PBS
Dear Pen Pal
Explore cultures from around the world with an engaging pen pal resource. Through a series of classroom activities and written correspondence, children learn about the favoritec pastimes, schooling, geography, and weather that is...
Curated OER
Penpals from the Past
In this penpal letter writing learning exercise, students choose a person from the past and write a friendly letter. Students first fill out the planning box with 10 questions, then write the letter in the unlined space.
Curated OER
A Multigenerational Pen Pal Program
Students discover the benefits of writing letters to multigenerational pen pals. In this pen pal lesson, students identify a need for communication among the generations. Students begin a pen pal program with the elders in...
Curated OER
Emailing Colonial Pen Pals
Fifth graders write emails to a friend imagining they are traveling to colonial America. For this emailing penpals lesson, 5th graders discuss appropriate language and topics in email communication, use correct format and write...
Curated OER
The Canadian Expedition
Fifth graders research and write a pen pal letter about the geography of a Canadian town. Students create a script for a phone call with their pen pal and perform it with a friend for the class.
Curated OER
Message in a Bottle
Students acquire a pen pal in a foreign country and write letters at least twice a month throughout the year to exchange with them. At the end of the year, they write an essay that compares one important difference and one important...
Curated OER
You've Got Mail
First graders study the postal system and letter writing. They exchange class letters with another class in a different area and become pen pals with residents in a local nursing home.
Curated OER
The Mail Race
Students create friendly letters and surveys to other schools. In this letter writing lesson, students format friendly letters to other school and request a reply. Students chart the replies on a map and share information from the...
Curated OER
Mystery Pen Pal
Young scholars investigate different cities and states in the USA, and practice their letter writing skills while corresponding with a pen pal.
Curated OER
Weather Pals
Students study maps of the United States to locate weather pals from a list of schools. They communicate with Weather Pal schools through the use of closed circuit TV. Using weather data collected in their area, they exchange the...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Science Pen Pals
Students explore the scientific career of Benjamin Franklin. In this science instructional activity, students discuss Franklin's correspondence with other scientists and write letters describing Benjamin Franklin's experiments.
PBS
Around the Block
Arthur and his friends help children explore the concepts of family, community, and diversity in a fun series of activities. From performing peer interviews to mapping out the different places students have lived or visited, this...
Curated OER
Quilting Canada
Students explain the symbols of Canada and their relevance. In this Canada lesson, students read Oh Canada and exchange pen-pal letters with students in Canada. Students create a class quilt with Canadian symbols.
Curated OER
Exchange Students
Students discuss as a class the items they value and why. They read an article about the popularity of cellphones in Iraq. In groups, they work together to create a guide to their culture to share with others visiting their classroom....
Curated OER
For Better or Worse: Cultural Exchange
Students participate in a cultural exchange program with a Native American school in Winnebago, Nebraska. They conduct research on a variety of Native American tribes, prepare a presentation that represents the culture of their school...