Flat Stanley

 There are certain projects/events that all three of my kids have done and Flat Stanley is kind of the big one for second grade.  Luke sent his off to Australia, Mason's traveled to several different locations (his teacher gave the great tip of scanning and emailing him!) and Griffin's went on a legit world tour :) hahaha

The key to Flat Stanley isn't necessarily where he goes but who hosts him and we were BLOWN AWAY by how many incredibly gracious and thoughtful hosts offered to show Flat Stanley around their city/country.  Blogging has offered some super unique opportunities over the years and being able to say "hey! would any of you be interested in showing my daughter's paper cutout guy around your town" and having dozens of people respond "YES!" is on that list.  THANK YOU!!!!

For Griffin's class the project is what you do with your photos once you get them back and she decided she wanted to make a scrapbook of his travels.  We would check my email after school and oooh and aahhh at the pictures that were in the inbox and then she would pick out which ones she wanted and helped put them onto the document and print the pages.  I helped her put text boxes on the page and then she typed (or cut and paste) the text and wrote the location name.  She assembled it all in a binder and I love that it's in a format that she can keep for years!

She also used the sheet protectors to hold things like post cards and other little mementos (seriously BLOWN AWAY by people's incredible generosity and thoughtfulness!)

Soy beans and corn...

... even a letter typed in braille.  so much fun!

Lots of y'all have asked for an update after I asked for hosting help and I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of the places he went so can all travel vicariously through Flat Stanley ;)

He traveled LITERALLY across New Zealand...

... visited the Wright Cycle Co (Ohio)...

 

... a dairy farm...

... the Olympic village in Whistler...

... a farm in Virginia...

.... and he got to experience what Valley Forge would have been like when Washington and his troops spent the winter there.

He visited insanely gorgeous Utah...

... where he toured museums...

... and got to hold the olympic torch.

He saw the Mayflower in Plymouth...

... went to school in Australia...

... and went to Paris..... Texas :)

He visited the Ohio State campus...

... hung out in Antarctica...

... saw the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia...

... and made a stop on Bourbon Street :)

He ate Beignets...

... got to check out "yardi gras houses"...

... and see the CN Tower in Toronto.

He visited the UK...

... Red Rocks...

... Austria...

... and NYC...

He saw lots of snow in Philly... 

(sidenote: check out her FABULOUS hair!!! OH MY WORD!)

... Michigan...

... Massachusetts...

... and Breckenridge.

He saw Betsy Ross's house...

... the Boston Commons ducklings dressed up for Chinese New Year...

... and even made it to Maine!

He visited Wrigley field...

... Fenway Park...

... AND THE SUPER BOWL...

... all before hopping on a Southwest flight home :) 

Can you EVEN?!?! Y'all.  What started as a simple school project turned into so much more - it was a lesson in kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness.  She learned about so many amazing places and we had the best time talking about how other people live... shoveling snow, driving tractors, hiking ACROSS their country.  

I've been repeatedly blown away by people taking the time to do this for Griffin (and Mason and Luke!) and we would absolutely LOVE to return the favor... so if you have a Flat Stanley project in your future keep us in mind!  Also - teachers... if you have kids in your class who don't have anyone to send their Flat Stanley to we would LOVE to host and/or would love to try to connect you with someone who could host Stanley for your student.  

HAPPY Monday, friends!!!