I was always envious of the primary teachers who took their students on virtual adventures with Flat Stanley. I loved seeing the memorabilia and letters that would teach the students about places around the world.
Being a 4th grade teacher, I knew that most of my students weren’t reading Flat Stanley anymore, so one day I decided to create a project that was just right for my fourth graders. In New York our Social Studies curriculum is centered around the geography and history of our state. So, instead of a Flat Stanley, we were going to send out some New Yorkies!
New Yorkie was going to be our classroom mascot for learning. This project was going to encompass many areas of learning and it was going to start with a simple letter to a friend or family member.
STEP 1: PRINT OUT YOUR CLASS MASCOT
- Print enough mascots for your entire class (and a few extra). I found an adorable Yorkie clip art through Google Image search. Find a mascot you like, copy and paste the image onto a PPT or Doc and then you will be ready! Size your mascot to be sure it will fit into the envelopes you will be using. I typically use a brown clasp envelope that can hold a sheet of standard paper folded in half. I nest Yorkie inside the folded paper when mailing.
- Laminate them.
- Have each student write their return address with a permanent marker on the back using the SCHOOL'S ADDRESS. For some students, this will be the first time they are writing an address. I recommend sitting down in small groups to complete this task. I have also had parent volunteers take 2-3 students at a time to complete this step.
STEP 2: GATHER NAMES AND ADDRESSES
Usually in January, I send out a family letter introducing the New Yorkie project. This letter will spark excitement in the students and their families. The purpose of this note is to explain the expectations and process that we will follow to make this project a success.
On the second page of the letter there is an area where the student and parents write the names and addresses of 3 friends or family members that live somewhere in New York. It is important to make it clear to the students that they need to choose people that they believe will have the time and patience to participate. This page also has a due date to keep the parents on schedule.
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Student Address Page
& Laminated Yorkie |
While waiting for addresses to be returned get your Yorkie Basket "ready". I keep the following in the basket:
- the laminated Yorkies (with each student's name and school address on the back)
- pre-printed direction letter for the Yorkie recipients
- mailing envelopes
- extra Yorkies
- extra address letters for families
- markers, pencils
As the families return the addresses for each student, I put all of the addresses into my New Yorkie basket.
STEP 3: START THE ADVENTURE!
Once most of the addresses come back, I have students fill out the directions letter and address the envelopes for the first person on their list.
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I send out a Yorkie too!
This is a great opportunity to connect with an educator in another school district. |
This can also be done with a parent volunteer. Again, students will need explicit step-by-step directions for addressing the envelopes. I remind them to write small and neat. I also provide them a model envelope to help them plan their spacing. Students typically use a marker to fill out the envelopes. Some students will need to try more than once. Keep encouraging them, they can do it!
Students will also need to fill in the date, salutation, and closing of the directions letter.
Once their envelope and letter are done, the students stuff both their laminated New Yorkie and directions letter into the envelope. When a handful of students have completed their mailing, they go to the office to personally place their Yorkies into the outgoing mail. They love that step of the process.
STEP 4: WAITING FOR YORKIE TO RETURN
Yorkie usually takes a few weeks to come back. Once he returns the rewards sealed in the envelope will make the wait worth it! This part of the project is a great lesson in patience for the students. Each student's ability to be patient is different. Some students might ask to send out another Yorkie. I explain that they only have one and we must wait for their specific Yorkie to come back.
Since starting the project I have only had one time where Yorkie did not come back. However, I was told that Yorkie would not be returning. In that unique situation, we sent out a new one.
STEP 5: THE BULLETIN BOARD!
Creating a bulletin board for all of the New Yorkie swag makes the project even more meaningful! I have a map of NY that I use as a focal point of the bulletin board. As the letters and memorabilia start coming in, I post them around the map. I connect a push pin (and sometimes a string) to the place where they came from. This helps the students identify their location compared to where New Yorkie has traveled.
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| This Yorkie came with a QR Code to tell about his adventure! |
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| Push pins show students where (and number of times) Yorkie has traveled |
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| The NY Map/Bulletin Board |
The students love to share with their classmates the letters and such that come in with their Yorkie. This is a great way to support the speaking and listening standards as well. After their swag has been up for a few weeks I send it home with them and put up new New Yorkie pictures and information. This gives the students a fresh bulletin board to learn from every few weeks.
STEP 6: REPEAT
Once a student’s first New Yorkie comes in, we address the envelope and fill out the letter for the next person on the list. This process helps us have a nice flow of Yorkies coming in and out. When Yorkies come back dressed up (and many, many of them do!), I keep Yorkie dressed as is and send him/her to the next person on the list.
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| All dressed up & showing home team spirit! |
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| Fishing & Boating in Cape Vincent, NY |
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| Trooper Yorkie! |
This project is a great way to explore New York geography, its attractions, and history. It is amazing how creative some families are with this project. I love how it strengthens the home/school connection that helps build your academic community.
Dive in with this project! You can make up your own classroom learning mascot or use one familiar to your building/district. The rewards are well worth the time and effort.