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Graphics and reproducible pages are located in the frame at the bottom of the page.

To print, click on the printer icon in the frame and select the pages you want.

"You've Got Mail"

Carol Hartery's Free Activity Tools

Carol's Postcard Template

Not all learning comes from books.  As I look back at my childhood, I realize how much I cherished receiving and sending mail.  Yes, in these days of computers, smart phones and text messages many parents consider paper mail insignificant; it's only snail mail.  However, children are touched by personal things such as letters that are crafted in full words and sentences and experiences that link them to far away people and places.  By taking the time to answer mail, sometimes with the help of parents, children learn and use vital skills such as reading, writing, and following directions. Let me share some of my experiences.

Shortly after I was born my maternal grandparents toured the United States by bus. As they visited each state they sent me a postcard. My mother stored them in her hope chest and  she didn't give them to me until the summer before I entered 5th grade. I remember my favorite postcard came from Salt Lake City, Utah and had a tiny bag of salt attached to it. Sadly, I don't have those postcards any longer, but I do have fond memories of them.

I attended elementary school at the Patrick Lyndon School in West Roxbury.  At the end of 4th grade we spent a day in what would become our 5th grade classroom. We were told that in 5th grade we would be learning about each of the 50 states and we were going to have to do a project about one state in each of the geographical regions. Over the summer we were supposed to write to Chambers of Commerce and gather information about one of the New England States.

Well, I loved to get mail and still do except for the envelopes that come with clear windows in them. That summer I wrote to the Chambers of Commerce in all 50 states. I asked the recipient for a map and other information for that state and said it was for my 5th grade assignment. Soon we had envelopes and packages of all sizes being slipped through the mail slot on our front porch and they were all addressed to me! Some of the packages were so thick that they were left on our doorstep. I was beyond excited with all of the mail I was receiving each day. If there was a message in the package suggesting to write to such and such for further information, I did. I remember that I continued to receive packages from all over the country for about 2 or 3 more years.

During that same summer I also learned about pen pals. I think I read about them in one of my magazines and quickly signed up to get some pen pals because that meant that I would be getting even more mail. I remember having a pen pal from Mexico who wrote to me in Spanish. I couldn't read a word of Spanish. I wrote back to her in English. She couldn't read a word of English. Some how we managed to keep in touch for a couple of years. I know we exchanged photographs-mine were taken on a camera I had gotten from saving Bazooka bubble gum wrappers (I have the bad teeth to prove how much of that sugary gum I chewed!)I had other pen pals too. Some were my cousins from Longmeadow and Everett. Others were pen pals I learned about through magazines, school, and Girl Scouts.

Looking back on those experiences I now realize how much learning came from each of those experiences. Think of the literacy skills I acquired simply by reading, writing, and receiving mail.

As you travel about this summer, even if it's locally, purchase a postcard for your child to send to a relative, friend or pen pal. I also hope that some of you will send me a postcard. I will display them at the store and on the web site.  My displays will show teachers ways postcards can be used in their classroom. Please send me a postcard at this address.

The Learning Tree Store

62B Montvale Avenue

Stoneham, MA 02180

Attention: Carol Hartery

I have created a postcard template as a printable activity for our web site.. Print out the postcards on tag weight paper. Your child can illustrate one side of the card and write a message and the address on the other side.

Enjoy!

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