Other editions of book Pony Express: History--Hands On for Grades 1-4

The current generation is used to instantaneous information. Overnight mail delivery anywhere in the country from FedEx and UPS and immediate answers to e-mails have led to regular mail delivery, taking two to three days, being called "snail mail." It is hard for us to imagine what it was like 150 years ago when mail usually took a month or more to go across the country. We applaud the hearty souls, especially the Pony Express, who tried to improve the situation. The heart and mind of every boy and girl will be stirred by the picture of the Pony Express rider galloping through the night, facing discomfort and danger, to deliver the mail. The fact that most of the riders were just teenagers only adds to the drama. In a society where heroes are often movie stars and athletes, it's good for children to learn about the true heroes of the west, the Pony Express riders. Students will enjoy learning about this period of American history through poems, music, games, discussion, art and creative writing. They'll learn what a petition is and start one of their own; they'll make Pony Rider puppets and work together to dramatize a Pony Express ride and they'll compete in a relay race to discover for themselves what the Pony Riders knew, that everybody on the team has to do his best and not let the team down. Students will cooperate in putting together a Pony Express museum to illustrate what they have learned and to share their knowledge with friends and family. All this and more will open up the pages of history and involve students in a fun learning adventure they'll always remember.