BellaOnline Forums Education Homeschooling Around the world by postcards

A homeschooling Mom told me of a greaat way to learn geography and customs around the world via a site she'd recently joined. www.postcrossing.com/ There you send and get cards randomly among over 100,000 other members and you can choose to do private exchanges with members if you want.
I joined and agree it is a great way to make efriends and learn about the world.
If you join you'll find me as the only member in the country list under Northern Mariana Islands.

This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Tammy,
at the Postcrossings Blog www.postcrossing.com/blog there's an entry with pics of a classroom teacher who used it.

editted to add:
BTW
The Flat Stanley Project www.flatstanleyproject.com is another project that helps kids learn about the world. I enjoyed having a flat visitor once would do so again.

If you belong to an email list or other social network site, you can get lots of postcards and even stamps from around the world. The Internet is a great way to learn about the world! One way to start your own Flat Stanley, or traveling student, is to write a letter explaining what you are doing. The letter should include: * Photo of the student * Mailing address with a "return date" * Space for people to sign their names and addresses and a little about themselves or their state/country Mail it off to a relative or friend in another state, with a second letter asking them to send the traveling student on to a friend or relative of theirs in another state. When the letter reaches someone on or around the "return date" they will (hopefully) mail it back to your student. Your student can then contact each person individually for more info about their state, if they so desire (including a self-addressed, stamped envelope would be nice, too). Hmmm... this sounds like fun! Perhaps we'll have to give it a try this year! ~Kelly H.

For a nice article a bout our Library's Postcrossing project see:
www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=13&newsID=95870

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!! I had lots of penpals as a youngster and it was a very enriching experience! Any other homeschoolers do "penpalling" ?

To me at least this seems much easier to get going with than penpalling (which never seemed to last) for me. Some of the card exchanges can lead to penpals.

This is true! Post cards are also less expensive to mail....do you know of a specific homeschool network that sponsors this?
(like homeschoolers only) :0)

No, but then I'm a single senior and don't homeschool anyone so know nothing about any networks. I did hear first about www.postcrossing.com from a homeschooling mom though. Feel free to spread the word.
Actually, for international mail from USA the postcard and letter cost the same postage. In fact if I'm exchanging 2-3 postcards with someone I put them in an envelope to save on postage. For domestic postcards are cheaper.

Very cool! Thx!