Week 16 Inventions!

Last week we read about John Stetson, who invented the famous Stetson hat that became known as "The Boss of the Plains." John's unique hat was useful to many people who had discovered that other hats just didn't meet the demands of the work and the climate in the West.

Watch this video about Mother Necessity (who is said to be responsible for all inventions!).


Now, imagine an invention that would solve a problem you have experienced or seen other people experience. What do you wish someone would invent?

Write an advertisement for this imaginary product. Be sure to explain what your product does, how it works, and why people do not want to be without it!

For example, if you were writing an advertisement for The Boss of the Plains, it might sound something like this:

Are you tired of blistering sunburns on your neck and nose? Or perhaps you have seen one too many headcoverings turn from brand-spanking-new to "old hat" in just one week of work on the prairie. Maybe you long for a hat that can stand up to all the wind, rain, sun and sweat that a hard working Westerner can provide. If so, then we've got the right hat for you. Our hat is so superior to others, folks call it "The Boss."

Though it costs a bit more than other caps, once you own it, it will become your most valued possession. Its wide brim will protect both your face and neck from the sweltering sun. No longer will rain funnel down your back while you're movin' those dogies in a downpour. Instead, you'll be wearing your very own hands-free umbrella to keep you dry.

Need a spare bucket to water your horse or gather sun-kissed summer berries? The Boss can help you carry your load for work or pleasure. Need a pillow for your head as you snooze alongside your herd under the starry heavens? Again, The Boss is at your service. And, perhaps most importantly, in the light of day you'll look as handsome as a golden-maned mustang in your Boss of the Plains hat. No self-respecting cowboy or girl should be without one!

As always...

• do your writing in MSWord or another word processing program first
• revise it to include strong verbs and descriptive details to help us imagine your invention
• proofread your work and make corrections in spelling, capitalization and punctuation
• copy and paste your writing into the comments section of the blog or into your own blog
• add your first name and code before publishing

Challenge: Create an illustration to go along with your advertisement! Bring it to school on Tuesday to share with your class.

Week 15 Winter Break

My heart fluttered as I swung there, high above the treetops. The chair lift had stopped again. Rats. I hated that. I avoided looking down. Out was better.

The late rays of sun licked the snowy mountaintops with an orangey glow. This would be my last run of the day. Good thing, since my gloves were a bit damp and my fingers were becoming numb. The lengthening shadows brought a chill to the Rockies. Not long ago I had been skiing with my jacket wide open and my hair blowing freely – no hat. Now I inched my zipper higher toward my chin with my free hand. The other one was looped around the center post of the chair, clutching both of my ski poles. The snow below me took on a bluish tone in the dimming light.

I was going to do it this time. It was my last chance. The last run of the day on my last day in New Mexico. Tomorrow I would be on a plane back to the flatter lands of Minnesota. I had seen many skiers tumble, some hard, but others seemed to take “The Face” in stride, carving controlled Ss across the steep slope. I wanted to do it too. No bombing, just a comfortable curving line back and forth with a tiny tinge of racing heart as my skis would point downward again momentarily at each turn. If I could just avoid picking up too much speed during those moments, I could ski The Face without bodily harm. Right. Easier said than done.

Just three nights before, we had watched as a tight line of skiers waving bright orange torches snaked their way down that very run. Fireworks burst in the air from the summit above them. The line crawled along as slowly as a group of beginners on the bunny hill. That is, until one set of torches broke away from the zigzag and somersaulted to the side. The unfortunate tumbler wasn’t seriously hurt, but if the experts had trouble, who was I to think I could manage it even in the fleeting daylight.

My brain kept debating itself, as I took in a last breathtaking view from the top of the mountain. I skied several familiar runs on my way back down, so preoccupied with my thoughts I was barely aware of them. Finally, I stood at the top of The Face, overlooking the roof of the chalet. It appeared to be just a few feet forward and yet miles down, that’s how steep it was. I watched a few skiers, more confident than I, go by. Even they paused to take a deep breath before descending. I needed about twenty.

At last I inched forward. I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears. My skis slid along with a light shushing sound gaining momentum. I concentrated hard on my form, realizing I would have to either turn soon or ski off the edge. I took another deep breath and held it as I shifted my weight and allowed the tips of my skis to angle downward. Then as quickly as I could, I pressed the backs of them down and to the side. The sharp edges dug into the icy snow with a whoosh, but miraculously the tips were now pointed back across the slope moving only a tiny bit faster than I liked. I swished toward the far side of the hill and gritted my teeth in anticipation of another steep turn. A young skier suddenly zipped by, startling me. I fought to keep my balance. Thankfully, though shaken, I recovered in time to make the turn.

As I continued to work my way down, I started to grin. I was doing it. Maybe not like the pros, but not out of control either. “Not bad for a middle-aged, rusty skier like me,” I thought.
A few long minutes later, I reached the bottom. My daughter was there to congratulate me with a big hug. “Mom,” she said. “I am so proud of you! You conquered your first Rocky Mountain black diamond!”

Now it’s your turn. Write a story about a memorable experience you had over break. It might be a cookie baking event, a concert, a special time with your grandpa…whatever you did that felt important or worth remembering. Try to write about the way things sounded, felt, looked, smelled and tasted to help us experience it along with you. Use strong verbs. (At least 75 words.)

Challenge: After you write your story, reread what you have written. Look for sentences that start the same way. See if you can come up with ways to vary the beginnings. For example, if you have several sentences that start with “I” or “Then I”, try moving parts of the sentence around like this: “I didn’t really want to take a walk with Grandpa, but I didn’t want to listen to my aunts anymore either.” could be changed to “My aunts chattered nonstop, making a walk with Grandpa seem more appealing than usual.”

- As always, write and save your story in a word processing program first.
- Be sure to check it over for capitalization, punctuation and spelling.
- Don’t forget to include your first name and code (eg. Peter Sw#29).

Week 13 Choice Week!

Students,
This week you may write about any subject that interests you. Take us on an adventure to a far away place, real or imaginary, by using strong verbs and vivid adjectives. Describe a scene or a person in colorful language to bring us up close to the setting or character. Or, craft a poem with carefully chosen words that paint pictures in our minds. It’s up to you!

Use at least 75 words to write your story, poem, letter or description. As always, do your work in a word processing program first. (MSWord can help you count your words.) Edit your work before copying and pasting it into the comment area of the blog. Don’t forget to include your first name and code. You may post your writing on your own blog this week if you prefer. (The paragraph you just read has 70 words. Don't be intimidated by the number. You can do it!)

Happy writing!
Mme Powell

Due Monday, December 17.

Week 12 Happy Holidays!

As the holiday season approaches, families create cards to wish their friends and loved ones good tidings. Please write a holiday letter about your family that could possibly be included with this mailing. Tell us some of the highlights of your family’s year. Be sure to mention something specific about each family member–including your pets! Go ahead and brag!

Please write this in correct letter format with a greeting and closing. Post your letter either on my blog or your own edublog. If you would prefer more privacy, you may choose to email your letter to me at kripowell@edina.k12.mn.us

Please…..
—-Write your letter first in MSWord (or another word processing program).
—-Reread your writing before publishing and revise it to be clear and descriptive.
—-Edit your work - capital letters, punctuation, spelling
—-Add your first name and code to your writing (eg. Julie Sw27).
—-Lastly, copy your letter and paste it in the comment box on my blog, in a posting on your own edublog, or in an email to me, Mme Powell.

Week 11 Mmm, mmm, good!

I enjoyed some of my very favorite foods at Thanksgiving. I chose to write about one of them descriptively. See if you can taste it with me!

Every Thanksgiving my mother-in-law makes her famous sweet potatoes. Now, I have always loved baked yams, even as a little girl, but her concoction is the best of all. The orangey goodness is baked to tender perfection. A heavenly aroma of nutmeg caresses my nostrils as I bring the first piping hot spoonful to my lips. The topping, a lovely mixture of brown sugar and crushed pecans, creates a crunchy contrast to the creamy smoothness of the mashed potatoes. A delicate sweetness slides over my tongue, while the nutty bits of topping tumble down after. Perhaps I'll skip the dessert and have some more sweet potatoes!

So, kids, now it is your turn. What is a food you especially like? Think about how it looks, how it smells, its texture and its taste. You might start by making a short list of phrases that describe these features. Then weave them together in a paragraph that leaves your readers salivating! Don't forget to include a topic sentence and a concluding sentence to keep your main idea clear. I predict we'll all be feeling a bit hungry soon!

As always...

• Write your paragraph first in MSWord (or another word processing program).
• Reread your writing before publishing and revise it to be clear and descriptive.
• Make your corrections - capital letters, punctuation, spelling - as well.
• Add your first name and code to your writing (eg. James Sw28).
• Then copy your paragraph and paste it in the comment box on my blog.

Week 10 Thanksgiving guests!

Dear Guests,

Welcome to Mme Powell’s blog! This week students were asked to write a letter expressing their gratitude for their families. If you are visiting this site, you are undoubtedly here to respond to that young person. Thank you for contributing to our blog. Please follow the guidelines below when posting your comment:

• Click on the link at the bottom of this post that indicates how many comments have been left so far.
• Type your comment in the large box.
• If you like, sign your first name or relationship so that the student will know who is appreciating them! (e.g. Carol, Uncle Jim, Grandma, etc.)
• Please identify the student by first name and last initial only. We want to protect the identities of our student bloggers on the world wide web.
• Please limit your comment to 2-4 sentences. We know these are great kids and you could go on and on about them…but 2-4 carefully chosen thoughts will ultimately mean more than volumes upon volumes could.
• Be sure to type in the special “word” in squiggly font in the narrow box before submitting your comment. This proves that you are not a spamming machine.

Your comment will not display immediately, but will be sent to me for approval before publication. (Don’t worry. I won’t critique your grammar or spelling.J)

While you are here, feel free to read some of the contributions of students from earlier weeks. They are really growing as writers.

Once again, we’re glad you could join us this week as we celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing our appreciation for each other. Thank you for your time and participation in this project. Children grow so much and so beautifully with support from family and friends.

Kind regards and best wishes for a wonderful holiday,
Mme Powell

Week 9 I♥NY! (Persuasive paragraphs)

In the story Grandfather’s Journey, Grandfather loved both Japan and California. Later, his grandson found that he felt the same way about these two very different places. Think of a place you really love. You might think of a place you have taken a vacation. Or maybe you’d choose a special spot in your house or yard. Or, perhaps there is a place away from home that you love to visit again and again – a grandparent’s home or a family cabin. Maybe school is a favorite place for you!

Read on to learn about a place I love. As you read, try to find: my topic sentence, two clear reasons (tabletops), supporting details for each of them (legs), and finally, my concluding sentence.

I have had the pleasure of exploring many marvelous places in the world, but I think I could happily spend an eternity in England. One reason I find this island nation so fascinating is its history. This is the land of kings and queens. The Beefeaters at the Tower of London are eager to tell me all their gruesome tales. It seems there is a castle and a story to go with it in every tiny hamlet. Hundreds of museums and manor homes stand ready to transport me into the past. Even the cobblestones and hedgerows have watched centuries of activity pass by.

Another reason I love England is its charm. As I take a Sunday drive through the hilly countryside, the rolling green pastures remind me of a poofy quilt speckled with wooly polka dots. I’ll spend the day strolling through a village of thatched roofed cottages. Each one is surrounded by gigantic rose bushes dripping with pink and red blooms. Swans and long boats float lazily down the Thames. I feel lazy too as I sip my afternoon tea and munch on my scone slathered with fresh clotted cream. While I chew, I read a book by C. S. Lewis or A. A. Milne, two of my favorite British authors. I can’t imagine that I would ever grow tired of exploring England!

Now it’s your turn. Be sure you include a topic sentence. Then, state a reason you love your special place (tabletop). Next, give several good supporting details or examples (legs). Last, write a concluding sentence that restates your main idea. (One good reason is enough for this assignment. Just make sure you make it convincing with your descriptive details!) Important tip!: Use an I-chart to organize your ideas before writing.

Challenge: Try jazzing up your topic and concluding sentences. Give it some personality. Instead of simply saying, “I love my cabin.” Try “There’s no better summer retreat than our cottage on Lake Lila.”