Children select the work center where they will complete tasks such as puppet making, letter writing, and creating a drawing of Flat Stanley that can be mailed with their letter. Topics are historical and recreational sites, museums, and natural resources. During ongoing work sessions, students utilize centers to edit, revise, and complete their work. Those using the computer receive teacher assistance in locating a school in a different state where they will send their Flat Stanley package. As children receive responses, they share the packages and discuss what they have learned about each state, and create writing webs that will later be used to make more reports.
Students compare their own community to the ones they have received information about.
There are twenty-one second grade students involved in this program, including fifteen students from the Resource Room. The various activities lend themselves to whole class instruction, small cooperative groups, and individual tasks. The novel Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown is available at bookstores or from the Scholastic Book Company. Other materials needed for the program are mailing envelopes, colored computer paper, disposable cameras, a community map, and a U.S. map. Pen Pal Communities is an exciting cross-curricular experience.