In 1995, Dale Hubert, a Grade 3 teacher in London, Ontario, Canada, began the Flat Stanley Project. The idea came from “Flat Stanley,” a 1964 children’s book by Jeff Brown. The story goes, that after a bulletin board falls on Stanley while he is sleeping, he finds being flat has its advantages, such as the ability to slide under doors, through bars, and being mailed in an envelope for long trips.
The Flat Stanley Project encourages letter-writing, by allowing students to mail their Flat Stanleys to penpals at other member schools. Flat Stanley and a journal are mailed to other people who are asked to treat the figure as a visiting guest and add to his journal, then return them both after a period of time.
Joanie Jackson visited Mystic with her Flat Stanley all the way from Houston, TX. Below is a glimpse of their journey in her words.
Stanley went with me to Mystic Seaport in Mystic. We toured an old sea village and visited old houses and learned how people lived in the 1800's. We learned about the sea.
My favorite part was going to the Big Dog store. I got a bag and new pajamas. I also like the ice cream store by the drawbridge. I’m here with my mom, Clare Sullivan Jackson, President and CEO, Sullivan Group, TX.
Stanley was hosted by our friends, Joan Vorster and Dan Sokolik and their dogs. Joan and Dan live in Stonington which is close to Mystic. Joan was our tour guide.
Our new friend Alexis taught me and Stanley about lobsters. We are here with a live lobster who has been massaged for maximum tenderness. When we put him back in the bucket, his claw fell off! Then our friend Dan cooked us the best lobsters! I learned how to open them and eat them!
