The preschool postcard exchange factory

As many of you know, we are having a postcard exchange.  Because I put my school on each list of the exchange, I slightly over-committed my kids to the post card making process.  So we have been making postcards like crazy to keep up. I just sent out my fourth batch of postcards today and in each batch there are at least 35 cards so that means that to date, we have sent out 140 postcards!

We have used a variety of methods to decorate our postcards including dot painting. These postcards come in full sheets that are meant for the printer.  We painted the entire sheet of postcards and then we tore them apart and added our labels and stamps…

On another set of postcards, we used our hands and fingers to make leaf prints on our postcards…

We got a little carried away with this. We started with just fingers but ended up using our whole hands to make prints…

The whole hand actually turned out pretty good!

On another set of postcards, we used ink stamps and ink to make prints on our postcards…

And on another day, we used our salad spinner to add a little spin art to our postcards…

When we receive a postcard, we read the note on the card together first and then we look at the world map to see where the postcard comes from.  Most of them come from the United States but we have also received some from Australia, Canada, Africa, England, UK, France, and Indonesia…

The postcards we have received are all different. Some classes have sent us letters in an envelope. Others have sent us postcards with their class photo on it.  Others have sent postcards with photos of state or country symbols, and others have added a drawing made by a child in their class. This was the very first postcard we received…

This is one of the first drawings we received in the mail…

To keep our postcards organized, I made this display board. It sits out all the time and at the top of the board is where all the postcards are kept.  The children can take the cards out and look at them anytime they wish…

The dots on the board identify where the cards come from. There are blue dots on all the cards from the US.  Because we are sending cards to all 300 people who are in the exchange, we are receiving way more that what would normally be received in an exchange such as this…

We also have a mailbox that I made to put new cards in as they arrive.  Miss Abby will choose someone to come and check the mail and then she will read the postcards to the entire group.  Miss Abby also sings a song with the kids about checking the mail.  I don’t know the song but I think it is from Blues Clues.  They pretty much end up shouting by the end of the song…

Our mailbox is simply a cereal box covered with red contact paper with a flap for it to open and close…

I have to say that doing a postcard exchange has to be one of the best ways to promote conversation and terms in geography. I don’t think I have ever been able to keep kids this interested in a map of the world as they are through this exchange.

I have received several emails from people telling me that they are enjoying the exchange but I have also received emails from folks telling me they are not getting as many postcards as they have hoped for.  I sure hope you all are sending out those cards. Even if you are running behind – just jump in there and send them out to the people on your list.  We have sent out postcards to everyone who is in a red, blue, green, and orange group.  In December we will send out our yellow group cards and keep going each month until we have sent out a card to every one in each group….

If you have any problems, just drop me an email and let me see if there is something I can do to help but the reality is, it takes everyone to do their part. Our class has managed to send out 145 postcards so far and that is way more than anyone else is being asked to send so I know you can do it too!  We are counting on everyone to participate and I hope you do.  Thank you so much for those who have sent us a postcard. Our class is being truly enriched by this experience and we appreciate you thinking of us.

~Deborah

Links from others in the Postcard Exchange

Males in Early Childhood

Make, Do & Friend

Last Year’s Exchange

Child Central Station

 

 

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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