Flat Stanley
Goes on Yet Another
Adventure

A WebQuest for 2nd Grade Geography & Science

Designed by
S.H. Wozniak
swozniak@woodridge.summit.k12.oh.us

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion  

Introduction

• Flat Stanley is preparing for yet another adventure.  He has packed his thin sliced bread and milk filled toothbrush holder and is stamped and ready to go!
  

• Discover how Stanley got to his destination and what happened once he arrived.
  

• Read about how a real girl got mailed by the U.S. Postal Service in Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell.
  

• Learn about mapping other routes in Mapping Penney’s World by Loreen Leedy.

Goal:  Follow Stanley in his adventure, learning about the history, famous people, sites and climate of his destination.

The Task

• After reading Flat Stanley, you will write a letter telling about your favorite adventure and ask someone you know to take him on a further adventure.  The first (introduction) and last (your request) paragraph will be written together as a class.

• Write a letter about Flat Stanley.

• Choose the person you want to write to.

• Color and cut out your own Flat Stanley.

• Find out how much it would cost to mail you to where Flat Stanley is going.

• Trace Flat Stanley’s route and find out how many miles he traveled.

• Use a compass rose to find out what direction Flat Stanley is going.

• Learn about parks, sites of interest, famous people and flags from the state or country he visited.

• Locate places that Flat Stanley visited on a map.

• Look at the postmark and see where Flat Stanley stopped first.

• Find out how close that is to the people he visited.

• Write a report about where Flat Stanley visited; including things he might want to see on his next visit.

Goal:  When you have finished learning about Flat Stanley’s journey, you will write about it and share it with the class.

The Process

• Listen to the story of Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown.  Discuss his different adventures and the problems and solutions that occur.
  

• Make a web about your favorite adventure, using questions like who, what, where, why and how to help describe it.  Write your rough draft using your web ideas.  Edit the rough draft using the edit checklist.  Your teacher will type up the final draft for mailing.
  

• Bring in the name and complete address of the person you will be sending Flat Stanley to.
  

• Mail Flat Stanley and your letter.
  

• Using a buddy, find out how much it would cost to mail yourself parcel post to the same place you are sending Flat Stanley.  You can do that by going to the U.S. Post Office website.  Compare that cost to the cost of a regular first class letter.  Use the Mailing Me worksheet.
  

• When Flat Stanley returns, you will share the letter with the class, saving the envelope for the postmark.
  

• Using the activity sheet, find out other places of interest that Stanley could have visited while in that city.
  

•  Locate where (It may be more than one place.) Flat Stanley went on the map, using a web site to track and print out his journey to that city.  How many miles did he travel round trip?  What direction(s) did he go?  Hint: Use the compass rose. See below for a website to use.
  

•  Draw or print out a picture of the flag of the state or country that Flat Stanley visited.
  

• What was the weather like where Stanley was?  How did it compare to our weather?  Use the websites listed below to help you.
  

• Write and present a report about Stanley’s adventure.

Goal:  To learn how to use websites to research geographical and weather information.

Resources

Websites

•  To locate weather information you can use: 

http://www.Infoplease.com/weather.html

http://www.weather.com

•   To find Flat Stanley’s route use the map choice on: 

http://www.yahoo.com
(Choose driving destination to get started.)

• To find the nearest big city, geography information, places of interest, etc.:

http://www.factmonster.com
(Choose U.S. and then U.S. geography to start.)

http://www.wildernet.com
(This will take you to state parks in the area you choose.)

• To learn more about Jeff Brown and other adventures that students have taken Flat Stanley on:

http://flatstanley.enoreo.on.ca/jeff_brown.html
(You can play some games with Stanley at this site.)

Print Resources

• Go to the library and use the Atlas, Globe, or Encyclopedias.

Evaluation

• Print out the Rubric for your project Flat Stanley Rubric and fill it in honestly.  Turn it in with your written report.

• The teacher will fill out the same rubric based on how she thinks you completed the project.

Conclusion

• If you had fun with Flat Stanley, you may want to read more of Jeff Brown’s books and find out how Stanley becomes invisible or what happens when he finds a magic lamp.

• Ask your parents if you can help plan the next family vacation.

• How could you have made this a better project?  What would you change?  What did you like the best?