"Neither Wind, nor Hail…” The U.S. Postal Service

"Neither Wind, nor Hail…” The U.S. Postal Service
Edith Wilson: Economics, Discovery and Daily Life

Skill: Elementary School
Time Required: One to two class periods


Standards Compliance
NCSS Strand 2
Time, Continuity, and Change
NCSS Strand 3
People, Places, and Environments
NCSS Strand 5
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
NCSS Strand 6
Power, Authority, and Governance
NCSS Strand 8
Science, Technology, and Society
NCTE Standard 1
Students read fiction, nonfiction, classic, and contemporary works to acquire information for various purposes.
NCTE Standard 4
Students adjust the use of spoken, written, and visual language to communicate with different audiences and purposes.
NCTE Standard 5
Students use a wide range of strategies and elements to write to communicate with different audiences and for purposes.
NCTE Standard 8
Students use a variety of technology and information resources to gather, synthesize, and communicate knowledge.
NCTE Standard 12
Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes.
ISTE Standard 5
Technology research tools

Introduction:

One of the most reliable facts of American life is mail delivery.  From the days of the Pony Express and the inauguration of airmail to the present, the mail goes through.  The first regularly scheduled airmail deliveries occurred during the life of Edith Wilson.

Objectives:

The purpose of this lesson is to acquaint students with the United States Postal Service and the service it provides.   

Materials Required:

Access to the Internet Access to print reference materials Art supplies

Procedures:

1.  Either in groups or individually, have students investigate the following federally sponsored mail delivery options. 

2.  Using the websites listed below, their task is to identify important “firsts”, important people, and dates to include on a timeline that the class will create.  The possible topics are below:

  • Pony express and its riders
  • Rural Federal Delivery (RFD)
  • Post offices
  • Parcel Post
  • Airmail

Extending the Lesson:

Students may create a poster or a stamp that depicts the subject of their research and its importance to the development of the American mail delivery system.

Sources & Resources:

Websites:

Credits:

This lesson was developed by Bette Brooks, Kent State University.

 

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