There is a current family history project underway on the Internet that is combining teachers, genealogists and students (ages 10-15). This project is run through KIDLINK, which is a grassroots project aimed at getting as many children in the age group 10 - 15 as possible involved in a GLOBAL dialog. The work is supported by 31 public conferences (mailing lists), a private network for interactive dialog ("chat"), and an online art exhibition site. Included are lists in different languages as well as English.
       http://www.kidlink.org/

   KIDPROJ is a part of KIDLINK, where teachers and youth group leaders from around the world plan activities and projects for students and other kids to take part in. They are a "family" who talk to each other, participate in many discussions and work together on many different activities and projects.
       http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ

   This project will run as an open-ended project beginning in September of 1997 and running until at least the 20th of December 1997. The project could be extended due to the continued interest of participants. A new email list/forum has been created for this project called "KIDROOTS". Communication between and research volunteers will take place on KIDROOTS@Listserv.nodak.edu

   Family history can be a long term project for these students and will cover, at least, history, geography and map skills, language arts, math (working with unfamiliar dates and calculating ages) and science (lifestyle improvements due to inventions).

   The goal of this project is to bring history alive for students by assisting them in learning how their family participated in 'real' history, to learn how previous generations actually lived, the values they had, the customs they practices, etc., to promote creative writing skills, to develop research and note taking skills by 'digging' around in the family tree, to learn about other cultures by sharing with each other on the KIDROOTS list, to increase computer skills by using word processors, perhaps drawing or graphics programs, email, listservs and the WWW, and to learn more about community resources in individual geographical area.

   Teachers will introduce the project and ask the students to begin by interviewing family members. Students will be asking questions from the researchers who have volunteered to help guide them in this endeavor.

   Any interested person should contact Diane Smith (dianes@halcyon.com) and check out the KIDLINK web pages for more information. KIDLINK attempts to provide a safe place for kids ages 10-15 to communicate so subscribing is necessary to participate on any list.
      KIDLINK: http://www.kidlink.org/
      Family History project: http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/FamHistory

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