Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
k-4
This beloved book has become a classic that is still popular and well loved by many classrooms across the globe today. After Stanley Lambchop was flattened by his bulletin board, he has many exciting adventures that only an inch and a half thick child could have! The most famous adventure in this book is when Stanley is mailed in a giant envelope to his friend. That has inspired many classrooms to send their own Flat Stanley all around the world . . .
~Teacher Stuff blog review written by Emily Stout
Curriculum Connections
Flat Stanley is known for being a favorite character to help teach geography and writing. You can also use Flat Stanley to integrate technology into your classroom too!
Writing/Social Studies: Use Flat Stanley to teach your students to use the letter format. I like to start the year off with Flat Stanley. We have A Community Scavenger Hunt with Flat Stanley book that is made by the class. They take turns taking the book and Flat Stanley home and taking pictures of the community (a unit we study in 2nd grade). Click here for a free download of the class book.
Geography: Sending Flat Stanley to new places is a fun way to study geography. Let students make their own Flat Stanley to send to a friend or relative in another state or another country. There are many Flat Stanley websites out there. The official Flat Stanley website is the one I use to get the template of Flat Stanley and the letter to send to with him. (Click here for the Flat Stanley website.)
As postcards from around the world come back to your classroom, you can learn about new places and keep track of Flat Stanley’s travels. This is an authentic way for students to study geography and map skills. I created a smartboard lesson to make this easier to track. You can watch the video of how this lesson works below. Click here if you’d like to buy it for just $$3!
You can use Flat Stanley to have students record their vacation events, send him to another grade level to learn more about what to expect in a new grade level, or send him to visit a famous author or celebrity!
How do you use Flat Stanley in your classroom?
teacher stuff 
I remember, Em, when you sent Flat Stanley along with Kelsey (9) and Matt (6) on the old fashioned wagon train trip Dad and I and the two kids went on three years ago. One night around the campfire, they were photographed with Flat Stanley and some of the trail hands. It sparked many stories from the other trail guests about other adventures that they had gone on and taken Flat Stanley! We couldn’t believe how universal he was. These other guests were from all states and all different walks of life.
Another time Great Grandma Jean took Flat Stanley on an extended trip and she journaled along the way. Then she sent Flat Stanley with Great Aunt Marlene and she also journaled.
I remember that too! That was great! Can I borrow that book you made with the pictures from Flat Stanley and the wagon train? I would love to share it with my students when we study long ago. We are going to use Little House on the Prairie for our long ago unit, and I would love to show them what you guys did!
I think that a very impirtant part of the Flat Stanley story has to do with being DIFFERENT and still enjoying life. This is an important lesson that children need to learn.The fact that Stanley is FLAT and is able to partake of life’s adventures could be used in an analogous way to teach students the value of being unique. As children become young adults they can identify themselves in a negative way due to peer pressure.
I am involved in this project because my six year old grandchild told her teacher that she wanted me to take Flat Nicole wherever I went. One of our adventures will illuminate the idea that i have presented. I’m not sure how I will construct the scenario that gets the message across, but when my own creativity starts to blossom with regards to this project the real life NICOLE will understand that: Flat, Fat, Thin, White, Black, Yellow etc. makes us different but at the same time embues us with qualities that are positive and worthwhile.
Elizabeth Gillman
elperles612@aol.com
What a great idea! I never really thought of the story of Flat Stanley as being that deep before, but I see how it could be. I’d love to hear about what you come up with!
Dear Emily,
The idea that being different can be a positive instead of negative was the result of reading a short story by Graham Greene called The Bound Man.
A simple story with a POWERFUL MESSAGE.
I will keep in touch with you and share the way in which I teach Flat Nicole that being different is unique etc.
Elizabeth