Christa McAuliffe Conference presentation.

1. Creating a Landmark Postcard
Thelma Thompson
Maryann Nicosia
Epping Middle School

2. Choose a landmark
• Students choose a landmark according to the
teacher’s specifications.
• Requirements maybe a certain location, or natural
landmarks, or manmade landmarks
• Students research facts about the landmark.
• I require at least ten facts.

3. Paragraph home
The students use their facts to write a paragraph
home.
The paragraph should be conversational and
addressed to someone at home. A friend, family
member, teacher, etc.

4. Choosing a picture of the landmark
• Students will use the Internet to find a picture of their
landmark.
• The picture needs to have good pixel quality. Not
grainy or pixelated when imported to the page.
• It also needs to have a place where the student can
import their picture into the picture.
• The students will save their pictures into Publisher.

5. An example of poor pixel quality.

6. This is an example of good pixel quality.

7. Taking the student’s picture
• The students may bring in clothing or equipment to
include in their picture.
• For example if they are climbing Mt. Everest they
should have a winter jacket, gloves, hats and boots.
This makes the picture realistic.

8. Paint.Net
• Paint.Net is a free download.
http://www.getpaint.net/download.html
• Copy the student’s picture into Paint.Net

9. Using the tool menu choose the Magic Wand

10. Using Paint.Net
• When the student chooses the Magic Wand a
box will open up showing the tolerance %.

11. • Depending on the contrast of the background the
student may change the tolerance.
• Then after adjusting the tolerance click on the
background and click Delete. It will not work
unless Delete is used. The student will see a
checkboard effect.

12. • All of the background must be deleted. Click
on the sections that have not been erased and
then click on Delete until no background
remains.

13. Almost there
• The students will save their cut out picture into Pictures.
• The students will then insert their picture into Publisher.
• The students may adjust the size and direction of their
picture.

14. Notice the
jellyfish in the
waves?

15. Dear Jean,
I was out for a swim on the stormy night. The hurricane Sandy was hard
on the beaches in my area. Homes were washed into the sea. It made
for dangerous swimming.
Love,
Sam
When the
paragraph is added
the student may
adjust the font size
and color.

16. Finally
• Print the postcards out in color. If the landmark is in a
foreign country I have the students include a stamp
from the country in the top right hand corner.
• Have fun and travel the world right from your
computer chair!

17. Some examples of students
postcards