Hannibal, MO -- Horseheads, New York
Video Conference
Mr. Smith's 4th Grade

May 15, 2006: Librarian Marilyn Hample from Horseheads, New York organized four 4th grade classes to present their research on the life of Samuel Clemens when he lived in the Elmira, NY area. The students were assisted by Barbara Snedecor, Director of Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College. New York students showed Mark Twain's study, Quarry Farm, the cemetery where he was buried, and artwork portraits of Mark Twain. Neva Kelly of Horseheads arranged and managed the video connections from the New York end.

Terry Smith's 4th grade class from Eugene Field Elementary in Hannibal, MO presented details of Mark Twain's early life in Hannibal (ages 5-17), explained the origin of the name Mark Twain, talked about how we study Tom Sawyer, and displayed photos showing how Twain's writing still has effects on Hannibal today. Our Mark Twain impersonator, Jim Waddell, provided entertaining comments about his life and times as students presented slides and details. Henry Sweets, Curator of the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal spoke to the New York students, and provided information about Hannibal's history.

Click the sign to see the slides we used.

Andrew shows cue cards for the speakers.

Paul runs the Internet slide show about Hannibal.

 

Kylee introduces Mark Twain and begins our part of the presentation. The
projector displays the video image on our Smartboard.

Students from New York answer questions about Mark Twain.

Mr. Sweets, Curator of the Mark Twain Museum and President of the
Hannibal School Board, adds more information about Hannibal.

Steamboats were a major part of the history of Hannibal and the life and times of Mark Twain.
Our singers presented an authentic steamboat song from the old days.

"Steamboat Bill, steaming down the Mississippi,
Steamboat Bill, a mighty man was he.
 Steamboat Bill, steaming down the Mississippi,
gonna beat the record of the Robert E. Lee."