Sort(individual, small group or whole class)

Students are given a selection of stamps and they sort them into natural(God made) and processed products(man made).(Natural and Processed Products)

Extension ideas Students can display their groups in some way and label them. Students draw conclusions about natural and processed products.  Students can use these as a starting point into further investigations on either natural or processed products.

Research (individual, small group and whole group)

Students select a stamp of a Natural(God Made) material and conduct research on that material. They gather, sort and present the information found in some manner, including the stamp in their final presentation.

Share

Students select a focus stamp and share their expert knowledge about the topic of the stamp. This sharing can take the form of a talk or a written piece of work.( natural or processed products)

Create( individual)

Students are given the opportunity to make something using natural materials.(natural materials)

Extension ideas Students can record the process used to create their item and this can become part of a dispaly to share with others.

Sort(individual, small group or whole class)

Students are given a selection of creature stamps and have to sort them into categories. Depending on your focus they can sort in categories like; things with wings, things with fur, things with legs, things with scales. More detailed sorts for older students like marsupial, insect, birds, pets.(Life and LIving)

Extension ideas Students record the groups in some way and write approriate labels.

Alternative methods of recording  the groups

make a chart by gluing groups on a chart for display

take a photo of the groups and display the photo

video students with their groups and the comments they make about their groups for others to view

Create(Individual)

Students create a new stamp. (Fine Arts)

Explore different methods for doing this. Students could be shown a range of specific stamps that use different methods. E.g. drawing, printing, photograph.

Explore the set up of a stamp, shape size, subject etc

Extension ideas -This could lead to samples being sent to Australia post for consideration for a new stamp.

Investigate (individual ,small group or whole group)

Create (individual, small group or whole group)

Students select a stamp and create a rhyme, chant or song about the stamp.(Music)

Extension ideas Students record their rhyme, chant or song in some way and share it with others.

Create(small group activity)

Students select one stamp each and create a rythm for the stamp they have selected. Each person in turn starts their rhythm and adds it to the others until all are saying their rhythm then stop. This can be performed for others to view and listen to. (Music)

Extension ideasDiscuss the rhythm, could all be heard, did it work, review, replan and repeat the performance improving on first attempt.

You could add actions or body percussion to the rhythm to add emphasis.

You could add percussion instruments.

You could write the music for the rhythm created for another group to play.

Identify(individual, small group or whole group activity)

Students are given a stamp and have to identify what it is. Students can paste in workbook and write a label for their chosen stamp. (Writing)

Extension ideas Students can create a book of these for others to read. It can be extended further by asking children to write more than one word labels. This can be used to teach parts of speech.

Find(individual, small group or whole group activity)

 Students are given a selection of stamps the teacher describes a stamp and students try to be first to find the stamp. The child who is first to find the stamp receives a point. The person who has most points at end of games is the winner. (Listening)

Extension ideas Students can make a bingo type game that can be used by others or a small group for this purpose. Students can learn to play this game in a small group, with students having turns to describe a stamp.

Explore(individual or small group activity)

Provide students with a tray of stamps, magnifying glasses and tweezers. Students use tweezers (develop fine motor skills) to select individual stamps to look at. Students learn how to use magnifying glasses to see more detail on stamps. Students discuss what they find on stamps.

Extension ideas- Make a list of what students can find on the stamp. This could lead to discussions on parts of a stamp and the introduction of stamp terminology. From a mathematics point of view things like size, shape, date and price are all details to look at.

Sort(individual or small group activity)

Provide students with a limited number of stamps and ask them to sort stamps into groups.

The younger the student the smaller the group to sort. Maximum 10 stamps for young sorters.

Students discuss the stamp groups they have created.

Extension ideas-Students paste group onto a page in book. Students label their group. Students talk about their group with others.

Count(individual small group or whole class activity)

Students are given a snap lock bag of stamps and have to count their stamps. The number of stamps can be varied according to the ability level of students. Students record by writing the number or number word, drawing the stamps and labelling by writing the number or number word. You could incorporate technology and ask students to make number and number word cards, print these off and then add the correct number of stamps. These could be laminated for reuse in other activities.

Extension ideas -Students compare and contrast results using terminology like more, less, most, least etc. This can be extended further by using tally marks to record how many stamps each child has. It can be extended even further into the use of simple graphs.

Patterns(individual activity)

Students are provided a range of mixed stamps and have to select stamps to create a pattern. Students record the pattern by gluing it in their book. Students circle the repeat in their pattern.

Extension ideas. Students discuss their pattern and identify the repeat in the pattern. Students create a variety of pattern types. AB, AAB, ABC, etc

Money(individual, small group or whole group activity)

Students are given a snap lock bag of stamps and have to record the cost of each stamp. The have to identify what coins or notes are needed to purchase each stamp.

Extension ideas This can be turned into a game of bingo as the teacher calls out cost of stamps and students mark off each if they have it. First to mark off all stamp prices in front of them wins.

Another alternative is students create a sequencing game, each stamp is glued on a seperate piece of card and laminated. The students are given randam cards and have to order them according to price.

Another alternative is students create a game of snap, for this you will need two different stamps for each price. Students glue to card and laminate. This makes a game of snap reliant on the child reading the price of each stamp and not using picture cues. (use cent and dollar stamps) This could also be played as a memory game.

Sequencing-Size(individual, small group)

Students are given a snap lock bag of stamps and have to put them in sequence from smallest to largest in size.

1. Collect a good base of stamps,(from around the world or just Australia depending on year level) these can be purchased from a range of suppliers. Try www.prospectstampsandcoins.com.au
3. Advise parents you will be using stamps to unlock learning and ask them to collect and donate stamps to the class. This could spread to other family and friends. (The best way to get stamps,free)
6. Gather materials like tweezers, magnifying glasses and albums or some form of storage containers
8. You may need snap lock bags

Welcome to the Stamps and Learning edublog.

This is a very new venture for me as I have never used a blog before, so I am learning, one step at a time. The reason I decided to try this is because I have two passion areas that I really want to share with others.

• I am passionate about stamp collecting and really would like to start a stamp collecting revolution amongst the primary students of Australia.

In the past stamp collecting was something that was very common and was also very easy to do. Stamp albums and stamps were available at newsagents, larger stores and the post office.  Catalogues were easy to find and purchase and stamps came on nearly every envelope.

Today stamps do not come on nearly every envelope, catalogues are difficult to find, albums are available at the post office and only new stamps can be purchased at the post office. Alot of what happens today in the world of stamp collecting is through clubs, auctions and the internet. I would like to put collecting back in the hands of the children.

I became a stamp collector as a child when my dad introduced me to the joys of collecting. I really enjoy the hunt and the satisfaction of the find however adding to my collection is becoming more difficult as my previous sources to find used Australian stamps no longer exist. Recently I joined my first stamp club and was surprised to realize that I was the youngest in the room. I was in my element and was also left awestruck by the knowledge and wisdom the members of this club had about stamps. I thought I was a serious collector until I met these wonderful people. This is not the place for me to share ideas on stamp collecting, there are many places that do this. Try www.auspost.com.au/stamps

 My purpose in setting up this blog is to encourage the use of stamps to unlock learning. In using stamps in the classroom I believe children will become more interested in stamps and may go on to become collectors.

• My other passion area is learning. I am passionate about providing opportunities for students to be involved in learning that is real, relevant, relational and rousing.

I love to learn new things and again enjoy the hunt for new things and the find when I come across a new gem that helps unlock learning. My specialty area in teaching is early childhood and I have been involved in this area of learning since graduating from Sydney Kindergarten Teachers College in 1981.

Over the years I have dabbled in sharing my love of stamp collecting with students. At one school we had a ‘Hooked on Stamps Club’. Students were able to bring their ablum to school on a certain day each term and we would thoroughly enjoy looking at each others stamps. My role at the school changed and I was not able to continue the group. The students who came loved to share their passion for stamps with other like minded people. Shy children came alive talking about their favuorite stamps. This made me think that stamps were one of those gems that could be used to unlock learning.

Over time I have explored other ways of using stamps in the primary classroom to help unlock learning. I have learnt that they can be used in all primary classes and across all primary learning areas.

This edublog will be all about sharing ideas on using stamps to unlock learning. I look forward to exchanging ideas and hopefully inspiring you to jump on board with the Stamps and Learning revolution.