Postcard+Exchange+Project+Description

** Project Description and Procedures ** After joining a 50 state postcard exchange, students bring in picture postcards to send to other classes in other states. As a class, an informative paragraph about the students’ own state is composed. The paragraph can be handwritten onto the postcards, or printed on paper and glued onto the postcards, or printed on label paper and stuck onto the postcards. The leader of the exchange sends the addresses of all the classes in the exchange to the various teachers. Address labels are made. The postcards from all states are mailed on a preset date. Once the postcards start arriving from the other states various learning activities may take place. Cards can be tracked as to arrival. Students may label and color states on a map of the U.S. as the cards arrive. Cards can be placed on a large map of the United States. Information sheets about the states can be completed with information from the postcards and/or from researching about the states. 1. Teacher joins a postcard exchange representing state (Colorado). 2. Students bring in enough cards for everyone on the exchange (50 states). 3. The class composes an informative paragraph about their state and community. 4. Teacher prints paragraph onto label paper. 5. Students stick paragraph labels and address labels onto postcards. 6. Put stamps onto the postcards. 7. Mail the postcards on a preset day. 8. As the postcards arrive from the other states, complete a Postcard Tracking form (state, capital, one interesting fact about the state from the postcard). 9. As the postcards arrive, students may label and color the state(s) on a United States map. 10. Cards can be placed on a large wall map of the United States. Attaching the cards with yarn allows both sides to be read. 11. Students can be assigned certain states. 12. Reports may be written about the states with information from the postcards and from research.
 * Postcard Exchange Project **