Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY - If events that happened in children's books also happened in real life, seven students from Wrigley would be visiting locations around the world right now.

Instead, students in kindergarten to Grade 4 at the Chief Julian Yendo school are tracking the travels of smaller and flatter versions of themselves.

Students Christian Baton, left, Ethan Cli, Ryett Cli and Ivan Clillie pose with the life size Flat Stanley versions of themselves in the Chief Julian Yendo school in Wrigley. - photo courtesy of Brooke Suwala

The adventures all started in September when teacher Brooke Suwala read the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown to the students.

In the book, character Stanley Lambchop is flattened paper-thin when a bulletin board falls on him.

Making the best of the situation, Stanley's parents discover they can send him through the mail on vacations.

Following the same principle, in Wrigley the students each made life sized flat versions of themselves before making smaller versions to mail. Next they brainstormed about places they wanted their Flat Stanleys to go.

"It was challenging because all they could think of was Yellowknife and Fort Simpson," said Suwala.

With the help of a globe the students picked out a list of locations around the world they hope their flatter counterparts can visit.

The Flat Stanleys were mailed out to people Suwala knows along with letters asking each recipient to take it on an adventure and then mail it on to someone they know in one of the countries on the travelling wish list.

The plan is working. The Flat Stanleys have seen places around Canada including Edmonton, Vancouver, Sydney, N.S., Montreal and Ottawa. They're also picking up mileage around the globe as they make stops in Finland, Australia, England, Tanzania, Jerusalem and Las Vegas.

The seven students in Wrigley are tracking the travels using a map of the world, push-pins and different coloured thread for each Stanley.

"They're all very possessive of their Flat Stanleys," said Suwala.

As the Stanleys travel their hosts are taking them on adventures and sending pictures, letters and emails back to the students. One photo shows a Stanley at the Sydney Opera House in Australia while another poses while trying the nightlife at Cesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

"I think they thought it was just sort of strange to begin with," Suwala said.

Now that the students are seeing the travels on the map and receiving photos they get excited, she said.

"It's good," said Ryett Cli, 9, about the project that fits into the social studies and language arts curriculum.

Ryett's Flat Stanley is currently in England, a place Ryett said he'd like to go someday.

Ethan Cli has tracked his Flat Stanley to Nova Scotia. Ethan, 9, said he hopes that his will make it to Alaska and see all the snow there.

All the Flat Stanley's are scheduled to return to Wrigley well travelled by May or June.