Sending a Message? Use Stamps!

Purpose

Using stamps for instruction is an easy and effective way to encourage students to explore social studies topics. There are stamps to complement every area of the curriculum and every student's interests. Learning about the people, places and events represented on stamps increases student knowledge and provides many opportunities to improve academic skills. By completing the activities in this article, students will enjoy learning about the history, people, countries and symbols represented on stamps.

This article contains a list of materials needed, background information about stamps, resources, internet sites, vocabulary, instructional activities, a graphic organizer and a bibliography. The activities in this article complement the California State History-Social Studies Content Standards for fourth, fifth and sixth grades. They also address the National Social Studies Standards: 1 Culture; 2 Time, Continuity, and Change; and 3 People, Places and Environments; 4 Individual Development and Identity; and 5 Individuals, Groups and Institutions.

Materials

Postage stamps, paper, pens, pencils, crayons or colored pencils, and internet access for the technology activities are needed. Ask students and their families to collect and donate postage stamps for classroom activities. Ask businesses with large mail volumes for stamps. For example, utility companies, shopping malls and stores.

Background Information about Stamps

Before stamps were invented, people sent messages in many ways. In the beginning, messages were sent by carrier pigeons, animals, dogsleds, skis, carts, runners, drums and signal fires. Later, mail traveled by stagecoach and by horseback. Now, mail travels around the world by train, ship, balloon, and plane.

In 1840, the first postage stamp was issued in England. It cost one penny and became known as the Penny Black. The image is a portrait of Queen Victoria when she was 18 years old. From the day the Penny Black was issued, a person in England could communicate with another person located anywhere in England and mail service became affordable to every person in England. In 1841, people began collecting stamps. In 1847, the first postage stamps were issued in the United States. One stamp had a picture of Benjamin Franklin and cost five cents. Another stamp had a picture of George Washington and cost ten cents.

Email has become a fast and easy way to communicate, but it has not replaced stamped mail. Today, the United States Postal Service has an annual revenue of $65. billion and handles 46 percent of the world's mail. Money and merchandise are delivered to 135 million addresses daily. Learn more interesting facts about stamps from the American Philatelic Society at www.stamps.org/kids/kid_QA.htm and www.stamps.org/ kids/kid_teachers.htm

Resources

Stamps and catalogs

* Kenmore Stamps will send a free stamp catalog. They also sell stamps and related materials for stamp collectors. Complete and submit their form online at www.KenmoreStamp.com

* The Mystic Stamp Company will send a free stamp catalog and a few stamps to begin a collection. www.mysticstamp.com

* Free Stamps for Kids, P.O. Box 10654, Phoenix, AZ 85064 and at www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/ 8406/free.htm

* The Stampaholic, P.O. Box 51, Old Greenwich, CT 06830 and at www.freeusastamps.com

* Free stamps for kids are available from: KIDSTAMP, P.O. Box 948, Lenoir City, Tennessee 37771.

U.S. Postal Service

* The United States Postal Service web site is www.usps.com

* Local post offices display and sell stamps, postcards and licensed retail items. The U.S. Postal Service publishes a free catalog, USA Philatelic, several times a year. To request a catalog, call 1-800-STAMP24.

Local stores

In many cities and small towns, there are small stores that sell stamps. Often, these stores are small, family-owned businesses that offer stamps, coins and collectibles. Sets of stamps organized around a theme are popular and practical for instruction. There are packets of stamps from many countries and cost about three to ten dollars a set. In many stores, customers are welcome to browse through the bins of colorful and interesting stamps. Some of the many themes include: animals, cats, dinosaurs, fish and sea life, birds, Mexico, USA, countries, children around the world, railways, holidays, dolls, seasons, literature, art, photography, historical time periods, folktales, heroes, cultures, transportation, landmarks, veterans, occupations, the Olympics, national parks, organizations, social causes, health, and events.

Internet sites

History, fun facts and youth links are located on the American Philatelic Society home page. Did you know that there have been postage stamps that were actually phonograph records? Products have been advertised on stamps? Candles were used to determine postage rates? An undersea post office existed? A stamp was created on the moon? Cats were used to deliver the mail? Great Britain is the only country which issues stamps without its name printed on them? Find out more about stamps at their web site: www.stamps.org/kids/kid_teachers.htm