A Run Away Turkey

by Andrew: a fourth grader

So there I was, in the dining room with my friends and family. My Dad just brought out the turkey. He was still fixing the mashed potatoes and corn. All of a sudden, the turkey began growing eyes, feet and feathers. Then it jumped off the table into the soft, warm, coziness of the carpet. He staged there for a few seconds and trotted out the door.

We stayed there stunned, like we were paralyzed. That turkey was stuck out in Times Square! All 4 of us got our coats and looked for our turkey. My Mom just pointed out that we could just buy another turkey, but Dad refused. He insisted that he worked so hard on that turkey. We looked from the Empire State Building, to the Bronx Zoo. That turkey was smart! We finally found him right before he got on the ship to the Statue of Liberty.

At 6:00pm, we finally got to eat. What an adventurous Thanksgiving!

Michael Phelps – Record Breaker

by Andrew: a fourth grader

Born on June 30, 1985, Baltimore, Maryland, Michael Phelps has won 14 gold and 2 bronze medals in the Olympics. He has also won 17 gold and 3 silver metals in the World Championship.

When Michael was growing up and only 9, his parents divorced. He has 2 older sisters, Whitney and Hilary, both are swimmers too. Whitney was chosen to make the U.S. National and 1996 Summer Olympics, but she was injured and lost her chance.

One of Michael’s latest achievements was beating Mark Spitz in the record of the most gold metals in 1 Olympic game. I remember watching it on TV. I was sitting on my cozy warm couch watching channel 4 News covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Michael was with his team trying to beat Mark Spitz’s record. In the end, he did it!

Mark Spitz summarized it “It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he’s may be the greatest athlete of all time. He’s the greatest racer who ever walked the planet’.

Michael said ‘Dream as big as you can, and anything is possible… I am sort of in a dream world. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s real.”

Michael Phelps is one of the most recognized people in the world and he is many people’s hero, including mine. He works so hard that his schedule is “eat, swim and sleep”. His hard work paid off and is now an Olympic Champion and a World record holder.

Michael Phelps has inspired me in swimming, but he has also inspired me to work hard on other things as well. He has taught me to continue to follow my dream and anything is possible.

Treasure Island: the first three chapters

By Andrew: a fourth grader

This story narrated by a boy named Jim Hawkins is action packed, just the way I like all my books.....

The first 3 chapters of Treasure Island were phenomenal. I liked the way the author, Robert Louis Stevenson described all the men at the Inn by using words I’ve never heard of like ‘seafaring’, ‘scuffle’ and ‘sheath’. I believe that the author used an Inn for his setting because it was a place where everyone would go to.

I was fascinated by the way he made the characters act, angry and fight with each other. Here are some ways Robert Louis Stevenson described the characters:

Jim Hawkins: worried, scared and sorrowful
Billy Bones: calls himself Captain, tottering voice
Black Dog: seafaring and suspicious. Billy Bones and Black Dog fought viciously while Jim was getting the rum. They both intended to kill each other, but neither of them got a chance.
Pew: blind, hunched and dreadful, not much description on Pew yet in the first 3 chapters

Robert Louis Stevenson used these vivid adjectives to capture my imagination. Now I think Jim will set out to be as adventurous as these pirates.

I do not know much of this author, but I can predict this author had a good career in writing and had a very successful life. I think if he was still alive, he would have made many more excellent books just like this.

The thing that mystifies me the most is the big secret. I remember Billy’s captain, Flint telling Billy the secret. I thought it was about treasure and Billy was going to tell Jim, but in the 3rd chapter, the captain died before getting a chance to. I’m also wondering what was in the blind man’s envelope. I believe it’s about the black spot because Jim knew very little about that. I hope these questions will be answered in the upcoming chapters.

While I was reading the story, I was thinking of what was going to happen to Jim Hawkins. When I got to the finale of chapter 3, I groaned with disappointment. I can't wait to read more and get out of this cliff-hanger!

What Jim thinks of the captain (Treasure Island)

by Grace, a fifth grader

Jim Hawkins thought a lot of his guest who called himself captain. He observed how the captain and other people acted. Jim compared the country people to him. He saw that the captain was very rude and coarse. The local people were terrified of him. That's because the captain used curses and showed weapons that made the people freeze. Jim thought these moments were entertaining. Even if it sent people home with the horrors.The life was usually boring there anyway. Jim also compared the captain to doctor Mr.Livesy. He noticed how pleasant and polite the doctor was to their guest. The captain with his filthy coat and rudeness was very different from the doctor. Also, how calm and educated the doctor was in talking than the captain with his weird speaking. Then, Jim compared Dr.Livesy to the people who lived near the admiral bow. The people were scared of the captain unlike the doctor who seemed to be braver than the rest of the group. He eventually got the captain to be afraid of him! So that meant the captain had to be polite or he'll regret that he was ever rude to the people. Jim also found that Blackdog and the captain were very pirate like. Both had gone to sea and are rough people.

Jim seemed to like the captain being at their place and the captain seemed to have a liking to him. Jim used lots of details to make it easy for me to see how he saw each person. I think it's good to observe the things around you.That's because you need to know all the things that are going on in life.

Read more of Grace's writing

Letter to Jeanette Ingold: Author of "Mountain Solo"

By Vanessa : a 6th grader

Dear Jeanette Ingold,
“I pulled my bow in a quick down stroke and heard a discordant tone tear out raw and wrong. That’s what I kept remembering. How once I’d played that note so badly, there was no way to get it back…” - Mountain Solo
The images and memories shone sparkled crystal clear and bright as I read the line from your book, imagining the scene, remembering the mistakes I’ve made on my own violin. There were times when I’d get frustrated when a beautiful sound didn’t come out. How I’d practice and practice until the pitch was perfect, the notes floating in the breeze. How would I know that soon I’d become one of the 6th grade’s best violin players.
I started learning about music and playing the piano when I was four, and grew passionate for the violin at age eight. Like Tessie, I wanted to do other things, such as hanging out with friends. I was not the most confident person in the class, always shy. I never really believed in myself, being unsure and unsafe in this crazy world.
As I started growing older, I had more tests, homework, violin, and piano. There didn’t seem to be time to relax, or do things like going to the movies anymore. My confidence started to lack; my heart sagged over time. Similar to Tess’s, my mom made some life decisions for me. Life was like a train, passing by so rapidly; you could hardly see it before your eyes.
Frederik, the German pioneer was a different story. Brought up by his uncle, he played the fiddle through the hard and good times. Frederik was Tess’s inspiration to pick up the violin again, like how Tess inspired me to keep going, even when things turn out wrong. The sun will always shine again tomorrow. The past is the past, and you need to focus on the future.
Tess and I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes. That finding your heart and soul from that mistake is most important. After reading Mountain Solo, I’ve felt more confident, strong, and ready to climb the mountain of life.
Thank you for writing Mountain Solo, a book that turned my world radiant, rejuvenated and full of confidence again. Mountain Solo helped me find my true self. And Tess is right. Finding your true self does take practice.
Sincerely,
V

Jim Hawkins in my View: By Eric: 6th grade

Jim Hawkins in my View

Jim Hawkins, the narrator of the story, is an interesting case. He is about twelve years old, and is not very courageous. I understand that you would need your parents since you are still a little immature, but I think Jim is a coward. He was scared by a one-legged seafaring man and drunken pirates. It showed signs of cowardice in him. Jim was in awe to the pirates (like Bill) and he wanted to be like them instead of his unexciting father. He lives in a different world than the pirates, and he wants to be one of them. I cannot imagine how you can be in awe of pirates, but not be frightened by them too.

Jim Hawkins is gullible. He gives out too much information to strangers like Black Dog. When Black Dog asked Jim where Bill was, he told him where he was and he never thought about if Black Dog was his friend or foe. He believed that Black Dog was Bill’s mate because Black Dog told him so.

I predict that in the future, Jim Hawkins will be the opposite of his father. He will not be scared of mangy old pirates or fearful ones like Long John Silver. I think that he will become a pirate because he always admired them. Jim Hawkins will live the life that he dreamed of.

Mt. Everest from Julia: 6th grade

Mount Everest

Standing 29,028 feet high, Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world and an ultimate world wonder. It is located on the border between China and Nepal in the Himalaya Mountains. To climb Mount Everest is a huge dream for many, but for every thirty people who attempt to climb Everest, one will die. About 150 people have died trying to reach their dreams, but since 1920, 600 people have been able to feel the pride and accomplishment of completing an ultimate goal.

On Everest, there are places where climbers can stay to rest called camps. The Base Camp is already at a higher altitude than most mountain peaks. By this point, climbers have already spent a month at lower altitudes preparing for the lower air pressure and the big journey ahead.

Camp I is at an altitude where climbers can’t fully adjust to the low air pressure no matter how long they stay there. This camp is used as a way station for climbing gear.

Camp II is found at an altitude of 21,500 feet. Many climbers spend time here to rest for the remainder of the climb ahead. This high above sea level, a person’s body muscles become smaller and the person is incapable of absorbing enough food, making the climber weaker.

Camp III is used as a quick rest station for climbers. After reaching this point, bottled oxygen is used to help climbers breathe more easily while climbing.

Camp IV is located at an altitude of 26,000 feet and is nicknamed the ‘death zone’. When a mountaineer reaches this camp, his or her judgment and mental abilities don’t function the way that they normally would. Here, climbers can also lose interest in eating and drinking because of the lack of oxygen. The less time you spend at this altitude, the better.

The Khumbu Icefall is the most dangerous part of the climb. It is actually a glacier containing deep chasms and massive ice blocks.

Finally, a climber reaches the summit. The summit of Everest is the place where the climber feels the greatest sense of accomplishment, but this just happens to be the point where the climber’s strength diminishes at an alarming rate. A climber can only produce 1/5 of the amount of work and energy that they can when they are at sea level. At sea level 8% of the body’s work capacity is used for breathing, but at this high altitude breathing takes up to about 50% of the body’s energy.

As you can see, lack of oxygen and breathing problems are huge risks in an Everest expedition, but many more dangers take place on this treacherous hike. Many hikers suffer from frostbite from the extremely cold weather and some still have scars. People also fall victim to snow blindness. Snow blindness is caused from the sunlight reflecting on the snow, generating a dangerous bright light. Sunburn from the blazing sun is also another danger. Additionally, violent coughing may occur as climbers breathe the frigid air. But, as you may know, the amount of oxygen that you can breathe is probably the biggest problem. Less oxygen enters the lungs at high altitudes. Scientists think that bottled oxygen can really help a climber’s breathing, especially above 24,000 feet elevation.

Scientists recommend that climbers should hike slowly and that they should not hike over 1000 to 2000 feet per day at high elevations so that the climbers can get used to lower air pressure.

Yes, there are many dangers climbing Mt. Everest, but those will not deter Tom Whittaker from completing his dream. Tom is training really hard to become the first disabled climber to reach Everest’s summit. He will attempt his climb this spring. Because of a car accident, doctors amputated his right foot in 1979. He now has an artificial foot but he keeps on training harder and harder. Whittaker has already attempted to climb Everest two times, once in 1989 and the other in 1995, where he ended up back in the base camp due to weather difficulties and illness. He continues to persevere because his friend told him that “third time’s the charm”. As a result, this spring will be Whittaker’s third and final attempt to tackle Mt. Everest, the high peak of the world.

Robert Louis Stevenson: Garden of Verses

A Child's Garden of Verses : By Robert Louis Stevenson

The Land of Nod

From breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.

All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do--
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.

The strangest things are these for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.

Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.

Assignments For This Week

For the week of Nov. 10th

1: Read Treasure Island

Fifteen men on the dead man's chest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!

Before you begin, read the author's biography first. Here is a short, nice introduction to Robert Louis Stevenson.
Read chapter I - III for this week. Write a one page report on that. Be creative. Since we're all reading the book, you don't need to summarize for us; instead, write about something that intrigues you about the book - the settings, the plot, your reactions, and any predictions for the rest of the novel.

This is our long-term project. Please don't rush through the chapters. We'll gain more insight if we take time to enjoy the book. We'll meet two or three times in-between to discuss the book. One or two parents will be on site to monitor the flow of the discussions. You all need to read the book thoroughly so that you can answer the basic comprehension as well as the more difficult character analysis questions. If you do an adequate job, we can play games and puzzles afterwards, since you all seem to enjoy them.

II: Write at least one journal entry each week.

For this week, your journal entry should either be about sports or about events taking place in your life.

III: Make three comments on three journal entries of your choice.

Lindsey, a high school freshman from Roy C. Ketcham, will also help us run the young writer's club.

Writing Assignments: On Parental Love

Homework: Take a look at this chart. "Three Types of Parenting".

Have your child read the essay and poem here from past Regents' test and decide which parenting style(s) each piece describes. Write some comments on them.

Three Types of Parents : by Grace (a fifth grader)

The Three types of Parents article provides a way to find out what kind of parent your parents are. The various parents are consultant, helicopter, and drill sergeant parents. The chart is about what each variety of parent is like.
A consultant parent is a very kind parent. The parent keeps the child feeling strong. Consultant parents can help their children with a problem without giving them the solution. This parent let's the child be his or her own teacher. The parent can guide their child through life in a good way. This type of parent can use words without actions and still keep their child feeling happy. I would love to have a consultant parent.
A helicopter kind of parent is very overprotective of their child. This parent tells their child about their weaknesses. The parent acts as the teacher and makes the child's decisions. The helicopter parent complains to their child. The parent uses actions more than words in a way that would not make the child feel positive. I would not want this type of parent.
The last of the three types of parents is the drill sergeant type of parent. This parent is like a general in an army. The parent orders the child to do what the parent wants them to do. Also, this parent makes the child’s decisions. This parent gives orders and uses threats and harsh words. The drill sergeant type of parent acts as the child's teacher, but uses pain and humiliation. I would never want this type of parent. I have seen this type of parent before, however. He was a soccer coach. He was screaming orders to his players. I could see and hear him yelling througout the entire game.
I used this chart to see which type of parent my parents were. Mom had 9 consultant votes, 1 helicopter vote, and 1 drill sergeant vote. My mom is therefore a consultant parent. My dad had 6 consultant votes, 1 helicopter vote, and, unfortunately, 4 drill sergeant votes. I must honestly say that my dad does sometimes use pain and harsh words. As a result, dad was a consultant parent but still a bit of a drill sergeant. I still love him since he is my dad.
I was glad that both of my parents were consultant parents.

Go to Grace's site to read more of her entries as well as make some comments on her work.
Posted by AquaFairy at 10:30 AM

The Open Window: Short Story by Saki

First Meet:
Read the short Story: The Open Window by Saki

Our kids' summery:

Eric L. ( a fifth grader ): The Open Window starts with a man named Framton Nuttel who moves from the city to a rural area. His sister gives him letters of introduction to all of the people in the area whom she’s acquainted with before he moves, because he is shy and avoids excitement.
Nuttel knocks on a door of a woman called Mrs. Sappleton. When the door opens, Mrs. Sappleton’s niece comes and tells him that her aunt will be arriving shortly. They make conversation and the niece (Vera) finds out that he does not know much about any of the locals. She decides to play a trick on Framton. She invents a story about her aunt, claiming that she experienced a tragedy. In Vera’s version of her family history, her aunt’s husband and her two brothers went out to hunt when they were trapped in the bog. No one ever found their bodies, but Mrs. Sappleton always opened the window because she thought they would come back some day with the brown spaniel that had gone with them.
Mrs. Sappleton then comes into the room and starts talking about weird things, like shooting and lack of birds, and the prospect of ducks in the winter. It becomes torture for Framton, and he makes a desperate attempt to change the subject, but fails. She keeps looking at the window as if she expects her husband and brothers to come back from hunting. Time passes and then the three people come back from hunting. Framton, thinking they are ghosts, bolts from the room, taking his things with him. Everyone is baffled except Vera ,who calmly says that Framton told her that he was afraid of dogs, and that the spaniel probably scared him.

Grace (a fifth grader ): My summary is about a short story called The Open Window. It is at Mrs.Sappleton's home. A man named Framton Nuttel just moved there and was now in one of the rooms. Since Mrs.Sappleton wasn't there just yet , Vera , her niece began to speak with him. Vera talked about a tragedy three years ago. It was about an open window. Mrs.Sappleton's husband and brothers went out hunting, but they never came back. Soon after Vera had spoken, Mrs.Sappleton came bustling into the room with dozens of apologies for being late. Mrs.Sappleton also explained the open window and that her husband and brothers always went in and out that way. Suddenly, Vera had a strange look, she was looking out the open window as Mrs Sappleton's husband and brothers came back from their hunt. Framton was freaked out when they came for he thought they were ghosts and fled.When Mrs.Sappleton's husband arrived at the window he asked why Framton fled. Mrs.Sappleton said that he thought he saw a ghost.Vera replied that it was the spaniel that frightened Framton away for he once was chased by a pack of pariah dogs. That is the story of The Open Window.

Welcome to our blog

Introduction: This blog contains the work and talents of our circle students. It shows students' writings, art work, photographs, and maybe videos of what they enjoy doing. Any student of either the math circle or the literature circle can contribute to this blog. Enjoy!!!!