Teachable Moments in Walt Disney World

August 14, 2012 in All Posts, Jessica, walt disney world by Lisa Robertson

See that paper person? She went on vacation with me. It might seem strange, but it was actually all in the name of education! (Oh, and she’s eating Lefse in Norway.)

If you have kids of reading age, you’ve likely heard of “Flat Stanley”, or you may have seen a “Flat fill-in-the-blank” traveling around, like the one above. Even our local weather guy has a “where is ‘Flat Larry’” segment.

Let me give you a little back ground; “Flat Stanley” is a rather old, but still quite popular children’s book by author Jeff Brown, about a young boy named Stanley Lambchop who becomes completely flat when a bulletin board falls on him in his sleep. Many humorous adventures ensue (like being mailed in an envelope to visit a friend), and “Flat Stanley” has expanded into a good-sized series throughout the years.

In addition to several more books about Stanley, what’s known as the “Flat Stanley Project” was started by a third grade teacher in Canada, and the idea caught on quickly. Teachers around the world use Flat Stanley as a way to get kids writing letters, or personal narratives about their travels, or rather, Flat Stanley’s. I’ve seen many variations of the Flat Stanley Project, but how I learned to do it was that kids would make their Flat Stanley (only it was a Flat version of themselves instead of Stanley) and mail it to a distant friend or relative asking to show Flat Stanley around their town and send back some pictures and information about it. When Flat Stanley was returned, everything would be shared with the class, and displayed. But, where it gets a little more fun, is if a student goes on a trip during the school year, a Flat version of the teacher went with him or her – this way, the student was the one collecting information, taking pictures, and writing about their travels.

“China”

“Morocco”

What does this have to do with Disney? Here’s my story: My mentor teacher during my last year of college was Mrs. Still, she loved Walt Disney World, and it just so happened that I planned to spend a week there after my internship was over. So of course I had to take Flat Mrs. Still along with me. She saw a lot of things! Walt Disney World is a perfect setting for a “Flat Stanley Project” because you aren’t just visiting one area; I would venture to say you’re visiting hundreds! Consider all the different parks, the different lands within the parks, and the different parks within the lands… choosing just one of these would make for an incredible research and writing project. Everything Disney does is rich with story, history, with sometimes a little – sometimes a lot of fact thrown in!

Expedition Everest

Take for example Expedition Everest – one ride, but the student could research and learn about the history of the mountain, biographies of those who have climbed it, or simply expository text giving the basic geological facts to share with the class. Combined with the pictures and the investment that the whole class has in it because “one of their own” went there – makes it a rich learning experience for all. EPCOT alone provides enough attractions for each child to research their own, or at least in pairs. With eleven countries to study, and everything in Future World being made forlearning, they just make it too easy!

“France”

Beyond the research and writing, teachers can take it a step further by incorporating technology and have students use word processors to write about their experience, PowerPoint to write and show, or even – wait for it – blogging to share where they’ve gone and what they’ve learned!

You better my second graders will be doing the Flat Stanley Project and a class blog this year!

Read more from Jessica on her blog, Idahome. You can also find her onFacebook or on Instagram at @jesshner.

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About Lisa Robertson

Lisa is the publisher and editor of Babes In Disneyland. She loves all things Disney and really loves hearing from fans who have learned from the blog or have questions. She can be contacted via email, the Babes In Disneyland Facebook fan page and Twitter. She can also be followed on Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn.