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Year Three classes at Jesse Boot Primary School in Bakersfield have been taking part in a series of literacy lessons based on the well-known children's book 'Flat Stanley'.

The story of Flat Stanley involves a boy who is completely flat - an unusual physique which means his parents are able to fold him up, put him in an envelope, and send him off to have exciting adventures all over the world.

Rich Fisher posts Flat Stanley

And to get the children's creative juices flowing, Rich Fisher, a 28-year-old class teacher at the school, decided to get the children to make their own Flat Stanleys out of paper - and then had them sent all over the country. Rich says:

"Underachievement in literacy is a massive issue in primary education in this country, particularly with boys.

"As such, with us having decided to do a series of literacy lessons based on Flat Stanley, I thought it'd be a great way to inspire the children with their writing to have their own Stanleys posted off on lots of different places... just like in the book."

Rich duly enlisted the help of various friends and family members.

Flat Stanley at a wedding in Sussex

He adds: "I have quite a lot of friends who either live in interesting parts of the UK, or who do interesting jobs or have interesting hobbies - and it was these people I asked to help out by taking delivery of the Stanleys.

"They then sent back photos of the Stanleys getting up to all sorts of interesting things."

Excitement among the 7 and 8 year-olds in the two Year Three classes at Jesse Boot subsequently reached fever pitch, as the photos began to arrive in Rich's e-mail inbox. 
Adventures depicted in the snaps ranged from Flat Stanley on the beach in Northern Ireland to Flat Stanley on the pitch at Liverpool FC's stadium to Flat Stanley as a guest at a wedding!

The project was a big success in terms of getting the children inspired - with some of the children producing, according to Rich, the best written work they'd done all year.

Flat Stanley with 'The Fakers'

One such child was eight-year-old Marcel Green.

He says: "Flat Stanley really helped me with my reading and writing. I really enjoyed doing the work, as we got to see different places around the UK."