Hi my name is Marcus. I am 6. I like computers. I have a friend in
Tasmania. His name is Glenn and he wrote to me. I know where that is on the
map. It is far far away. I can see it on the map on the screen. It is dark
on the screen where Glenn is but it is light where America is. That's because
Glenn is sleepy and I am in school. Tasmania is on the bottom of the world!
The water might be falling because it is in the bottom. Glenn is not in
school right now because it is summer and he's asleep right now anyway. We
are having winter and it is cold here but not where Glenn lives. I see his
picture on my wall by the map of the whole big world. His teacher sent it to
us. He has dark brown hair and he wrote to me and it is fun. Yeah, I like to
do this real good.
I have another friend in England called Billy but I don't have his
picture. He told us that he likes his mummy and daddy and merwin. He likes
swimming, picnics and riding horses. I never rode a horse. But I like to
swim. I never went on a picnic. Billy goes to Stanley Infant School in
London. That's funny because it doesn't seem the same name as our school. An
infant is a baby but that's what they call their schools in England for the
little children.
I have a big friend in Finland who talked to me on the computer one day.
His words came on the screen. I saw them coming fast. I told him that I can
count up to 10...now I can almost count to 100! My friend is Mikael and he
gave me his numbers in his language. We are writing big sentences today and
we are almost off the screen! My teacher gave me a copy of how to count up to
ten in Finland.
I was in the newspaper because I was typing to Glenn on the computer. My
messages go to Glenn and Billy and Mikael through that thing over there called
a modem. The lights blink when we do this. It goes to the big network like a
post office through the telephone wires. My letters get there fast.
There's a rudolf and a snowman on our computer that blinks. I like it.
It is real pretty. Our friend, Meike, in The Netherlands sent them to us.
She made the pictures. How did she do that? You can see the pictures because
Mrs. Weeg is sending them with my letter to you.
Our friend, Olya, in Russia sent us her picture through the wires and she
and her brother are there but the picture is on its side! Olya sent us a
little tune about a fir tree that the Russian children put in their house at
New Year's. Do you want to hear it?
I feel good when I come to the computer room and I play with numbers and
stories and write to my friends. I come every day. I wish I had a computer
at home. This helps me in school because it gets my mind better because you
are reading and reading and that's good. I learn about other countries and
maps and what time it is.
marcus
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are my letters from my friends and the ones I sent to them.
********************************
From Marcus to Glenn in Tasmania
********************************
Dear Glenn,
thank you for your picture. I can find you in it. igo
to school. I like school, do you?
marcussaylor
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 30, 1993
Dear Glenn,
I like school too! At Christmas time I am going to visit my Grandmother
in Salisbury Maryland. During our break I will play with the presents Santa
gave to me.
marcus
******************************
From Marcus to Billy in London
******************************
Dear Billy Man,
iam6 I have been on a horse too. I like picnics because you get to eat
and play. iliketo ride horses.
marcus
***************************************
From Glenn to Marcus and his classmates
***************************************
Dear Keren and Jordan and Marcus and Brandy,
I am Glenn. Jordan, what is your sport? My sport is
rollerblading . and
Brandy, do you have a computer? I have two . and Marcus, how meany
friends? do
you have I have four
friends there names are Greg and Leigh and Jason and
Matthew . and Keren
do you have a swimming pool? I don/t.
Jordan do you have a pet I have four pets all
cats. and Marcus my best game is Mortal Kombat what is your
game .
from
Glenn
in
Tasmania
======================================================================
These are my big friends on the computer. I talked to them one day. It was
fun.
***********************************
Excerpts from a real time IRC chat
on Thursday, October 14, 1993
***********************************
The chat was held for a demonstration of the KIDLINK IRC chat
capability. Lara Stefansdottir, sysop of the Icelandic Education Network,
was presenting telecom at a European Conference on telecommunications and
asked us to join her.
At this time there were participants from:
Maryland, Finland, South Carolina, Chicago, Virginia, New Jersey
and Iceland
---------- edited version -----------------------
Hello first graders...
*** PattiW is now known as Marcus
Are you part of the group writing to England?
Hello Marcus
Hello Marcus!
hhhhhhhhhhiiiiiii
Hi Marcus
My students are writing to England
ii aaam 66
oops! he's 6 (Patti)
Bonnie, is that in the vacation project or to Mike's group of
kids?
=)
It is the vacation project
Two of my students are also writing to England..in that project.
The social studies and are looking for other groups as well but
the vacation project is wonderful
Ben has been a busy boy!
Could I ask... when is the IRC Chat tomorrow?
Yes, Ben has!!!!!!!
i like ssschhhhool
I would like to know that as well
Mikael, it should begin about an hour earlier than right now,
I think.
Marcus, where are you? Did I miss that?
Marcus, what is your favorite subject?
I will not be able to join anyone until after 1:00 however... :-(
Marcus> I like math
Good for you Marcus.
What are you learning in Math now?
Marcus: That's great! That is my favorite subject, too =)
i can count to 20
Marcus, my little girl is in first grade, too.
i am in America
Marcus, that is GREAT!
i am in Delmar Maryland
Marcus, would you like to have the first ten numbers in Swedish
and Finnish?
yes!
So would we!
pleassseee
YES!
Then I will mail them to Patti and she can give them to you!
OHHHH I thought you were going to tell us now! My 7th graders
are excited!
ok. here they are:
thhhhhhhhank yyoouu
first in Swedish (my mother tongue), then in Finnish...
*** Marcus is now known as Heather
(Heather is another 1st grader who changed seats with Marcus at this
point though Marcus got to see the numbers from Mikael.)
1 = ett = yksii
2 = tva = kaksi
3 = tre = kolme
4 = fyra = neljao
*** dwatson (dwatson@leo.nmc.edu) hasjoined channel #europe
5 = fem = viisio
i am 6 too
6 = sex = kuusi
7 = sju = seitsemanwwe
8 = atta = kahdeksanike
9 = nio = yhdeksan
There they are!
Some of the a and o have little dots over them =)
wwe like your numbbers
Letters you don't have in English.
Mikael...Where are you?
dwatson: In Vaasa, Finland.
DWatson.Where are you?
We are in Traverse City Michigan USA
*** dwatson is now known as Trapper
Mrs. Wilkerson, Shay Brice said to tell you and Tamicka
HI
i can count to 20
*** petur (petur@kopasker.ismennt.is) has joined channel #europe
I think Leeland is a wonderful place and like to collect the
stones from the shores
hello petur
Mikael...is this where the Sweedish irc domoonstration?
a little further up.. Help me remember the name of the
stones, please.
Hi Petur
You notice that Swedish reminds of English.
i am in America and I am 6 years old
Hello - have you seen Lara?
Hello Peter.
Trapper, no I am in Finland.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The chat continued....and each of my 5 first graders in Mrs. Crouse's
room 'chatted' with the international community. They are among the
youngest passengers on the 'Information Highway.'
Patti
============ end of IRC logfile ===================================
Copyright Marcus Saylor All Rights Reserved
pweeg@shore.intercom.net