How to Start a Classroom Postcard Exchange in 5 Simple Steps
Ready for a fun and interactive project to teach United States geography? Then it's time to do a classroom postcard exchange! Join other classrooms around the country to exchange postcards, facts, and personal messages from near and far. Kids volition be exposed to parts of the country very dissimilar from their ain, while enjoying the excitement of waiting for the daily mail. Here are five like shooting fish in a barrel steps to become your ain postcard commutation going. (Nosotros've included data here for doing this in the United States, but this project tin can hands be tweaked for a global commutation.)
1. Create or join a classroom postcard exchange list.
Information technology might seem overwhelming to try to find classrooms in other states willing to participate in your exchange, just it's not as hard equally you remember! The internet is total of teachers looking to do this project with their own classes. Do a web search to observe teachers who are already organizing an exchange, and bring together their group. Or, create your own sign up listing (sites like Sign Up Genius or Google Forms make this easy). Think to ask each participant to provide their name, address, and email accost. And then, spread the give-and-take.
- Post your projection on a teacher Facebook group similar the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE.
- Bring together a classroom exchange group on Facebook like The Postcard Commutation.
- Connect with other postcard exchange teachers on chat boards like proteacher.net.
2. Collect postcards (and stamps) to send.
Photo: Teachin' Past the Bay
Make up one's mind what type of postcard(due south) you'd like your form to ship to the classrooms on your list. Many teachers inquire each student to bring in 2-3 stamped postcards as a homework consignment. Some classrooms choose to create their ain custom postcards, using a class photograph at a local landmark. If coin is an issue, take students draw their own postcards on heavy cardstock instead.
3. Compose the postcard message.
Photo: Teaching in Room vi
A meaningful message makes the classroom postcard substitution special. Have your kids work individually, in small groups, or as a grade to etch a message. Encourage them to include a fact about your state and some of their ain favorite things well-nigh where they live. Edit and proof-read these letters as y'all would any writing project. In one case the messages are ready to go, you can have each educatee hand-write a few cards, or print out the messages and attach them to the postcards instead. (This allows yous to include more information, generally.)
4. Accost and mail your postcards.
Photo: Mrs. Parzych'due south Kindergarten
You can utilize pre-printed accost labels for this chore, or brand this another learning opportunity for your students. Many teachers notation that their kids find it challenging to accost postcards correctly (especially in the infinite allowed), so plan to practice in advance on split sheets of newspaper. Once they're fix to go, hold a "mailing ceremony." Perhaps you lot can accommodate a class trip to the local post office to ship them in person. If not, invite the school secretary or a local mail carrier to your classroom and entrust them with your precious cargo.
5. Larn from the postcards you receive in return
Photo: Francie'due south Focus
At present the fun part begins, as your render postcards offset to trickle in from around the country! Here are a few classroom activities you might want to try.
- Create a display board for your postcards, using a large map of the United States as an anchor.
- Assemble a listing of "country facts" from each postcard, and hold a quiz game to see who remembers the most.
- Have students write about the state they'd nigh similar to visit based on the postcards yous receive.
- Locate the address of each postcard on Google Earth, and practise a virtual "visit" of the town or landmark.
- Calculate the distance betwixt your schoolhouse and the location from which each postcard was sent. Talk about the different means to travel that distance, and how long each might have.
- Read and discuss local news articles from the various cities or states.
Does you concord a classroom postcard commutation? Share your tips in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, means to encourage a global perspective in your classroom.
Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/classroom-postcard-exchange/
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