Int'l. Journey Teaches Four Types of Writing
POSTCARDS is a writing/social studies program for students in grades 5-8.
It develops writing skills in four genres by having students choose a "travel partner": Author (narrative), Filmmaker (persuasive), Investigator (compare/contrast) or Archaeologist (descriptive) as they explore one of four countries -- Mexico, Ghana, Japan and Turkey. Students learn about each country through the perspective of their travel com panion, recording notes on what they observe in a Travel Log.
The program was designed to develop writing skills that transfer to extended writing projects beyond the program. It incorporates the National Council for the Social Studies-identified strands, including data- gathering skills, intellectual skills and interpersonal skills.
Teacher options found in POSTCARDS include the ability to change the topic ideas for student writing, as well as customization of writing assignments. An accompanying Teacher Manual features a wealth of writing activities, including extensions and Internet logs for each of the countries. Curriculum Associates, Inc., Billerica, MA, (800) 225-0248, www.curricassoc.com/cainfo/. WM
This article originally appeared in the 01/01/1997 issue of THE Journal.