Lesson+Extensions

Lessons that utilize the postcards to support state/national standards:

> This project is designed to be open-ended and flexible. Depending upon the age and learning needs of your students, your teaching discipline, and your access to resources (including technology), you can extend the project far beyond the suggested postcard exchange. In previous years, the following extensions have been used by creative, proactive teachers, just like you! >  Suggestions:  With young students, find beautiful photo books or picture books about the various regions of the country and the world. As postcards arrive, spend time with the books/pages that relate to the area from which the cards were received.

With older students (upper elementary through high school) assign teams to do the research and presentation about each postcard.

With students of all ages, provide occasion for extended use of maps and globes: determine the distance cards have traveled; implement guessing contests for longest distance traveled, card received from the community closest to yours, etc. Consider creating a database of participants in your category or a spreadsheet that will allow you to manipulate numerical information. Math can be incorporated in numerous ways. From simple Kindergarten counting and graphing activities, to calculating locales of predominant contributors through tables and charts, there are many opportunities to compare, contrast and calculate. Extend the cultural exchange by selecting classrooms for additional e-mail or ongoing curricular collaboration.

This project can be a wonderful "open door" to students from all over the world! Technology ideas proliferate! Students can create their own postcards using desktop publishing programs.

Cross-age learning is a natural in a project like this. Team your class with younger or older students with whom they can share their expertise about the states and countries from which cards are received. Have your class create school-wide displays of their cards, and share their progress through periodic classroom visits or school-wide assemblies.