Receiving postcards from the east coast of California, or all the way from a European country, the 3rd grade classes enjoy learning about places around the world from little bits of mail. The 3rd grade teachers started an activity that requires students to bring in as many postcards as they can throughout the year. When they bring in a postcard, they present it to the class and learn all about the location on the postcard within the span of about five minutes.
These postcards are given to the students by out-of-state family or friends and allow classes to take a little snippet out of their day to learn about this new terrain. They learn extra information such as climate, geography, and any other interesting facts.
“These postcards are good for them to realize there's more than just Louisville, Nebraska,” said 3rd grade teacher Natasha Vavra.
Not only does this activity help them learn about other places around the world, it prepares them for future geography class and for exploring new places. This 3-year tradition is expected to continue because of the engagement that the parents, students, and teachers put into it and the positive energy it creates.
“It’s fun, so it helps us memorize where it is,” said 3rd grader Allie Ramaekers.
The 3rd graders seem energetic to show off how many postcards they bring into class, the places they’ve visited, or even just their family members who live 5,000 miles away.
These kids enjoy learning interesting facts and details about new locations that they wouldn’t otherwise learn in the basic teaching curriculum. They form fun memories alongside the little informational nuggets.
Postcards from outside the small hometown of Louisville, Nebraska can really open the eyes of young people to the different regions across the world.