The Zman Story

How Zman came to Earth

Back in the 20th century, an explorer from another galaxy visited earth.

Sherose arrived from Beth Sharon IV, the 4th Planet for the star Beth Sharon.

Sherose discovered that his communications worked with the new earth invention, the Internet.

Sherose wrote to school children in England and they wrote back.

Then children from New York and Ohio and Virginia began to write to Sherose.

And Sherose wrote back.

Then children from Texas and Alaska wrote to Sherose.

And Sherose wrote back.

Then children from Australia and New Zealand wrote to Sherose.

And Sherose wrote back.

Then children from Iceland and Massachusetts wrote to Sherose.

And Sherose wrote back.

Sherose wrote so much to the children on Earth that he got tired.

So he asked his friend Zman to come and help.

Zman flew in to help Sherose write to all the children on Earth.

Sherose asked the Earth children questions about peace and violence.

Sherose learned that Earth children like peace more than voilence.

Zman asked the Earth children questions about how they think.

Zman learned that Earth children think differently.

Zman loved learning about the children of Earth.

When Sherose was called back to Beth Sharon IV, Zman asked to stay.

Sherose said that Zman should stay on Earth.

Sherose flew back to Beth Sharon IV alone.

Zman lives in New York City.

Many kinds of Earth children live in New York City.

Zman set up his computer to write to Earth children everywhere.

A homeschooler e-mailed Zman from the Chesapeake Bay.

Zman e-mailed him back.

Zman e-mailed students in Dinwiddie.

Zman came to visit Dinwiddie.

Back: The Zman Project

Next:  2. Paint

Teachers and Parents

This is the introductory lesson in The Zman Project. The Zman project used art and technology to interest students in writing. It can be used in the curriculum for Literature, Science, Social Studies or Math.

Literature: Read the above story with your students, or have them read it individually on their own screens. Share the fact that this tale is based on actual events. Discuss the interplay between fiction and non-fiction as needed.

Science: Read the above story. Look at a star chart and locate the star Beth Sharon and read about it's characteristics.

Social Studies: Locate New York City on a world map or globe. Locate your school in relation to New York City.

Math: Calculate the distance between your school or home and New York City.

Reference: This lesson was developed from the history of the Far Star project created in 1992 by Tom Holloway from The Chatback Foundation in Royal Leamington Spa, UK. Zman was played by Robert Zenhausern from St. John's University in New York City. In 2000 the project was revived as The Zman Project. Dr. Zenhausern, located in Brooklyn, wrote as Zman. Mrs. Anne Pemberton was the computer teacher who introduced her students to Zman. Other teachers are invited to join the Project and share student work.  

Page created December 2, 2001. Anne Pemberton. Updated Thu, September 10, 2009 . AP.

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