The Lovely Bones

Look at the very first page of the novel.  No, not page 1.  Look before that.  There is a page at the very beginning of the novel with a paragraph that reads like this:

Inside the snow globe on my father's desk, there was a penguin wearing a red-and-white-striped scarf.  When I was little my father would pull me into his lap and reach for the snow globe.  He would turn it over, letting all the snow collect on the top, then quickly invert it.  The two of us watched the snow fall gently around the penguin.  The penguin was alone in there, I thought, and I worried for him.  When I told my father this, he said, "Don't worry, Susie; he has a nice life.  He's trapped in a perfect world."


Think about that passage for a minute.

Answer the following questions in a paragraph:

What did Susie's father mean when he said the penguin was "trapped in a perfect world?"  Why does her father consider it perfect?

Think about what has happened to Susie.  Do you think she considers herself "trapped" in her heaven?  Do you think she sees it as a perfect world?  Explain your answer.

Parts of Speech Review

Last week we reviewed the 8 Parts of Speech.  Today, I would like to see what you know and remember.

Directions:  You will come up with the words below and then write a paragraph using the words you have come up with.

List the following words:  (you may use more than this, but you MUST use the ones you list below in the paragraph you write). 

10 Nouns:

5 Adjectives:

3 Adverbs:

2 Conjunctions:

3 Verbs:

2 Prepositions:

1 Interjection:

2 Pronouns:

After you have made your list, use the words you come up with to write a paragraph about anything you wish.  The paragraph MUST make sense, and it MUST use all of the words you have come up with above.

When you are through, publish your work.  Good luck!!

Your Bucket List

What Would You Do?

Stop putting your dreams off for "some day" . . . Take inspiration from the movie "The Bucket List" and ask yourself: If I had one year left to live, what would I be sure to do? Create a list of 100 things you want to do before you kick the bucket and start crossing items off your list, today.

Maybe you want to . . .

1. Write a script for a TV show
2. Do stand-up comedy
3. Write a children's book
4. Go camping
5. Ride a gondola in Venice
6. Learn how to salsa dance
7. Host Saturday Night Live
8. Visit a Renaissance fair
9. See the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
10. Witness a solar eclipse

It's never too early or too late to create a bucket list. So, whether you're 10 or 98, use this lens for inspiration and for guidelines on how to get started. You'll also find over 380 things you can consider adding to your bucket list (suggestions to get your creative juices flowing).

"Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed (98 3/4% guaranteed)." - Dr. Seuss

Your task today: You will create your own Bucket List on your class blog.  Click on the link above to get some ideas.  Then, go to your blog and start your post.  You will have the class period to write, so don't feel hurried.  Even if you don't finish today, you should have a good start by the time the period is over.  Your final Bucket List should have 100 things you would like to do before you die.  Use the title "My Bucket List." And in the labels at the bottom of the post box, type Bucket List.