Back from Navasota, Texas

Today, Stanley arrived back from Chelsie's uncle, Eduardo. He lives in Navasota, Texas. Stanley got to learn about General Lasalle, who was a great explorer of the Mississippi River. After learning so much history about General Lasalle, Eduardo told us that he and Stanley built up quite and appetite. So, they went to eat ice cream at Dairy Queen.
He also told us that the weather was cloudy and windy with a temperature of 34 chilly degrees. He told us that both he and Stanley were able to keep warm.

Thanks for sending Stanley back Tio Lalo!
From Chelsie, Mrs. Rudd and the students in Room 100

P.S. We will try and post the pictures over the weekend.

Back from Fairbanks, Alaska

Happy New Year!





Stanley is in the snow!


Here comes Santa Claus!


Doggie and Stanley getting along!


Are you hungry for some ice cream and egg nog?



Santley at the winter soltice with Evelyn.


The Winter Soltice Bonfire


Volcano monitoring control room!


BRRRRRRRRR! It's cold. -38 degrees?

Back from Cincinnati, Ohio

Today, we got Geordan's Flat Stanley back from his aunt in Cincinnati, Ohio. She told us about how Stanley visited her place of employment, did a bit of Christmas shopping and spent time with family during the holidays. He sure had a great time. Thanks for sending him back!

Back from Crestview, Florida, Arlington, Virginia and Wendell, North Carolina

Hello Friends and Family!

Our first Stanley arrived back today. We got Ean's Flat Stanley back from his grandma in Crestview, Florida. She sent us a few pictures. He got to visit some doctors and nurses as well as eat at some yummy restaurants.

(I am learning and I have to figure out how to scan the pictures and insert them into the blog.)

Later, after lunch, we got 2 more Stanleys back, McKenzie's and mine. They came back from Arlington, Virginia from Erin Reinhardt and Fred and Heidi Trout.

McKenzie's Flat Stanley diary (made by Erin) showed that he hung out with Erin's Christmas decorations, went to the White House, the National Christmas Tree, Drake Well Park-site of the where Oil was first discovered, the National Zoo and he even rode the subway. He made friends with Tai Shan the panda. I wonder if he likes to munch on bamboo for a snack...hmmm.
He was also able to attend a New Year's Eve party! Woohoo for Stanley!

The diary of my Flat Stanley (made by Fred and Heidi) showed that Stanley traveled a great distance before coming back to Ohio. He started in Wendell, North Carolina. He posed near the Raleigh Skyline, the Raleigh Capitol Building, Pilot Mountain, and even went 5000 feet above Sea Level as he traveled through the Appalachian Mountains. He also visited the Charleston, West Virginia Capitol Building, crossed the Ohio River at Marietta and saw the McKinley Monument in Canton, Ohio.

Wow! He's experienced some cool visits so far! Thanks!

Happy 2008!
We are looking forward to hearing from all of our family and friends as they begin to send our Stanleys back!
Tomorrow will be our first day back after a 2 week break. Hopefully some of the Stanleys came back during break through the US Mail. We will post information and pictures we get back on this blog! I am learning as I go through this, so be patient with me!
Thanks for all of the interest and enthusiasm toward this project.
Mrs. Rudd

Flat Stanley Update

The children have started to share things they have seen or heard family and friends talk about what they are doing with the Flat Stanleys. We hope that all of the Stanleys arrive back by the time we return to school in the new year, 2008. Our Christmas break begins the day after tomorrow. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of the children, their families and friends.
Mrs. Rudd
PS Could you wish our Stanleys Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too? :)

Why do a project like this?

I am sure many people would wonder why I would want to do a project like this. Well...
I reviewed the grade level indicators that would be connected with this project. Here are just some of them:

LANGUAGE ARTS
· Demonstrate a growing stock of sight words.
· Read text using fluid and automatic decoding skills, including knowledge of patterns, onsets and rimes.
· Read aloud with changes in emphasis, voice, timing and expression that show a recognition of punctuation and an understanding of meaning.
· Construct complete sentences with subjects and verbs.
· Write friendly letters or invitations that follow a simple letter format.
· Print legibly and space letters, words and sentences appropriately.
· Spell words correctly with regular short vowel patterns and most common long vowel words (e.g., time, name).
· Spell high-frequency words correctly.
· Create phonetically-spelled written work that can usually be read by the writer and others.
· Spell unfamiliar words using strategies such as segmenting, sounding out and matching familiar words and word parts.
· Use end punctuation correctly, including question marks, exclamation points and periods.
· Use correct capitalization (e.g., the first word in a sentence, names and the pronoun I).
· Use nouns, verbs and adjectives (descriptive words).
· Deliver brief informal descriptive presentations recalling an event or personal experiences that convey relevant information and descriptive details.
SOCIAL STUDIES
· Identify and use symbols to locate places of significance on maps and globes.
· Locate the local community, state and the United States on maps or globes.
· Compare areas within the local community to identify similarities.
· Describe human adaptations to variations in the physical environment including: food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and recreation
· Communicate information orally or visually.
· Describe family and local community customs and traditions.
· Describe life in other countries with emphasis on daily life, including roles of men, women and children.

SCIENCE
· Recognize that seasonal changes can influence the health, survival or activities of organisms.
These are just some...
I know this will be a valuable learning opportunity for the students and for me...