The BFG

By Roald Dahl

In class we wrote about our book that we were reading and what character was the most interesting. Here is my interpretation of who I think is the most interesting character.

Sophie is a small 8 year old orphan who lives a sad life, until one night when a giant snatches her out of her window. But his giant does not eat her. He is a friendly giant called The Big Friendly Giant or the BFG. This character is instantly lovable because of his funny attitude and his cluelessness of our world. The most funny characteristic about him is how he talks. He has never been taught the English language, so he borrowed a book to teach himself. Because of this he often messes up his words which creates very funny mistakes.

Examples: Squoggle mispise dispunge snozzcumber filthing disgusterous sickable

Today we went out to the Morton Arboretum with 5th Grade. While there we took many pictures and our guide taught us a lot of facts about trees. Here are some pictures I took when hiking through the 1700 acre preserve.

A view of a small stream over a fallen deciduous tree

The skull of a predator, the fox

The sun creates a hard light to define the canopy of the forest

Focusing on the details of the tree, with a blurred environment

An upward view of an coniferous trees

We used this stump to break down the inner parts of a tree

Outer bark

Cambium-The layer that transports nutrients

Heartwood-The dry, oldest wood in the tree

        In class we have been writing stories about a specific moment in our lives. This type of writing is called a personal narrative. In this we learned how to write very specific detail and how to use imagery, a way to form a picture in someones mind. I hope you enjoy!

Casey

Grade 6

4/29/15

Slither

Signs dotted along the line, detailing what was ahead. People of all ages, waiting in the line. The line creaked forward, slowly moving as even more people joined the chain. Why were they waiting patiently in this boring line? The signs answered the question for me. Everyone was waiting to hold the snake.

I watched the long line of people, trying to decide if I should join them.

“I’m not so sure…” I muttered

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it,” Mom encouraged.

“Ummmm,” I said uncertainly

“I’m sure it won’t do anything to you,” she said with a smile

I sighed, “Fine…”

I took a deep breath and stepped into the line of people.

Half an hour of standing in a endless line. Finally the end of the line appeared in front of me. I could see the next person going up to the stand, and the instructor telling the woman in front of me what to do… And what not to do. I watched curiously as she stepped in front of the camera as the instructor told her to spread her arms. Then he lifted a hulking snake around her neck on her arms. I watched in awe as the huge snake slithered across her arms as the woman flinched. I waiting for my turn.

The instructor eventually lifted the green, slithering snake off the woman, and he let the snake onto his arms when he called me up. I couldn’t wait for my turn! When I got to the stand, he told me to hold the snake firmly and make sure to stay calm and to-

I can’t believe I’m gonna hold a giant snake! After this I’m going to tell all of my friends about this and how enormous it was and-

“Kid, do you know what kind of snake this is?”

I thought for a second, “No.”

“Well, this snake is an anaconda!” he emphasized enthusiastically.

“Wait, an anaconda?” I replied confused.

“Yup, now step onto the stand,” he said obliviously.

By this point I was panicking. I knew the deadly reputation these snakes had, and how they choked their prey to death and slowly digested them. He was going to put this reptile around my neck! He directed me to spread my arms, so I reluctantly raised them. The slithering beast was calmly raised onto my arms. I closed my eyes with worry as a heavy weight was laid across my arms and the back of the neck.

Marble smooth, slimy scales touched my skin. I could feel it slither slightly as it was set down. I gripped one hand around each side. The next thing I felt was an insanely heavy load on my arms. Even though I was ten, I couldn’t hold it on my own. The instructor was right behind me, helping me hold up the snake. I could feel a grin slowly growing across my face. This was so awesome!

As guests of the ReptileFest passed by, they took their cameras out or whispered to one another or just watched the anaconda on me. Its green, slim head turned toward me. It had thin vertical pupils that stared, unblinking at my surprised face. I watched as its pink, moist tongue flicked in and out of its mouth.

I started to feel the great weight shifting to my left side. The instructor moved to the end of the long snake that was trudging away from me, and redirected it back. Its scales turned in my grasp as it moved. My arms were starting to get tired of feeling the scales, and holding the snake.

The instructor behind me lifted the beast off of me relieving my tired arms. I walked back to my mom, thinking of what I just experienced. Most of all I thought of why the snake had acted like that. It was so tame and calm which was not what I had pictured for an anaconda. I guess I shouldn’t have assumed about the reptile until I met it. As I walked away, I thought I would be careful in the future to make judgments about things ahead of time.

Our class has been doing a poetry unit in school. During this class we learned how to write different types of poems, such as haikus which are poems with 17 or less syllables. Each of us chose our 2 favorite poems:

Summer Fields: A Haiku

In the green grass fields

Staring up at the clouds

Plants already bloomed

By the Square House

Twisting and turning,

wrinkled and old

Its arms reach so high


Throwing sticks,

getting caught in its grasp

trying to get down


A sweet, elderly woman,

who owned the square house

left to unbeknownst land


My friend and I would spend all day,

playing games around its stump

losing track of time


But then there was a new family,

who owned the square house

came from unbeknownst land


One day,

we went out to play

but found only a stump


Our beloved tree was gone


Then we moved on,

left the memories behind

and continued forward


The friend I knew that held the same memories,

flew to an far away land,

where lions sleep, in the desert array


I wondered and walked,

in a swirling daze

and found myself back at the stump


I sat down on the former tree,

and put my head in my knees

Soccer Shot

Photo taken with Ethan and Casey

This photo was taken because we wanted to show our love of soccer as we are both serious and great players.