Author: Michael O. Tunnell
Illustrator: Ted Rand
Copyright:1997
Summary: Desperate times and loving creativity team up for an amazing story of travel.
This is a heart warming story based on a true incident. The author took the facts of the story and added extra details. Lily and Alex really enjoyed this story and the activities that went along with it.
Art: (Cover and Story, character and expressions)
We did this lesson before we read the story. I had the kids look at the front and back cover of the book. It was fun to talk about what they thought the story was about before they read the story.We also talked about the girl, stamps and suitcase on the cover. The kids guessed it was a story was about a trip.
After we read the story we talked about the different characters in the story and how their expressions and body language was in each illustration. Lily and Alex drew faces with different expressions and we did a matching worksheet to match the expression to the person.
Social Studies: (Geography, Idaho, Life in the 1900's, Flag of 1914, General Stores)
This story allows us to learn about Idaho. We placed our story disk on Idaho on our U.S Map. We then read books, did worksheets and used our Ipad to learn many things about Idaho. We also talked about how many stars where on the American Flag in 1914 compared to today. Then the kids colored a picture of a 1914 flag.
We went on a field trip to a museum, general store and antique store to learn about life in the 1900's.
First we went to the Centerville Historical museum where we learned about how people lived and went to school in the 1900's. The kids got to try slates with chalk in a class room.
Some of the pics the kids took of items from 1900's
Of course they took a selfie too!!
More Social Studies: (Stamps and Stamp Collecting)
We had so much fun learning about stamps and stamp collecting. We got to look at a stamp collection with stamps from the 1800's to today. The kids used a magnifying glass to get a closer look at stamps. They learned that the picture on a stamp is made up of small dots. They also designed there own stamp, watched a Youtube video about how stamps are made and read a book about stamp collecting. (We even found a stamp with Daniel Boone on it... FYI- Daniel Boone is mentioned in the book Mailing May)
Language Arts: (Letter writing)
The kids learned how to correctly write and address a letter. We wrote letters to our grandmother in New Hampshire.
After we wrote the letters we decided to take a trip to the post office. We talked to the postal worker, bought stamps and mailed our letters. We also read books and watched movies about mail and post offices.
Mathematics: (Weight)
The kids each did 4 online classes, quizzes and a chapter test about weight on the Time for Learning website. We also read a fun book all about weight.
Science- (Human Body, Saliva)
The children learned about saliva because in the story Mailing May the postmaster licks a stamp at the post office. Not only is saliva used to moisten stamps but it aids in digestion. We read a chapter in our science book Exploring Creation Through Anatomy and Physiology. We did an experiment using crackers and cheese. The kids also did a worksheet.
Science- (Cooking, Measuring)
Lily is becoming quite the baker.The recipe is reminiscent of a trip to grandma house. She made a homemade apple pie by herself. She did a great job measuring the ingredients. I did however help her with the oven and the stove. Everyone in the house loved the pie and Lily was so proud of herself!
Extra Books- We read these books that went along with our main theme. We did talk about the books after we read them but didn't do any formal lessons.
Thanks for reading!
