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Field Trip: The Post Office
Field Trip Summary: The Post Office!
(Krista)
(Krista)
Contact:
Malcolm French – Media Consultant
761-6306
malcolm.french@canadapost.ca
Location Address: 2200 Saskatchewan Dr. Regina, SK
Location Phone Number: 761-6307
Volunteers/Supervision – no stipulation from the Post Office, however, Regina Public says 8 – 1 with students grade four or under.
Cost – Cost of bussing $ 1.50 a child
Date for advance trip booking – a couple of weeks in advance.
General Summary
Students will have the opportunity to tour the main post office in downtown Regina. They will arrive early afternoon in order to see the noon mail pick-up processed. When they arrive they will have a tour of the Retail Outlet area of the building and will learn about stamps, parcel pick-up, mail pick-up for some people, and other souvenirs that can be purchased from the Post Office.
From there, students will move up to the 4th floor – the main letter processing area. They will have the opportunity to watch the process of mail sorting:
1. mail coming in bags
2. mail put on the belt of machines
3. workers taking out articles that will not be able to go through the machine
4. machines sorting the mail according to address and postal code and “spitting out” mail if their address and postal code do not match.
5. machine spraying a barcode on the mail
6. another machine reading the barcodes and sorting the mail into routes, dumping it in trays.
If things are not too busy, students may have the opportunity to “mail” their letters down stairs and then “artificially” follow their letters through the system. If time does not allow, it may be possible to just follow one letter through the system.
After students have experienced the main letter processing, they will take a break for a snack that will be provided either by the school or the Post Office, depending on what has been previously arranged.
Students will then take the freight elevator down from the 4th floor to the 2nd floor where they will watch the mail trays with mail for Regina sent down in different sections according to each mail carrier. It is at this point that students will have the opportunity to meet and talk with a mail carrier about their job. The mail carrier will share a bit and answer questions. (Note: Average mail carrier walks 10 to 15 miles a day carrying a 30 lbs bag)
Students may leave with a small gift from the Post Office: a pad of paper, pencil, magnets, and a colouring page. (adults can have a note pad, pencil and a letter opener as well)
NOTE: There are two letter carriers that really enjoy the PR side of things. They started a program where at least once a year they go to schools and meet a class of kids. They bring their mail truck to show them, as well as a barbeque to have hamburgers and hot dogs with the kids.
Objectives:
Students will know that:
- the community provides services and the work of various people to help meet basic human needs and wants
- identify ways in which the community meets human needs and wants
- access information through interviews
- organize and present information using profiles and charts
- value rights and responsibilities related to human needs and wants.
- value their own contributions and those of others within the community who help meet needs and wants.
Resources:
Caple, Kathy. (1987) Harry’s Smile. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Harry has a pen pal he has been writing for quite sometime. His pen pal sends him a picture of herself and asks Harry to send a picture back. He tries to get a picture of himself but doesn’t like his smile. He decides to stop being pen pals with her. Simple water colour illustrations with animals as the characters.
Gr. 1-3
Farrel, Sue, illus. by Robin Baird Lewis. (1994). To the Post Office with Mama. New York: Annick Press Ltd.
A young boy gives a narrative of his trip to the post office with his mama, the things they see on the way and what the post office looks like. Simple, but bright illustrations on each page with a map on the inside covers of their trip through town to the post office.
K-1
Fitch, Sheree, illus. by Janet Wilson. (2001). No Two Snowflakes Victoria, BC: Orca book Publishers.
A beautiful story of a Canadian girl explaining snow to her pen pal who has never seen snow. Her letter is full of beautiful poetry. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful pastels.
Gr1-3
Flanagan, Alice K., illus. by Christine Osinski. (1998). Here Comes Mr. Eventoff with the Mail. New York: Children’s Press.
The book is a simple story that goes through the day of Mr. Eventoff, a mail carrier in the United State. The story explains each of his tasks and how he performs it in beginning reader language. Each page has a real life photo on it.
Grade K-2
Gliori, Debi. (2002). Penguin Post. New York: Harcourt, Inc.
Milo is the youngest penguin in a long line of Penguin Post penguins, but not for long, there is an egg waiting to hatch. But in the mean time, because the someone needs to sit on the egg, Milo begins delivering mail and really enjoys it, especially when a special delivery comes at the end. The book is a heart warming story with beautiful vibrant illustrations.
Grade 1-2
Hoban, Lillian. (1976). Arthur’s Pen Pal. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
Arthur, a chimpanzee, is finds his little sister annoying and thinks that his pen pal would be much more fun to spend time with. He eventually learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Simple drawings on each page.
Grade 1-3.
Krensky, Stephen. (2001). Arthur and the Pen-Pal Playoff. New York: Little, Brown and Co.
Arthur has been writing to his pen pal who is in another grade 3 class across the state. He lies and makes up stories about his basketball ability. Everything is good until he finds out that his pen pal is his teacher’s grandson and she wants them to meet. He must figure out what to do. The book is a short chapter book
Gr. 3-4
Kroll, Steven, illus. by Dan Andreasen. (1996). Pony Express! New York: Scolastic Inc.
The history of the pony express bringing mail to the Western United States in the mid 1800s. Beautiful paintings on each page. The text could be a good teacher resource or a book for more advanced students to read, or an interesting book of illustrations.
Grade 3-5
Lillegard, Dee, illus. by Jillian Lund. (1997). Tortoise Brings the Mail. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.
This story is about people not appreciating Tortoise as a mail carrier. Other animals think that they would do a better job, so they try to take over his job. They soon realize that Tortoise does a great job of it. The story explains a few of the important qualities of a mail carrier and the work that it takes. Each page is filled with bright illustrations.
Grade 1-3
Papademetriou, Lisa, photos by Dorthy Handelman. (1998) My Pen Pal, Pat. Bookfield, Connecticut: The Millbrook Press.
Patricia Scott is given a new pen pal at school whose name is Pat just like hers. They write to each other often and find out they have a lot in common until they finally meet and find out that Pat’s name is really Patrick. The story is a believable one that draws the reader in. The book is full of real photographs. It is a “Real Kids Reader” Level 3.
Grade 1-3
Pielichaty, Helena, illus. by Sue Heap. (1999) Simone’s Letters. New York: Oxford University Press
The book tells a story through letters sent back and forth between Simone and Jem Cakebread, the leading man of a touring theatre company. Her life begins to change through the letters. There are only a few illustrations throughout the book and they are pencil drawings.
Grade 3-4
Poydar, Nacy. (2002). Mailbox Magic. New York: Holiday House.
Will learns about the magic of the mail system. He is sad that no mail ever come for him so he eats a lot of cereal and sends away the labels off of three boxes. The cereal company will send him a bowl in the mail. The story is a great simple explanation of the “magic” of our mail system. The pages are full of bright colours with lots of text on parcels and letters.
Grade 1-3
Ready, Dee. (1998). Mail Carriers. Mankato, Minnesota: Bridgestone Books.
The book is a non-fiction book about mail carriers (United States): what they do, wear, use, drive, where they go and many more other bits of information relating to the postal service. Each page has real photos that fit with the section of text.
K-2
Siracusa, Catherine. (1990). No Mail for Mitchell. New York: Random House.
Mitchell delivers mail everyday and really enjoys his job, but he never gets mail himself. He always delivers the mail, even when the weather is bad. One day Mitchell wakes up with a bad cold. His boss tells him to take the day off. At the end of the day, there is a huge sack full of mail for Mitchell telling him to get better soon. He love his job. The book is a “step into reading” step 2 book. The book has great examples of different types of mail in the illustrations.
Grade K-1
Webster, Christine. (2005). The Post Office. Calgary, AB: Weigl Education Publishers Ltd.
A non-fiction look in to the early Canadian life of the Postal Services in Canada with a short comparison the present postal service. Filled with lots of interesting facts and pictures.
Grade 2-4
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