Pen Pal Friendly Letter Writing
A. PURPOSE:
1. To encourage friendly letter writing between students in various cities along the Pony Express Trail.
2. To stimulate interest in the Pony Express because letter writing has been the number one means of communication between individuals throughout the centuries. Letters and newspapers via Pony Express was the major way for the east and west to communicate in 1860 and 1861. Letter writing was the pre-curser to telegraph, telephone and e mail.
B. GOAL
Our goal is that each student participating will receive 2 letters and learn more about the Pony Express.
C. DIRECTIONS
1. Schools from St. Joseph, Mo and those along the Trail will exchange 2 letters.
2. Similar sized classes will be paired by the Pony Express Museum's Education Committee.
3. You will receive an e mail from the Pony Express Museum which will include the teacher's name, address and number of student as well as a password to access attachments and resources on our website: www.ponyexpress.org
4. When you respond to this correspondence we will them divulge the password.
5. The letter writing process will begin with schools at the Eastern Terminus (St. Joseph, MO)
Early in February you should be receiving your first letters from your St. Joseph School. District pen pals. We suggest that your class respond to them within two weeks.
6. We also suggest that you class's letters be sent in one large envelope and directly sent to your pen pal's school. (Postage paid by your district or school.)
D. QUESTIONS
1. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk to our Director, Cindy Daffron , at 816 279-5059 or by e mail pxdirector@ponyexpress.net.
2. The additional resources are available for your use to add to your curriculum and units about The Pony Express and it's 150th Birthday and letter writing rubric used by the St. Joseph School District.
Links to additional material
Friendly Letter
Letter Rubric
Additional activities concerning the Pony Express
Press Release
Stationary and Envelope
