Friday, June 5, 2009

Puppy and Doggy by Gaelan, First Grade SES

Doggy doggy why do you grab your puppy's in you mouth?

So they won't get away.

Puppy puppy why do you suck on your mom?

Because that is my food.

Doggy doggy why do you chase cats?

Because that is a game I like to play.

Puppy puppy why are you so crazy?

Because I have so much energy.

Puppy and doggy why do you chase your tail?

Because we want to play.

Puppy and doggy I love you so much

I want you to stay with me to have fun.

Cheetah, Cheetah by Aidan and Kaitlyn, First Grade

Cheetah, Cheetah, I like your spots,

Why do your cubs not have as many spot's as you?

Cheetah, Cheetah, why do you have yellow and orange fur?

Chetah, Cheetah, why do you carry your cubs in your mouth?

Chetah cub,Chetah cub, why do you pounce on your mammas belly and tail?

Cheetah, Cheetah, you are so beautiful that if you didn't have any yellow and orange fur you wouldn't as pretty as you are right now!

We will save you Cheetah!

We will save you from people killing you and taking your skin.

I really don't understand why people are killing you.

Cheetah, Cheetah, I love you so much.

If you died I'd be really really sad!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Caterpiller vs. Worm, by Nico, Mr. Clarity's First Grade Class

Caterpillar vs. Worm

Hey, did you ever see a worm battle a caterpillar?
Well I did.

They did a battle...
DING, DING, DING...

The battle was on!

The worm did a flip but the caterpillar
whipped his back!

Caterpillar wins!

Friday, May 8, 2009

FENNEC FOX, by Jacob P., Mrs. Stetson's Class Fourth Grade

Some adaptations that the Fennec Fox has are his gigantic ears: They can pick up sound a half mile away! He also has a heavy sandy coat which camoflauges him and keeps him warm on cool mights in the sahara. Also he's small which helps him squeeze into tight fits, fast, which helps him escape preditors, and he can jump high, which means he can jump over obsticals and so he can get a better look at things if some- thing is blocking his view! Finally, he doesn't need water because he gets it from his food but he will drink when possible! These were some adaptations of the Fennec Fox.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

THE NORTH AMERICAN MOOSE, by Natalie R., Mr. Maciolek's Class, Fourth Grade

The North American Moose

A wild ride of good writing is coming about the North American Moose. Now, I will tell you about the moose’s large body, the open wide habitat, and its different diet.

“Clomp, Clomp” looks like the North American Moose is coming down from the field. Now, I will share amazing facts about the North American Moose’s body. “Thump, thump”, that’s the North American Moose’s big hooves. The hooves are brown, thick and hard. What are those big things on top of the moose’s head? If you guessed antlers, you’re right. The antlers are very large and can weigh a lot. You need powerful legs for swimming, so you should try a moose’s long powerful legs. You might have guessed they would be covered in fur but not just fur, thick brown fur. This fur keeps them warm in the winter.

Now you know about the body. Where are we? We’re in Somers but that’s not where the North American Moose lives. To find out, read on. Here’s a hint. They live in the United States of America and there is another hint in the name, North American Moose. The answer is the North part of the United States of America. But that’s not the only place. Can you guess? The forest. What kind-an evergreen forest. The forest can be found in Maine and Canada. There are more forests but that is where you can find a moose.

You know about the habitat and the body….grilled cheese and soup…Yum! Don’t feed that to a moose. They don’t eat that food. To find out what they do eat, read on! You might have a salad with dressing and other veggies. Well, so does a moose (but not with the dressing). They will eat some nice grass willow and water plants. Don’t forget the lichens. Have you ever been in the woods? Even if you haven’t, you know what’s on the ground, like leaves, pine cones, shrubs, plants and moss. Didn’t that sound good? But I would rather have my lunch – wait, you just ate it all!

We learned about the body, habitat, and diet. Three main ideas. Now that was a lot of interesting and “wild facts”. I hope you had as much fun as I did on this fact filled adventure.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Out of Africa, by Journal Inquirer Reporter Ms. Connie Yan, Published May 2, 2009

Out of Africa
Somers students ‘Skype’ with volunteer in Mozambique
By Connie Yan
Journal Inquirer
Published: Saturday, May 2, 2009 1:15 AM EDT
SOMERS — Without leaving the Somers Elementary School auditorium on Wednesday students were able to take a peek at life in Mozambique, a country in southeastern Africa.

Fourth- and fifth-graders participated in a video conference call with former Ellington resident Elizabeth Walker, 24, who is a volunteer in Mozambique. It was all made possible through Skype, a computer software application that allows users to make telephone calls and have videoconferences over the Internet for free.

Students in both grades prepared questions for Walker to answer about living in Africa. The questions touched upon everything from sports to government.

Walker, a former student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a volunteer business consultant with TechnoServe, a company headquartered in Washington, D.C., that helps people in developing countries build businesses.

As soon as Walker’s image popped up on the large screen set up in the auditorium for the videoconference call, students were quiet and listened carefully.

Many students were curious about how the culture in Mozambique differs from that of the U.S. Walker said there is more emphasis on family and community. People often live in multigenerational households, with grandparents and even cousins, she said.

“You will most likely have the same job as your father,” she added.

When it comes to sports in Mozambique soccer — referred to as football — is by far the most popular, and residents are excited about the World Cup 2010 coming to South Africa, she said. People often gather in the streets and watch TV or listen to the radio for game updates.

Walker sounded like a resident of Mozambique when she excitedly bragged about how the local team, the Mambas, beat the Nigerian team.

Walker has been sharing highlights of her work in Mozambique through a blog linked to fourth-grade teacher Mark Maciolek’s Web site. Walker has posted photos and updates for the students.

Claire Savage, 9, a fourth-grader, said she was surprised when Walker told how children as young as five or six years old are often seen begging for food.

Fourth-grader Elliott Scott, 9, said when he pictured Mozambique, he thought of cities and lots of people. He was surprised to discover it has a lot of farms.

While the country does have cities, houses in the rural areas are often made of mud, coconut shells, leaves and sticks, Walker told students.

She also told them she chose Mozambique as a place to volunteer because she “wanted to see something completely different.”

On Friday students started participating in Snackrifice, a fundraiser where students will be donating the money they would have spent on snacks toward purchasing malaria nets for Africa.

Walker said the nets are important because children often catch malaria several times a year. Medical care is also scarce because there are very few doctors and nurses, she said. There are only about 600 doctors for a population of 20 million in Mozambique, she added.

Some students asked about how they could someday volunteer in Africa just like Walker. She said there are many programs that enable volunteering in Africa, such as companies like hers and programs like the Peace Corps.

It is a “great, great experience,” she said. “Hopefully, some of you can come someday … Think about what you love and how can that help other people.”

Friday, May 1, 2009

MOOSE REPORT, by Devon L., Fourth Grade

Animal Planet, you don’t need animal planet to learn about the North American Moose’s body, habitat, and diet. So turn your T.V off and put your listening ears on. First I’m going to tell you about the North American Moose huge and powerful body.

If a moose sat on you, you will probably suffocate you because it could weigh 1400 pounds, male moose could be six feet tall too. Now this sentence I’m going to read to you is going to blow your mind! Female moose are call cows. Male moose are called Bulls. They shed their antlers and grow a new set every year.

The second powerful detail is about the habitat. They live in Alaska, Canada, Northern and Western United States, Europe, and Asia.

The third topic is diet. Moose are Herbivores, that means that the North Americans Moose only eats plants and that’s all the information I have so you could now turn your T.V back on and put your listening ears off.