Opening our own Post Office

Project URL: http://teachersnetwork.org/IMSL/ps1/postoffice/postoffice.htm 

How it works

This unit combines math concepts with social studies content.  The first-grade social studies curriculum includes the study of the community. It is important that children recognize that each part of the community, i.e., the fire station, police station, doctor's office, and so on, plays a vital role. First-grade children must realize that people fill these important roles, and without them, the community would not effectively function.

Prior to this study, students should visit a post office at least once and understand that people write letters to communicate with each other. Many trade books can be used to introduce students to the concept of letter writing, including Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James, Dear Fred by Susanna Rodell, and The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.

As a culminating activity for the yearlong community study, the children look forward to opening their own school-wide, student-run post office. Students in other grades also enjoy writing letters to friends and teachers, and the first graders have the important role of ensuring that this mail will be delivered in a timely manner.

As students operate their post office, they learn many math concepts and skills, such as the concept of money, keeping numerical records, counting and adding by fives, collecting money and making changes, and categorizing and sorting.

Different technology media are introduced and used to supplement and enhance this project. The project integrates most curriculum areas - social studies, literacy, math, and technology. 


Goals and Objectives

• To help children understand the important role the post office plays in their community.
  
• To help children understand the process of mail delivery and the important jobs within the postal system.
  
• To familiarize children with the value of money and to teach them to count change.
  
• To give the children the opportunity to be an integral part of their school-wide community and understand the important role they can have.
  
• To introduce children to the Internet and other technology media.
  
• Learn to use the computer and various software to carry out their study.
  
• Learn to use other technology tools such as the digital camera and the scanner.

• Use scientific inquiry to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions. 
  
• Access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies. 
  
• Understand and apply scientific concepts,
  principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
  
• Apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.
  
• Understand the relationships and common themes that connect science and technology and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.
  
• Apply the knowledge and thinking skills of science and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.

Software Materials Used:

• Appleworks (WP and SS)
• Kid Pix 
• scanner
• digital camera
• calculator
• the Internet

Tips:

A visit to the local post office provides an orientation and motivation for the project. A visit to the USPS Website provides the initial reference for children to decide on a "reasonable" postal rate for the School House Post Office.


Lesson 1:  How Mail Moves from One Place to Another

Lesson 2:  Post Office Jobs

Lesson 3:  Addresses

Lesson 4:  Using Money for the School-Wide Post Office

Coming Together of the Lessons - Opening and Running the School-Wide Post Office

Technology Supplementation Throughout the Project

Both Barbara Cornell Chavez and Kimberly Lloyd are first grade teachers at P.S.1M in New York Public School's Community School District Two in Manhattan. 

Collaborator

Kathy Huey, 
Community School District Two Technology Staff Developer

Subjects
social studies, literacy, math,  technology

Class periods to complete: 10 or more

Beginning Grade Level: 1

Ending Grade 
Level: 2