Design It! Giving Voice to America

The National Postal Museum is offering a curriculum guide and lessons for use in the 4th to 5th grade classroom which focus on the history of stamps, the rules for selecting a subject, how to design a stamp, and apply artistic skills in designing their own stamp.

Titled Design It! Giving Voice to America, the lessons include...

What is a Stamp?
Reviews the history of stamps and answers the question: Why are there pictures on stamps?

Selecting a Subject
Identifies the 12 selection criteria that the US Postal Service uses to decide what images go on stamps.

Designing a Stamp
Reviews the techniques and skills that stamp designers use to incorporate big messages into tiny works of art.

Stamp Design Assessment Activity
Students pick a subject and design a stamp!

The lessons also include supporting materials for teachers and fun activities and worksheets for students. The hands-on curriculum helps students to understand the importance of stamps in their own nation and gives them the skills to communicate those messages through a visual medium.

Learn more about Design It! Giving Voice to America, click here.