"Mistakes Were Made" Rewrite

The prisoner stood before the court and said, "Mistakes were made," and "I'm sorry for what happened."

"The way he puts it, you'd hardly guess that he had anything to do with that burglary," muttered the woman whose store he broke into.

Rewrite the prisoner's words, to more accurately reflect what really happened.

Expectations:

• at least 6-10 sentences
• correct capitalization & punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

Icky

What's icky?  Write 6-10 sentences describing 6-10 icky things.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization & punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

Great Truck

It was a great truck, a fantastic truck, the truck of Carter's dreams.  No one had ever seen a truck like it.  It made Carter so happy.

Describe his truck.

Expectations:

-6-10 sentences

-correct capitalization and punctuation

-stay on topic

-include details

Doubles

Write a paragraph that includes twenty words with double letters.  Examples:  poodle, peep, needle, better

Story Elements

Yesterday you learned the Elements of a Story:  Plot, Setting, Conflict, Character, Theme, and Point of View.  Thinking of the story elements, write a short story from the following prompt:
A child finds an extraterrestrial in her backyard.  It’s not E.T. Who is it?  What is it like?  What does the child do?  What happens?  Explain.

Expectations:

-6-10 complete sentences-correct capitalization and punctuation-stay on topic-include details

Why?

Why?  Why?  Why?  A four-year-old wants to know why chairs have four legs.  You explain that it is for balance.  "Why else?" she asks.  She won't stop asking "Why?"  until you help her think of every reason imaginable.

List all the reasons you come up with, both serious and fanciful.

Expectations:

• 6-10 sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

Urban, Suburban, Rural

On Wednesday we learned more about the differences between Urban, Suburban, and Rural.  Thinking about the physical and Human characteristics of each, which setting would you prefer to live in?  Why?  What type of job and recreational activities would you like to do in that setting?

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

Where were you?

We have now listened to 3 songs--including Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning"--based on a memorable event for all Americans living on September 11, 2001.  Today you are to write about an event that is memorable to you.  Be sure to include details and where you were when it occurred.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences

• correct capitalization and punctuation

• stay on topic

• include details

Perspective

Yesterday we listened to the song "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning" by Alan Jackson.  Although this song resonates with most people who experienced the events of 9/11,  you will see a different response or reaction from those who listen to it.  Write a description of what 5 different reactions might be.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• add details

Heroes

A hero is defined as "a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his/her life."  A hero doesn't have to be Superman, Batman, or Ironman.  We saw many heroes during the events of 9/11--firefighters, police officers, volunteers, strangers, etc.  Think about all the heroes in your life; it could be a parent, teacher, friend, etc.  Pick one of your heroes to write about.  Try to answer the 5w's in your writing.  (Who, What, When, Where, Why)

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences

• correct capitalization and punctuation

• stay on topic

• include details

Like a Needle in a Haystack

Like looking for a needle in a haystack is a descriptive phrase we have all heard.  Think of all the chaos caused from the twin towers collapsing.  Now imagine you have a loved one who worked in the towers and might be trapped inside the rubble and debris.  Describe how you might be feeling.  What might you be thinking?  Would you still have hope?

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences

• correct capitalization and punctuation

• stay on topic

• include details

Dear Body,

Pretend you are your foot after a long day of school and all of your after school activities.  Write a letter to your body explaining how you are feeling.

Remember how the format of a letter looks.

Expectations:

• 6-10 complete sentences
• correct capitalization and punctuation
• stay on topic
• include details

What does that say about you?

Writers can often tell something about a character by what the character says and how he says it.  

For example, if a 3rd grader walks into a classroom and says, with a little bow, “Good afternoon, Mrs. Lee.  I am extremely pleased to be attending your class today, and I wish you a successful and satisfying lesson,”  the reader knows that student is probably not your average, ordinary American child--at least not from this century.  

Try your hand at telling something about a character through his words, and how he says them.  Imagine each of the characters below and write out what each might say in turning down an offer to go on a fishing trip.

• A teenaged boy turns down his grandfather.
• A businessman eager for a promotion turns down his boss.
• A wife just back from her weekly trip to the spa for a styling and manicure turns down her husband.

Learning Style/Multiple Intelligence

How can you use your learning style(s) and multiple intelligence(s) to maximize your learning potential?


Expectations:

• Write 6-10 complete sentences 
• Use correct capitalization and punctuation
• Stay on topic
• Provide details