Greetings from 5th Grade: Postcards Across America

Students in Cindy Gerfast’s fifth-grade class at Cottage Grove Elementary School have joined a nationwide postcard exchange program, where students connect with fifth-graders across the country. 

Ms. Gerfast found the postcard exchange program in a teaching Facebook group and decided to sign up her class this year to expand their knowledge and connections to their world.

“I saw it in a post and thought what a great way for them to practice their handwriting and communication skills,” said Gerfast. 

Each student is responsible for writing and sending a postcard to classrooms in different states, giving them the chance to learn about geography, landmarks and culture from students in other places.

“I wrote about our school and school mascot Wolfie,” said Preston Graf.

“It is fun to learn about different states, animals and nature facts,” said Sienna Yang.

“I learned that a lot of states have the monarch butterfly as their state pollinator,” said Sylvie Song.

Ms. Gerfast says her students are always excited to receive the next postcard and each has a particular state they look forward to most.

“I hope we get a card from Alaska," said Mia Musser, “because I have been there.”