2018

Stamps have been affixed to letters in Switzerland for 175 years. They are deliberately designed works of art and authentic historical sources. They show modern Switzerland’s development, its people, its achievements and its crises. The teaching material «Gezähnt und gestempelt. Briefmarken als Fenster zu Schweizer Geschichte und zur Geschichtskultur» offers the opportunity to learn about and deepen this history using stamps.

The teaching material for secondary school levels I and II consists of a printed student booklet and an accompanying booklet as a PDF. In 14 chapters, it offers a history of modern Switzerland since 1848, with stamps being the main sources. 

Two types of pages provide variety: topic pages offer a narrative with a central theme and stamps as sources to be categorised within it; they focus on training orientation skills. Research pages place stamps at the centre and guide pupils to place them in a historical context; they promote perception, exploration and action skills. 

The teaching material is based on Curriculum 21 for primary schools. 

Fuchs, K., Gautschi, P. & Utz, H. (2018). Gezähnt und gestempelt. Briefmarken als Fenster zu Schweizer Geschichtskultur. Luzern: Lehrmittelverlag Kanton Luzern.