Make an observation (or two or three) and put your findings here. Try to engage your senses (not only commenting on what you see, but also on what you touch, hear, smell . . .) when making the observation and try (although this may be hard) to find something that you have not noticed before. Look carefully!
More information arising from our class discussion:
Learn to use the dash: Making the Dash Work for You (worksheet; teacher writing sample)
Learn to use the semicolon: Using the Semicolon (Wisely and Well)
Avoiding Run On Sentences (PowerPoint; clearly explained)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
Crows, it seems, are the first birds to notice that the Mountain Ash berries are ripe on my front yard tree. They look a little ridiculous, almost collapsing the laden branches while pecking at the delicious, orange-red berries.
Decaying tomato vines have a distinctive odour, one I'm glad to dispose of in tomorrow's green bin collection!
-Online notebook, Sept. 24-Oct.1:
Until now whenever fall comes, I love to go outside and step on fallen leaves. Especially when they’ve been dried so long that sounds are as if the baby crumpling the paper, but not so loud, and yet so soft to hear—I love the sounds. They’re so lovely, and when you get a chance to step on fallen leaves, you’ll instantly fall in love with stepping on fallen leaves. . .
78 words.
I took a walk today with my dog (actually he lead me) down a street near my home, where I've walked before. But the cool, fall weather today (it was just before the rain shower came) with the overcast sky made the street look almost magical. The trees, grass and dry leaves smelled so wonderfully fresh and invigorating! The street was quiet and the large houses looked so warm and inviting with their lit, old-fashioned lamp posts.
While watching the television—predator and prey, a tiger eating a zebra—my seven year old nephew asked me a very common question, “What animal would you like to be?” He asked. The question was easy enough that I could’ve just blurted out some animal, like a tiger or an eagle perhaps, but I decided to pause and thought of it for a few seconds. Usually, most us would choose an animal superior to others like the king lion or the immense and mighty elephant, the loyal dog or the sweet cat and a very few (and none that I know of) would choose my most favourite animal in the world—“I am a Sloth,” I replied.
You must be now wondering. Why would I compare myself to the slowest mammal on earth, in fact, the sloth is too slow that algae grows on them. They are not very pleasant looking either. They cling on treetops and sleep for about 15-20 hours a day. Most of the time they remain inert— even when awake. The most important reason why one would not compare himself to a sloth is because the Holy Bible used the word “sloth” as a synonym for the word sin.
Aside from the permanent grin on their face,and despite of the “sloth stereotypes”, I still like them. It is not their fault to be lethargic—they don’t posses enough muscle to move like other animals of the same weight. Every movement they make burns a large amount of the very minimal energy they have. They also have weak hind legs. The Creator created them that way for a reason. They move only when they need to, they sleep because they have to, or have nothing else to do. They use what the Creator granted them. They use their sharp claws to grip on branches and, if necessary, to defend themselves. When finding food, they use the advantage of having an extra neck vertebrae that allows them to turn their heads some 270 degrees. And of course, they use their filthy, furry coat to accommodate the algae that serves as camouflage against their predators. Sloths, unlike most of us, are living their lives using their full capabilities!
“What’s a sloth?” My nephew asked. “Is it a dinosaur?”
Wow, marc... very nice information about sloth, I now have a new view of sloth... Thank you for sharing the info with us...
In a place where getting through each day is already a tough task; in a place where finding clothing, food and shelter (in a decent, fair, and honest way) is already an heroic act—who needs a hero? In the midst of the calamity, brought by typhoon “Ondoy”, that devastated thousands of Filipinos last September 26, 2009, my fellowmen proved that heroes are amongst them, within them.
Ordinary citizens stepped out from their comfort zones, volunteered and dirtied their hands, some even risked their lives. Even for a short period of time, the wealthy, the bourgeois and the poor were one and the same—Filipinos. For a while, politicians put politics aside and remembered that they are public servants. Rants turned into prayers. Soldiers laid down their weapons and replaced them with spades. Flying bullets halted; firing guns ceased. From my flat-screen television, I watched them unbury their love ones from the ground, and mourn. While sitting on my soft and comfortable couch and drinking my freshly brewed coffee, I watched them eat, rest and sleep on the dump ground. While indulging in the luxury of having an electric heater, I watched them shiver, grind their teeth in their cold, weathered, houses. Right on my T.V screen, I watched the kind of Filipinos that I thought doesn’t exist, Filipinos that I thought I could only read in History books. The values of the Filipinos of the past manifested at the Filipinos of the present. How I wish I could be a part of it, all of it—from tragedy to glory.
I have become aware of social status of dogs: household canine pets use to have a dog’s life, basically lived outdoors, winter their coats became thicker, some where lucky enough to have doghouses or basement furnace area, a very different status nowadays. I recently witnessed a smart looking terrier head and tail held high on leash heading up Sixth Street. As I passed, I thought if that dog could talk he would say “step aside I’m taking my master for a walk.” Jerry Seinfeld did a funny skit on Martians watching earth. The scenario dog leading man on leash …dog taking a poo, man picking up dog poo placing it in a bag and carrying it behind the dog ….so who do you think they deem to be boss on earth .
No touch,” mom says. “If you touch it will be ouch and you will have a time out. Okay?” Oliver nodded, as if he understood perfectly.
But, delicious sweet smell keeps calling him from the kitchen so that he couldn’t help but to peep at the yummy pie through the small window of burning hot oven.
“Grandma, grandma,” he is calling me pathetically as if I could rescue him from his confinement—he was sitting impatiently at the designated time out spot with frowning face. He must have gone too far.
The other day, as I was watching TV I kept finding myself turning around every now and then. I thought it was just someone walking by; turns out it was just a squirrels shadow as it leaped across the fence. It seems like these day active animals are always running around on the hunt for food. They’ll go from one end and back gathering there dinner. It sure looks like these clever rodents know what they're doing!
Post a Comment