AUBURN – “If you want to get to the heart of a state, you must hear the history from the people of the state,” said Vesta Rand, fourth-grade teacher at Webster School. That is exactly what her class did with their Journey Journal. Starting in February, students studied United States regions and sent their class Journey Journal to contacts throughout the USA.

Participants sent confirmation to the class when they received the journal, then they wrote extensively in the journal. They also included post cards, maps, photos and pamphlets about their area. Responses came from Texas, Tennessee, Minnesota, California and New York.

The Journey Journal finally made its way back to Rand’s classroom in June and students read the entries. Some kids have decided to visit one or more of the states in future years.