Tyrone Travels America
  Tyrone Travels America
 
Welcome to our traveling buddy project.  Our project was inspired by the story of Owney the Traveling Dog by Lynn Hall . The Owney story is based on the life of a real puppy that was found in Albany, NY in 1888. The puppy was adopted by postal workers, and it lived at the post office. They named him Owney and gave him a mail sack to sleep on. One day, Owney's sack-bed was needed for the mail. Owney followed the scent when the sack was put on a train. Owney got on the train and traveled to the next station where he was found and returned to Albany. Well, that dog must have liked traveling because he continued to get on trains and traveled all over the US.  When Owney died, his body was preserved and is on display at the  Smithosonian National Postal Museum .
  
Keeping with the spirit of Owney traveling around America through the U.S. postal service, I decided to use our school's mascot, the tiger, for our classroom adventures.  I also changed a few guidelines for the program.  The full Owney project has very specific guidelines and as you can see from this link, some people are doing an amazing job with him.  I also wanted to incorporate technology and therefore chose a Webkinz Tiger.  This allows the receiving class to get on Tyrone's Webkinz page and interact with him.  The children can play games, earn money, feed him, play with him, and buy things for his virtual house. 
 REGISTRATION
Tyrone's travel itinerary is CLOSED for the 2009-2010 school year.  
Registration for the 2010-2011 school year will begin in June 2010.
 
Check out 
Tyrone's 2009-2010 Journal 
chronicling his many adventures as he travels around America.
Click here to see Tyrone's 2008-2009 Journal


HOSTING CLASSROOMS
Thank you for inviting Tyrone to your classroom.  Tyrone has a few suggestions that should help you with his visit
 
 1.  Please open my package as soon as I arrive.  I have been cramped and tossed around for several days.  I will need to be introduced to your class and maybe passed around for a few hugs.  E-mail Mrs. Dill when I arrive.  She worries about me when I travel.
 2.  I may need a nap after my long journey, so please designate a place for me to stay when I am not busy with the children.  This will keep me from wondering around and getting lost.
 3.  Mrs. Dill has packed all my important papers for you to read.  I am a young tiger and sometimes forget all those crucial details.  I am in your room to have fun and visit with your children - checking out your school and state  is foremost on my mind.    Please make sure the directions stay with me as I travel to my next destination. 
 4.  Remember to visit my Webkinz home!  Your children can play games to earn money and then use the money to buy my food.  They may even be able to choose a few fun things for my virtual home.  It is important that I am fed and played with while in your care.  You don't want a hungry tiger running around your room! 
 5.  My password is for ADULTS ONLY!  Mrs. Dill said I was too young to keep secrets, so she has packed it with my important paper work.
 6.  I am still learning how to write so I will need for you to keep track of my events while I am in your care.  Please send  Mrs. Dill an e-mail with several photos and a journal entry.  She will post these on our classroom website so everyone who is participating can enjoy my journey.
 7.  Feel free to add a button or pin to my vest.  If you add a postcard to my bag, please sign it so I will remember where it came from.  Neither is necessary, but even young tigers like souveniers.
 8.  Soon it will be time for me to leave.  Help me say good bye to your class and pack my important papers, and traveling bag.  Package me carefully.  I will have a long journey ahead of me.