Saturday, November 10, 2007

You guys. Seriously.

I can't believe so many people have never heard of Flat Stanley. Considering I have "hosted" six various Flat Individuals in the past two years and I am a backwards skank-bag from Tennessee? Well, it's just surprising.

Anyhoo. Here's the story behind it.

The project was started in 1995 by Dale Hubert, a third-grade schoolteacher in London, Ontario, Canada. It is meant to facilitate letter-writing by schoolchildren to each other as they document what Flat Stanley has done with them. Dale Hubert received the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2001 for the Flat Stanley Project.

The Flat Stanley Project provides an opportunity for students to make connections with students of other member schools who've signed up with the project. Students begin by reading the book and becoming acquainted with the story. Then they make paper "Flat Stanleys" (or pictures of the Stanley Lambchop character) and keep a journal for a few days, documenting the places and activities in which Flat Stanley is involved. The Flat Stanley and the journal are mailed to other people who are asked to treat the figure as a visiting guest and add to his journal, then return them both after a period of time.

Students may find it fun to plot Flat Stanley's travels on maps and share the contents of the journal. Often, a Flat Stanley returns with a photo or postcard from his visit.

In 2005, more than 6,000 classes from 47 countries took part in the Flat Stanley Project.

Now, you know. And knowing? As any GI Joe fan would know, is half the battle.





Don't make me explain who GI Joe is. I'm tired.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm laughing so hard.

I thought, at the end -- you were gonna say, 'Now don't make me come kick your ignorant asses'.
Or somethin like that.

Thanks for enlightening us ignorant skank-bags;).

Unknown said...

A real American Hero! GI Joe is there! Thanks for enlightening me. I'd never heard of it either.

velocibadgergirl said...

I would be happy to host your children's Flat Stanleys if they need more victims. The guy who looks like a Beatle won't mind, I don't think. <3

my4kids said...

I thought it was funny people didnt know what it was either. Like I said we have hosted Flat Stanley ourselves recently

Denise said...

Still nothing sorry. Doesn't ring bell.

frannie said...

ok-- I had heard of the flat stanley thing-- it was my lame attempt at a joke

Em said...

I do know Flat Stanley. But now you've got me thinking about my old GI Joe. Wow, haven't thought of him in about a hundred years.

Anonymous said...

I don't guess Flat Stanley has visited my kids MDO yet! Maybe in a few years....

I never had a GI Joe, but I did have a Stretch Armstrong. Remember him?

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I knew that. 'Cause I'm cool like that.

SJINCO said...

I hosted a flat stanley from California, but only once.

I'm jealous.

Emma in Canada said...

Hey Liam has that book..but I didn't know about hosting Flat Stanley. So much for my knowledge of all things Canadian.

Anonymous said...

Love Flat Stanley...we used to have our own in the school I taught.

Unknown said...

Flat Stanley is hanging on my fridge right now with a note reminding me to send a postcard from him to my niece, 2 months ago. I sent it and she got pissed because I wrote in cursive. She almost cried in class. My SIL chewed me out. I LOVE my family