Saturday, April 23, 2011
Robot Arm
This is a robotic arm I have built out an instruction booklet. My sister loves getting her stuffed animals munched on by it and giggles when they get get crushed.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Pickerel Lake
Walking down the path to the beach where fish and turtles play, I often wonder where the deer paths in the bushes lead. I also always wonder if the water is going to be warm or not. I have always loved playing in the water, and I will hate the day when I can no longer. The water is calm, clear, and lukewarm today. I swim for awhile, admiring the tall waving water grass and trying to catch some fish. One of my parents kicks me out to the deepest part of the lake, where trees and bushes grow in underwater forests and the remnants of a dock lay. Looking around, I can see large trees lining the pond, and the smells around me make my nose want to dance. On the way back, I flip over to watch the clouds. What will I see? An elephant? A ferocious cat? When we get to shore, we eat sandwiches on the beach, then leave. It is a wonderful place.
(Editor's Note: This essay is in reference to the writings of John Muir, in honor of Earth Day.)
(Editor's Note: This essay is in reference to the writings of John Muir, in honor of Earth Day.)
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Catnapper
Prologue
(Enter Sheriff Scott holding bags.)
Sheriff Scott: This is such a good night for stealing cats. I hope this plan is successful.
(Sheriff Scott opens a window and climbs in. )
Cat: MEOW!
Sheriff Scott: Shut up, stupid cat! I only have to do this 23 more times. I'm glad I only steal at night. I could get caught.
(Sheriff Scott exits.)
Scene One
(Curtain opens to reveal Frank Earnest laying on bed.)
Frank Earnest: (Yawning.) What a nice day. Hey! Where's my cat? I wonder where he is.
(Frank Earnest exits.)
Scene Two
(Enter Mom and Frank Earnest. Stage set to kitchen.)
Frank Earnest: Morning, Mom.
Mom: Hi, honey. Have you seen any cats?
Frank Earnest: No, I haven't. Why were you asking?
Mom: Because I haven't seen any all morning.
(Mom and Frank Earnest exit.)
Scene Three
(Stage set to outside.)
Frank Earnest: I better find my friends.
(Enter Frank Earnest's friends.)
Friend One: I think the sheriff stole them.
Friend Two: I bet you're right.
Frank Earnest: Hi, guys.
Cat: MEOW!
Frank Earnest: That's a cat!
(Frank Earnest and friends run off stage.)
Scene Four
(Frank Earnest and friends hide next to a booth where the sheriff is selling cats.)
Friend Two: Look! It's the sheriff!
Friend One: And he's selling cats!
Frank Earnest: Nobody buys from the sheriff on the first day. Let's take the cats at night and give them back to their owners.
(Frank Earnest, friends, and Scott exit.)
Scene Five
Crash! Boom! Bash! MEOW!
(Frank Ernest and friends enter.)
Frank Ernest: Now that we have these cats, let's return them to there owners!
(Frank Ernest and friends go behind houses and exit.)
Epilogue
Townspeople One-Five: Yay! Our cats are back! We should have locked our windows!
Sheriff Scott: Oh, great! Now I can't steal anymore cats!
Cat: MEOW!
(All exit.)
The End.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lego Minivan
A couple of days ago I decided to build a minivan. The build was going smoothly until I tried to finish the seat and the red indentations. The seat had no back and the tops of the indentations were falling off. Eventually I created a special device that fixed both problems. The special device I made was a series of Lego pieces that looked kind of like the letter L. It allowed me to make a seat with a head rest as well as the indentations on the sides!
I hope you can make a cool minivan too! If you get stuck, you can ask me for help!
I hope you can make a cool minivan too! If you get stuck, you can ask me for help!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Animal Haikus
Can you guess what animals I'm describing in my haikus?
I have a long tongue
The ants I meet disappear
And they get quite stuck!
I'm a pink mammal
I use echolocation
I swim in rivers.
I am a mammal
I have a 9 foot tusk
I live near Greenland.
I have a long tongue
The ants I meet disappear
And they get quite stuck!
I'm a pink mammal
I use echolocation
I swim in rivers.
I am a mammal
I have a 9 foot tusk
I live near Greenland.
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Finale to "An Easy Pick"
From Bruce Van Patter's "The Story Kitchen"
The story "An Easy Pick" begins like this:
story & illustration © 2003 Bruce Van Patter
The monster would also be trying for the apples. If the monster got them first, then there would be no ship for Fane. That had troubled the prince, but only until he saw the monster. It shuffled into the throne room, and to Fane it looked like furry jester -- with three big floppy ears and bad teeth. It was strong, but was short. And to Fane it seemed very, very stupid.Now here was Fane in the woods, about to pick his first apple. He came to the rocky wall, smiled, then reached for the apple. He plucked it from the branch. It was all so easy.
Then strong hands grabbed him around his waist. He was thrown to the ground. With a thud, he landed on his back and the apple flew from his hand up into the air. It came down into the hand of the furry monster. "Fanks," it said through its crooked smile. "I'm too wittle to weach."
Then before Fane could get up, the monster ran off into the woods with his three ears bouncing with every little step.
It's Your Story - hey, Fane, don't count your apples before they are picked!Help me write the ending. Can you think of what will happen to the other two apples? Will Fane get his ship? Will he stop being so stuck up? Can you think of a surprise ending? And... will Fane be golden to get his ship?
Have fun -- finish the story -- and be creative! I'd love you to email me your ending!
Aaron's Story Finishes This Way....
Fane lay on the ground, stunned by what had happened. Fane's friend, who was watching from behind a tree, came over and patted him on the back.
"That monster is smarter than you think!" Fane's friend said.
"How do you know that?" asked Fane.
"Well he mumbles to himself constantly, and I overheard him say, "and then I'll catch that prince and..." said Fane's friend. He was going to say more, but Fane had stalked off into the forest.
As Fane walked along, he thought about what his friend had said. He decided climbing up into a tree and grabbing an apple from up on top of the tree would be a good idea. It worked. The monster did not get the apple.
The monster and Prince Fane each had one apple. Who would get the winning apple?
The next tree that had the fruit was not climbable, nor was the fruit in reach. Luckily, Prince Fane had a throwing knife. He threw the knife at the stem of the fruit. The knife cut the fruit off the tree, and the apple fell into Prince Fane's awaiting hands.
Meanwhile, the knife bounced between the tree branches as it slowly fell in an unpredictable pattern. When Prince Fane turned to go, the monster jumped out of the shadows, grabbed the fruit, and tried to take it. Just then, the knife fell from the tree and cut the apple in half. They both fell backward with half an apple in each of their hands.
The monster and Prince Fane returned to the castle.
The king noticed that the monster and Prince Fane had the same amount of apple. To make up for the fact, the king gave the monster and the prince canoes rather than war ships.
The End.
P.S. The prince went off on many silly adventures in his canoe.
The story "An Easy Pick" begins like this:
An Easy Pick
| Picking apples seemed to Prince Fane to be just too simple. Where was the challenge in that? | |
| He saw up ahead a gleam of gold against a rocky hill. As he strolled over to pick the golden apple, he thought about the contest. The king had told him if he wanted to get his own ship to sail into adventure, he had to pick three golden apples in the forest. Prince Fane would have three hours to get them. When he laughed about how easy it would be, his father, the king, added one more problem to the contest.He added a monster. | |
Then strong hands grabbed him around his waist. He was thrown to the ground. With a thud, he landed on his back and the apple flew from his hand up into the air. It came down into the hand of the furry monster. "Fanks," it said through its crooked smile. "I'm too wittle to weach."
Then before Fane could get up, the monster ran off into the woods with his three ears bouncing with every little step.
Have fun -- finish the story -- and be creative! I'd love you to email me your ending!
Fane lay on the ground, stunned by what had happened. Fane's friend, who was watching from behind a tree, came over and patted him on the back.
"That monster is smarter than you think!" Fane's friend said.
"How do you know that?" asked Fane.
"Well he mumbles to himself constantly, and I overheard him say, "and then I'll catch that prince and..." said Fane's friend. He was going to say more, but Fane had stalked off into the forest.
As Fane walked along, he thought about what his friend had said. He decided climbing up into a tree and grabbing an apple from up on top of the tree would be a good idea. It worked. The monster did not get the apple.
The monster and Prince Fane each had one apple. Who would get the winning apple?
The next tree that had the fruit was not climbable, nor was the fruit in reach. Luckily, Prince Fane had a throwing knife. He threw the knife at the stem of the fruit. The knife cut the fruit off the tree, and the apple fell into Prince Fane's awaiting hands.
Meanwhile, the knife bounced between the tree branches as it slowly fell in an unpredictable pattern. When Prince Fane turned to go, the monster jumped out of the shadows, grabbed the fruit, and tried to take it. Just then, the knife fell from the tree and cut the apple in half. They both fell backward with half an apple in each of their hands.
The monster and Prince Fane returned to the castle.
The king noticed that the monster and Prince Fane had the same amount of apple. To make up for the fact, the king gave the monster and the prince canoes rather than war ships.
The End.
P.S. The prince went off on many silly adventures in his canoe.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Pineapple's Trip
Fill in the blanks below with the words called for. Then, using the words you have selected, fill in the blank spaces in the story.
1. Adjective:
2. Part of Body:
3. Singular Noun:
4. Singular Noun:
5. Plural Noun:
6. Plural Noun:
7. Plural Noun:
8. Number:
9. Singular Noun:
10. Singular Noun:
12. Singular Noun:
13. Adverb:
14. Verb:
15. Part of Body:
Pineapple. That (adjective) fruit. Have you ever wondered how they turn into a fruit and get to your (part of body)? They start out as a (singular noun). The (singular noun) grows and gains (plural noun). The (plural noun) may last a day, but new (plural noun) appear again and again. After (number) years, your pineapple is ready. It is pulled from the plant and transported in a truck, plane, or (singular noun). When it gets to a (singular noun), it is unpacked and put on a (singular noun). You may pick a pineapple up and (adverb) (verb) it, then go home and eat it. That is how a pineapple turns into a fruit and gets to your (part of body).
1. Adjective:
2. Part of Body:
3. Singular Noun:
4. Singular Noun:
5. Plural Noun:
6. Plural Noun:
7. Plural Noun:
8. Number:
9. Singular Noun:
10. Singular Noun:
12. Singular Noun:
13. Adverb:
14. Verb:
15. Part of Body:
Pineapple. That (adjective) fruit. Have you ever wondered how they turn into a fruit and get to your (part of body)? They start out as a (singular noun). The (singular noun) grows and gains (plural noun). The (plural noun) may last a day, but new (plural noun) appear again and again. After (number) years, your pineapple is ready. It is pulled from the plant and transported in a truck, plane, or (singular noun). When it gets to a (singular noun), it is unpacked and put on a (singular noun). You may pick a pineapple up and (adverb) (verb) it, then go home and eat it. That is how a pineapple turns into a fruit and gets to your (part of body).
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