Do you know Flat Stanley? Based on a book about a boy who is squashed by a bookshelf and is subsequently put in an envelope and mailed about the world, the Flat Stanley project is used by many teachers to help primary school students learn about geography and literacy.
Students make a Flat Stanley (or a Flat Ashley if they wish to have a girl) and then send them to a friend or family member. Flat Stanley is treated as a guest for a short while then is sent on to another friend or family member. Along the way, pictures or post cards are sent back to the school so the students can track Flat Stanley’s progress.
Flat Stanley arrived late last week from friends in San Francisco. Their nephew’s first grade class is participating in this project. It seems that Stanley has been many exciting places so far.
This weekend I took Stanley on a bicycle ride to Kred Island, a village of ethnic Mon people who live north of Krungthep in a small island surrounded by the Chao Praya River.
Stanley was able to see several very beautiful temples, sample some tasty Thai food, and even watch as traditional clay pottery was baked in an old-fashioned kiln.
I’ll send this picture back to the school along with some post cards. I’m debating whether to take Stanley to Tokyo with us. That would be interesting, too. The instructions ask that whoever holds Stanley on May 1st mail him back to the school, so there is time to get him to two more destinations, or Tokyo plus one additional destination.
Is there anyone who would be interested in receiving Stanley or, easier, who would like to send a postcard to the school from a place that Stanley “visited”?
Quite an interesting way to learn about the world, don’t you think?
christao408 
Cute idea! If he visits other countries, he can put on different costumes too (like we used to do with those cut-out models and clothes). 🙂
Very cute idea! If Flat Stanley is interested in visiting Delhi, let me know.
Or Amsterdam? Send him over!
Oh wow… I remember reading about this or watching something on PBS about it a long time ago. Yeah, take him to Tokyo!
Brilliant!
Never heard of Flat Stanley, but this is awesome! I’d like to receive an Ashley or Stanley.
oh! would stanley like to come to Scotland?
xx
Awesome! Our friend who lives In Buffalo was taking his niece’s Flat Stanley (who became “Flat Stan the Buffalo Sabre’s Fan”) with him as his work had him traveling to Florida and the Bay Area. It’s such a fun project!If Stanley hasn’t been to LA yet, I’d be happy to take him to the beach!I’d definitely take him to Tokyo if you can!
Send Stanley over to me and I’ll bring him to Vietnam! Bon Voyage!
I am a bit overstimulated with all the internet projects going on…
I remember doing the Flat Stanley project years ago when I first started teaching 3rd grade. It is a wonderful way to teach geography. I know that Kansas isn’t very exciting but we do have fantastic BBQ and the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Champions so if you would like to send him our directions, we have some fun places to visit!
@ottofong – That’s a good idea! I didn’t think about that but as a paper doll, of course he should get dressed up in each country.
@Dezinerdreams – @snowjunky8 – @wonderlanndd – Thanks for the offers to host Stanley. He’s on his way out to Melbourne this morning and then has a planned stop in Kenya. If time allows (he has to head back to the US by May 1) I’ll send him to visit you, too!
@ElusiveWords – @alextebow – Since Stanley is on his way to Melbourne now I think he’ll just “virtually” visit Tokyo and send the students a post card from there. It occurs to me that sending him to someone who is a flight attendant or pilot would probably be the best option because he’d see the most cities!
@curry69curry – That would be fun! He’s on his way to Melbourne first but I should figure out a way for him to meet you in Vietnam.
@minhaners – @jojobaDESIGNS – Yeah, it is such a fun way to help children learn about the world and different cultures.
@Wangium – Between taking a test to see what country you should live in, what superhero you really are, and what twenty-five things about you everyone doesn’t really want to know, I can only imagine how overstimulated you are! =)
@oldpartner – I’m surprised that you haven’t done that project again. It seems like a really fun one. It seems that the original version was part of a writing project, too, and there was a journal that accompanied Stanley.
Aw man, we never sent any paper people on crazy trips when I was in the first grade. All I remember is memorizing poetry, taking spelling tests and highlighting instances of the word “the” in newspapers. Oh, and we developed our own system of finance based on the lids of milk jugs. And my best friend was a chubby boy named Chandler Browning! “Chandler Browning, gimme a brownie. Chandler Browning, gimme a brownie.” I can still hear it.Those were the days…
I always loved that project. What a great way for kids to learn to other parts of the world! Let us know where all Flat Stanley goes 🙂