My name is PoGeo, your host for POstcard GEOgraphy. I used to be a puppy-hobo, trotting across America alone—no family to take care of me. But recently I met up with an interesting couple, Ken and Priscilla, The Postcard People™ who live on the road as I do. They publish a website called Postcards from America which showcases American landscapes. As an admirer of American geography I became enthralled with what they do. They invite people to hitch a ride in their virtual backseat and see America through the “window” of an e-postcard. Of course, as a “wired” hair fox terrier, I’m naturally inclined towards anything that’s wired. So, I’ve hitched a ride with them in their RV, “Harvey the RV” to see America with them, and share it with you, too.
You see, for years students in classrooms across America have exchanged postcards to share information about their states and learn about other states with the help of a personal, picture postcard.
Postcards from America takes postcards a step further by using two of today's most exciting technologies: digital photography and Email. Using a digital camera they capture a "Live-at-the-Scene"
image and send that image through instantaneous messaging capabilities of
Email, making the postcard more timely, more accurate and more meaningful.
Through Postcards From America students not only experience the thrill
of receiving a postcard from faraway place, they also have links from the
postcard to additional educational resources, such as each state's Maps
and Fun Facts pages and much more. For example, Postcards from America offers:
1. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSTCARD SITE
Because the Live-at-the-SceneTM postcards are sent via Email teachers can reply to the postcard with any question their class may have about the featured site. The Postcard People answer all Emails pertaining to the featured postcard. Any questions not related to a specific postcard are answered on the Frequently Asked
Questions page.
2. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Postage Stamp Webpages Help Students Learn about
State Symbols.
Every postcard is stamped with a custom-designed "Email
Postage Stamp" featuring either the State Flag, State Tree, State
Bird, State Flower or a Famous Person from the featured State of the Week.
To learn more, just click on the word "Stamps" above any postcard
for a full-color enlargement of the images and information about that state's
symbols. The Famous Person is usually a historical figure, preferably a
U.S. President, but for states that did not "send a man to the White
House," the Famous Person features either another politician or significant
historical figure, or an author, poet, or someone of unique character
Fun Facts Webpages Help Students Learn about a
State at a Glance.
To learn more about the state of the week, just click on the words
"Fun Facts" above any postcard for details on the state stats
. . . the state motto, state nickname, the area of the state, date and
rank of statehood, what the state is known for, etc. .The "Historical
Note" section contains a brief paragraph on some little-known facts
about the state.
Maps Webpages Show The Shape and Contours of a
State.
To learn more about the shape of the states and its borders, just click
on the word "Map" above any postcard to view an oversized map
of the State of the Week with an emblazoned outline to help students learn
the interesting, jigsaw puzzle-like shape of the state.
3. FUN GRAPHICS EMBEDDED IN POSTCARD
Because these postcards are custom-designed, graphic elements of the location are often worked into the design of the postcard. For example, when we visited Mark Twain's Gothic home in Connecticut,
we were impressed with the unusual handmade brickwork so we used these bricks
as a decorative border to frame the postcard and accent this unique feature.
We did the same thing when we visited the Golden Lamb
in Ohio, using their golden lambs as borders. Student with keen eyes and
sharp minds will enjoy seeking out these small clues...
4. POSTMARK MESSAGING
Notice the postmark cancellation on the Email postage stamp. At first, it appears to be an official U.S. Post Office indicia, but a closer look reveals another custom design, often including a special message to teachers who have written to us. If you would like a special message for your class, send Email to
(place the words "Stamp Request" in the subject line) with the message you'd like for your classroom. Please limit your message to 10 words or less.
5. A MEANS TO INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY
Everyone loves to get a postcard in the mail, which makes Postcards from
America a wonderful way to invite parents to get involved in their child's
American geography lessons at school. While your students participate at
school with your guidance, their parents receive the weekly postcard delivered
to the Emailbox at home or at work, thus creating a wonderful "teaching
moment" at the family dinner table.
As one mom wrote us:
My 10-year old has been getting your postcards at school. Now I'm
getting them at work. I just wanted to tell you that your postcards make
us touch on topics that I don't think ever would have come up before. I'm
not only learning about America, I'm learning about my son. What a wonderful
use of the web."
Postage Stamp Webpages Help Students Learn about
State Symbols.
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