Imagine you’re sending a message to a friend—maybe an email with a school project, a text about weekend plans, or a file with some photos. Your story will follow that message as it travels through the Internet to reach your friend’s device. Begin by deciding what your message is and who you’re sending it to. This will frame your story about how the Internet works.

Every story needs characters. These are the main components of the Internet that work together to deliver your message.

• Your device (computer, phone, etc.): The Sender – This is where your message starts.
• Your friend’s device: The Receiver – The destination where your message will arrive.
• Email or messaging servers: The Post Offices – These process and sort your message.
• Internet Service Providers (ISPs): The Delivery Team – They carry your message across the network.
• Routers: The Traffic Managers – They guide your message along the right path.

Start your story with the Sender (your device) creating and sending the message to the Receiver (your friend’s device). The Sender relies on the Delivery Team (ISPs) and Post Offices (servers) to get the message moving.

The Sender sends the message to the Post Office (server). The Post Office checks the address—whether it’s an email address or a phone number—to ensure it’s correct. If everything checks out, the Post Office passes the message to the Delivery Team (ISP) for transport.

The Delivery Team (ISP) takes the message and begins its journey toward the Receiver. Along the way, they encounter Traffic Managers (routers), which direct the message to the correct destination, ensuring it doesn’t get lost.