a lot of times I will share postcards after everyone has packed up for the day, which helps motivate them to do it quicker!


Here's how you can help us!

We have at least one postcard from every continent except South America. We're really hoping to get some more before the end of the school year!

I know I have blog visitors from all over the country and world. If your classroom would like to send us a postcard, we'd be SO HAPPY- and glad to send one back! Leave a comment with your e-mail, and I'll get in touch with you!

We will also be trying out a website called PostCrossing to try to exchange some postcards, too. Has anyone tried it? Do you have any tips?


 Finally, don't forget! You have ONE MORE DAY to enter my giveaway for a free customized lesson plan template! I will make them to fit YOUR schedule and YOUR needs to make YOUR life easier, and all you have to do is follow me and leave a comment!

Yes, seriously, that's it! And right now, there aren't many entries, so you have a pretty good chance of winning! Click here to enter before Wednesday at midnight (ET)!


4 comments:

  1. I love this! I have a travel theme in my classroom and my students have also been collecting postcards this year, they love it!

    I'm following you : )

    Katrina (ALove4Teaching)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fun way for the kids to learn! The kids will always remember this from 2nd grade!
    I'm so glad I found your blog, I'm your newest follower!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Let me know your school name and address and I'll get you one from Brazil.
    Patty
    prutenba@sturgisps.org
    Second In Line

    ReplyDelete

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