First-grade students learn about the USA in a special way — with Flat Stanley!
Every year in December, the class reads the story “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown. In the story, students learn that Stanley was “flattened” by a bulletin board that fell on him as he slept. His parents mail him in a manila envelope to visit a friend who is living in California.
The first-graders then create their own Flat Stanley and send him on an adventure to visit a friend or relative who lives in another state. Upon Flat Stanley’s return, each student creates a poster that can display pictures, postcards and artifacts that were sent back with Stanley and represent his trip to that state.
The posters are displayed in the hallway. All students are given the opportunity to give an oral report about their poster, sharing what they have learned about the state, with the help of Flat Stanley!
