Probably my all time favorite project I've done has to be the Flat Stanley project. My group of 19 campers is about to undertake the process this Friday. I posted a request for hosts on LM_NET and had a fabulous response. I had to turn quite a few librarians away which always breaks my heart, especially when I see where they are writing from. I wish I could do this with all of my second grade students.
I had probably 5 responses from people who were unfamiliar with the concept. I directed them to these two websites.
www.flatstanley.com
www.flatstanleyproject.com
Both websites give ideas, reproducibles and pictures. I even saw a Flat Stanley photographed with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle. Wonder what the secret service thought about him!
Our take on it is a little different. My students actually create a paper doll that looks like themselves. We write learn letter writing skills and write a friendly letter to the library telling them a little bit about themselves.
If you want to try this project out here are some things I've learned from doing it.
* Photocopy your dolls or Flat Stanley on a heavy cardstock paper.
* If possible laminate them!
* Include a letter to the host telling them about your school and town and what your expectations of them are.
* Include your mailing address in this correspondence.
* If you are a member of LM_NET then ask there for hosts. I'm sure you will get a great response!
* Stay in communication with the hosts. I e-mail them when the dolls are mailed and ask that they let me know when they arrive. I keep all this recorded on a master list of addresses. I also ask them to e-mil me when the doll is heading back to our school.
* Keep requirements simple. I ask that they keep a journal and include some pictures. You'll find that lots of people will go above and beyond which is always very kind of them.
* Make your students write a thank you note. I have my students do this on a postcard. The picture usually has a map of our state on it.
Unfortunately you can expect that some people won't return the doll :( I've never had a 100% success rate which makes me sad, not to mention the kids. I had a fellow LM_NET member offer me some good advice today. When she does the project she has some back up contacts. She will create another Flat Stanley doll and send it off to that school and they will have a quick turnover. For the kids I think it's more important that they receive some correspondence then nothing at all.
I'm excited to find out about the adventures of our dolls!
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