Flat Stanley

A WebQuest for Grades 2 & 3 
(SS, Literature, Language Arts, Math, Art, Music, Science) 

Designed by Michelle Krege, Linda Queen, 
Diane Wilcox, and Deborah McMahon
 

dmcmahon@burke.k12.nc.us
michellekrege@avery.k12.nc.us
queenl@watauga.k12.nc.us
wilcoxd@watauga.k12.nc.us

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

Is Flat Stanley really flat? We are about to embark on a journey to discover whether the human body, the world, shapes, and letters are truly flat. Flat Stanley will be our tour guide through the adventures of this exploration.

Describe crisply and clearly what the end result of the learners' activities will be. The task could be a:

• art product to be designed
• science diagram to be researched and labeled
• shapes to be explored and manipulated
• states to be researched with focused information collected and brochure designed
• music to be created, performed and recorded
• letter to be written, word processed and mailed

1. As a group you will have read Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown.
2. Working with another explorer you will use white art paper and a pencil to trace your partner while he/she is lying on the floor.  Then you will cut it out, decorate and color the front so that it resembles you. 
3. You and your partner should flip your flat person over to the back.  On the back side of your flat person, you will be drawing, labeling and coloring certain parts of the inside of the human body. Now to help you find and label these parts, we are going to take you to an exciting place.  Get ready, get set, click here. 
4. Let's zoom on down the road to our next adventure.  Your flat person will get tired traveling by foot so let's design a cool car for his/her journey.  Your challenge is to work with your partner to create a car made for two flat people.  When you have completed your car, click File and Print.  Now click here to zoom to the factory and build your car. 
5. Make believe your flat person is a kite and let's fly away to another place.  You and your partner each need to think of the state where a relative lives that is the farthest away from here.  You will visit that state and find out interesting information to help you make a visitor's brochure. Each of you need to get a piece of blank white art paper and fold it in half, longways.  Both of you will need to design the front with your state name and shape.  On the inside of your brochure, in whatever design you like, add the state area, state flower, state bird, largest city, one famous native person, and the state's nickname.  As a bonus, on the back of your brochure, try to find the state's flag. Draw and color a picture of it.  Make sure your brochure is colorful and creative.  Make someome else want to visit that state because of how persuasive your brochure is.  Now, if you're ready to fly, click here.
6. I love music, yes I do.  I love music, how about you?  The hills are alive with the sound of music!!  Now it's your turn to create your own song that describes the state you just learned about where your flat person will be traveling.  The song must be two verses long but it does not have to rhyme.  Write  your song on an overhead sheet using a Vis-a-Vis marker, to be presented to the class with the overhead. Rehearse your song with your partner.  Be prepared to teach your song to the class while being recorded on tape or video.
7. It is time to introduce your flat person to a special friend...Arthur who loves to write.  In just a moment you will visit Arthur who will teach you the seven ingredients of a letter.  You will be required to write a letter on a piece of notebook paper to the relative you chose for your flat person to visit.  It must include all seven ingredients.  Don't forget to ask Arthur how to address an envelope.  Using an index card, copy your name and the school address from the board.  Bring your relative's address and a stamp to school and we will add those later after we edit and rewrite your letter. So click here to begin.

Just as Flat Stanley was able to make choices, so are you.  Below you will see examples of what it takes to make the grade.

	Flat on your face 1	Crawling up 2	Walking tall 3	Flying High 4	Score
Tracing, cutting, coloring, decorating your flat person	Traced, cut flat person with little to no color or decoration.	Traced, cut, colored, decorated flat person.	Neatly traced, cut, colored and decorated flat person that resembles you.	Neatly traced, cut, colored, and decorated flat person that resembles you, including details.
Researching, drawing, coloring, labeling the insides of your flat person	Researched web site and  labeled some parts of the human body with little regard for neatness or being thorough in making sure all parts were there.	Researched web site, drew, colored and labeled parts of the human body as listed.	Researched web site, neatly drew, colored and  labeled all parts of the human body as listed.	Researched web site, neatly drew, colored, and labeled all inside parts of the human body as listed. Exceptional details and great care given as to color and detail.
Creating and printing a car out of pattern blocks	Pattern block creation with a printed copy.	Pattern block creation of a car with a printed copy.	Thoughtful pattern block creation of a two-person car with a printed hard copy.	Extensive, thoughtful, creative pattern block creation of a two-person car with a  printed hard copy.
Creative travel brochure	Designed brochure with little color and few parts.	Designed and colored brochure including most parts.	Neatly designed and colored brochure including all listed parts.	Neatly designed and colored brochure including all listed parts and bonus.
Song and recording	Song written, possibly two-verse.	Original, two-verse song written on an overhead sheet, presented to the class.	Original, two-verse song written on an overhead sheet, presented to the class and recorded.	Original song with  two or more verses using rhyming and/or instruments,  written on an overhead sheet, presented to the class and recorded.
Letter and envelope	Letter and envelope written including some of the seven ingredients.	Letter and envelope written including most of the seven ingredients.	Neatly written letter following all directions including all seven ingredients with envelope addressed and stamped.	Word processed letter and addressed, stamped envelope   including all seven ingredients with coherent contents.

Well explorers...first of all, we hope you had a fun time sending your flat person on their journey.  As your flat person travels to new and exciting places, we hope you continue learning more about writing letters, geometric shapes, the human body, different states and the people who live there.  We hope that your interest will be sparked by your flat person's experiences and that you will use the internet and other resources to find out more.