On Thursday, February 17, 2000, Eaton Elementary went to Flint Center at De Anza College to see Dragon 2000, produced by Chinese Performing Artist. We learned that demons are afraid of lions and loud sounds and that there are over 300 different kinds of martial art techniques. The first thing the martial artists performed was called Preying mantis 32 Stars, the second was something performed with an old Chinese hammer, and the third was called Martial Arts Explosion. Before that, though, they did Lion Dance, and after the lady talked some more while the performers caught a breath for Dragon Dance. The dance was spectacular. The dragon glowed in the black light as it twisted around the stage, chasing the sun.
[My continually improving descriptive ability shows that it went to the next level between 2nd and 3rd grade. "The dragon glowed in the black light as it twisted around the stage, chasing the sun." I don't think I could improve that too much even now. This descriptive nature has become a very large part of my style and I still feel it is something that I use all the time. The next step from 3rd grade would be descriptive with stamina, being strong in my descriptions through the whole assignment instead of just a little here and there.]
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Excerpts from My Pioneer Journal (journal only)
My Trip with Martin Murphy
May 8, 1844
Dear Journal,
My friend gave me you so that I won’t be bored. We bring the lightest stuff we can, but still be able to survive for a long time. I think we’ll meet a friendly Indian or two. I brought 10 stuffed animals, a sewing kit, and an assortment of books.
June 9, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Platte River was medium to cross. My dad made a log raft to pull us across. Our horses loved the cross. I did, too. I love so much that in the middle I jumped off and swam across the rest of the way. It took us one hour, but it took the whole train one week to cross.
July 12, 1844
Dear Journal,
I’ve liked the trip so far. When I first saw the Indians I stuck out my head and smiled. I feel excited to keep going. I had vegetables for dinner. I went away before something happened around the campfire except eating. I think the rest of the trip will get more and more exciting, fun, and adventurous.
August 14, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Rocky Mountains are the biggest mountains I have ever seen. They are spectacular. All the animals I’ve seen so far were ones I don’t know the names of. The Indians have treated us well. They gave us stuff but wouldn’t take anything in return. I have tasted many new things on the trail. My dad has shot animals for everybody to eat.
September 16, 1844
Dear Journal,
I thought I was going to die of thirst. I only had two drops of water a day! When I saw the river, I jumped in and drank and drank and drank. Some cups were taken by the Indians in the night. I think that they took the cups because they are so poor.
October 23, 1844
Dear Journal,
2 animals are left for pulling wagons. I had to leave my favorite pot because it was too heavy. It was very cold outside. I was so cold that I was all wrapped up. I have jerky left. I felt happy when I neared the end of my trip and when I saw Ft. Sutter.
[ During this project, I learned the vital skill of keeping your thoughts short and concise. I think that I learned that talent a little better than my teacher had intended, but I think I have grown out of that too short phase. Even if I no longer keep m writing this short per assignment, the ability to do so in certain circumstances is incredibly useful and this writing assignment taught me to vary lengths depending upon the assignment. I may have slightly misjudged the length the entries should have been, but at least I didn't ramble on and on for 1000 words each time.]
May 8, 1844
Dear Journal,
My friend gave me you so that I won’t be bored. We bring the lightest stuff we can, but still be able to survive for a long time. I think we’ll meet a friendly Indian or two. I brought 10 stuffed animals, a sewing kit, and an assortment of books.
June 9, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Platte River was medium to cross. My dad made a log raft to pull us across. Our horses loved the cross. I did, too. I love so much that in the middle I jumped off and swam across the rest of the way. It took us one hour, but it took the whole train one week to cross.
July 12, 1844
Dear Journal,
I’ve liked the trip so far. When I first saw the Indians I stuck out my head and smiled. I feel excited to keep going. I had vegetables for dinner. I went away before something happened around the campfire except eating. I think the rest of the trip will get more and more exciting, fun, and adventurous.
August 14, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Rocky Mountains are the biggest mountains I have ever seen. They are spectacular. All the animals I’ve seen so far were ones I don’t know the names of. The Indians have treated us well. They gave us stuff but wouldn’t take anything in return. I have tasted many new things on the trail. My dad has shot animals for everybody to eat.
September 16, 1844
Dear Journal,
I thought I was going to die of thirst. I only had two drops of water a day! When I saw the river, I jumped in and drank and drank and drank. Some cups were taken by the Indians in the night. I think that they took the cups because they are so poor.
October 23, 1844
Dear Journal,
2 animals are left for pulling wagons. I had to leave my favorite pot because it was too heavy. It was very cold outside. I was so cold that I was all wrapped up. I have jerky left. I felt happy when I neared the end of my trip and when I saw Ft. Sutter.
[ During this project, I learned the vital skill of keeping your thoughts short and concise. I think that I learned that talent a little better than my teacher had intended, but I think I have grown out of that too short phase. Even if I no longer keep m writing this short per assignment, the ability to do so in certain circumstances is incredibly useful and this writing assignment taught me to vary lengths depending upon the assignment. I may have slightly misjudged the length the entries should have been, but at least I didn't ramble on and on for 1000 words each time.]
Excerpts from My Pioneer Journal (with teacher prompts)
My Trip with Martin Murphy
[Tomorrow your family is leaving Missouri to travel to California. Martin Murphy is organizing the wagon train. There are 26 people and 13 wagons. Captain Stephens is leading this group of pioneers out west to a land unknown. You will have many adventures along the way.
Tell me about your family. Who gave you this journal? Share your feelings about this adventure. What will you miss most about your home? Do you think you will run into Indians? What are you packing in the covered wagon? What kind of food will your family bring? Will you bring toys or books? Remember you can’t make the wagon too heavy.]
May 8, 1844
Dear Journal,
My friend gave me you so that I won’t be bored. We bring the lightest stuff we can, but still be able to survive for a long time. I think we’ll meet a friendly Indian or two. I brought 10 stuffed animals, a sewing kit, and an assortment of books.
[You have been gone a few weeks. Today you crossed the Platte River. Choose which way you came across with your wagon train. Did you use your wagon as a boat to carry the women, children, and supplies across? If you did, then you took off your wagon wheels, and your wagon-boat was guided through the water. A second way was in shallow water, the oxen pulled the wagons across. In a third way, the men made a raft of logs and the covered wagons rode across on the raft.
In your journal, tell how it felt to cross the river. Were you afraid? Were your oxen afraid of the water? Did you fall in? If so, did you know how to swim or did
someone save you? Was the water rough or easy to cross? Did your wagon get stuck in the mud? How long did it take your wagon to get across, and then how long for the entire wagon train?]
June 9, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Platte River was medium to cross. My dad made a log raft to pull us across. Our horses loved the cross. I did, too. I love so much that in the middle I jumped off and swam across the rest of the way. It took us one hour, but it took the whole train one week to cross.
[You have been traveling for about three months. On your trip, you have run across Indians, but they have been friendly. You have sneaked back to your wagon to write in your journal.
How has the trip been so far? What did you do when you first saw the Indians? How do you feel this evening? Are you tired? Are you bored or exited about your adventure? What did you have for dinner? Did you sing songs or did you hear stories around the campfire? Did someone play their fiddle or guitar while everyone sang? Do you have any predictions about what is going to happen?]
July 12, 1844
Dear Journal,
I’ve liked the trip so far. When I first saw the Indians I stuck out my head and smiled. I feel excited to keep going. I had vegetables for dinner. I went away before something happened around the campfire except eating. I think the rest of the trip will get more and more exciting, fun, and adventurous.
[You have been traveling for four months now. You have seen many Indians and animals. You are slowly crossing the Rocky Mountains, the biggest mountains you have ever seen. You have had to work very hard to get this far.
What do you think about these big mountains? What animals have you seen so far? How have the Indians treated you? Did you do any trading with the Indians? If so, what did you give them and what did you get in return? Have you picked any berries on the trip? Has someone brought you any animals that they have shot for your to eat? Have you tasted any new foods along the trail.]
August 14, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Rocky Mountains are the biggest mountains I have ever seen. They are spectacular. All the animals I’ve seen so far were ones I don’t know the names of. The Indians have treated us well. They gave us stuff but wouldn’t take anything in return. I have tasted many new things on the trail. My dad has shot animals for everybody to eat.
[Today, you have made it to the Mary’s River (today called the Humbolt River.) You have had to cross 100 miles of land with very little water. It’s now late summer and very hot. You have survived with very little water. Today you have made it to a big river which you will follow across the desert to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Indians here, while friendly, are very poor. A few try to sneak into your camp at night to steal things. A few things are gone in the morning, but you did not see who took your things.
How did it feel crossing so much land with very little water? How much water did you have to drink each day? How did you feel being so hot and thirsty? What did you do when you say the large river? What did you do to celebrate having water again? What things were taken in the night? Who do you think stole them? Why?]
September 16, 1844
Dear Journal,
I thought I was going to die of thirst. I only had two drops of water a day! When I saw the river, I jumped in and drank and drank and drank. Some cups were taken by the Indians in the night. I think that they took the cups because they are so poor.
[You have lost some animals and your wagons are too heavy for the remaining animals to pull up over the steep mountain. You have to leave most of your possessions behind. It is very cold in the mountains, but it hasn’t snowed yet. You are near the end of the trip and low on food. Finally, you make it. You have arrived at Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento.
How many animals do you have left to pull the wagon? What things do you have to leave behind? How cold is it in the mountains? How do you keep warm? What do you have left to eat? How do you feel that you are so near the end of your trip? What do you do when you finally see Ft. Sutter?]
October 23, 1844
Dear Journal,
2 animals are left for pulling wagons. I had to leave my favorite pot because it was too heavy. It was very cold outside. I was so cold that I was all wrapped up. I have jerky left. I felt happy when I neared the end
of my trip and when I saw Ft. Sutter.
[Tomorrow your family is leaving Missouri to travel to California. Martin Murphy is organizing the wagon train. There are 26 people and 13 wagons. Captain Stephens is leading this group of pioneers out west to a land unknown. You will have many adventures along the way.
Tell me about your family. Who gave you this journal? Share your feelings about this adventure. What will you miss most about your home? Do you think you will run into Indians? What are you packing in the covered wagon? What kind of food will your family bring? Will you bring toys or books? Remember you can’t make the wagon too heavy.]
May 8, 1844
Dear Journal,
My friend gave me you so that I won’t be bored. We bring the lightest stuff we can, but still be able to survive for a long time. I think we’ll meet a friendly Indian or two. I brought 10 stuffed animals, a sewing kit, and an assortment of books.
[You have been gone a few weeks. Today you crossed the Platte River. Choose which way you came across with your wagon train. Did you use your wagon as a boat to carry the women, children, and supplies across? If you did, then you took off your wagon wheels, and your wagon-boat was guided through the water. A second way was in shallow water, the oxen pulled the wagons across. In a third way, the men made a raft of logs and the covered wagons rode across on the raft.
In your journal, tell how it felt to cross the river. Were you afraid? Were your oxen afraid of the water? Did you fall in? If so, did you know how to swim or did
someone save you? Was the water rough or easy to cross? Did your wagon get stuck in the mud? How long did it take your wagon to get across, and then how long for the entire wagon train?]
June 9, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Platte River was medium to cross. My dad made a log raft to pull us across. Our horses loved the cross. I did, too. I love so much that in the middle I jumped off and swam across the rest of the way. It took us one hour, but it took the whole train one week to cross.
[You have been traveling for about three months. On your trip, you have run across Indians, but they have been friendly. You have sneaked back to your wagon to write in your journal.
How has the trip been so far? What did you do when you first saw the Indians? How do you feel this evening? Are you tired? Are you bored or exited about your adventure? What did you have for dinner? Did you sing songs or did you hear stories around the campfire? Did someone play their fiddle or guitar while everyone sang? Do you have any predictions about what is going to happen?]
July 12, 1844
Dear Journal,
I’ve liked the trip so far. When I first saw the Indians I stuck out my head and smiled. I feel excited to keep going. I had vegetables for dinner. I went away before something happened around the campfire except eating. I think the rest of the trip will get more and more exciting, fun, and adventurous.
[You have been traveling for four months now. You have seen many Indians and animals. You are slowly crossing the Rocky Mountains, the biggest mountains you have ever seen. You have had to work very hard to get this far.
What do you think about these big mountains? What animals have you seen so far? How have the Indians treated you? Did you do any trading with the Indians? If so, what did you give them and what did you get in return? Have you picked any berries on the trip? Has someone brought you any animals that they have shot for your to eat? Have you tasted any new foods along the trail.]
August 14, 1844
Dear Journal,
The Rocky Mountains are the biggest mountains I have ever seen. They are spectacular. All the animals I’ve seen so far were ones I don’t know the names of. The Indians have treated us well. They gave us stuff but wouldn’t take anything in return. I have tasted many new things on the trail. My dad has shot animals for everybody to eat.
[Today, you have made it to the Mary’s River (today called the Humbolt River.) You have had to cross 100 miles of land with very little water. It’s now late summer and very hot. You have survived with very little water. Today you have made it to a big river which you will follow across the desert to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Indians here, while friendly, are very poor. A few try to sneak into your camp at night to steal things. A few things are gone in the morning, but you did not see who took your things.
How did it feel crossing so much land with very little water? How much water did you have to drink each day? How did you feel being so hot and thirsty? What did you do when you say the large river? What did you do to celebrate having water again? What things were taken in the night? Who do you think stole them? Why?]
September 16, 1844
Dear Journal,
I thought I was going to die of thirst. I only had two drops of water a day! When I saw the river, I jumped in and drank and drank and drank. Some cups were taken by the Indians in the night. I think that they took the cups because they are so poor.
[You have lost some animals and your wagons are too heavy for the remaining animals to pull up over the steep mountain. You have to leave most of your possessions behind. It is very cold in the mountains, but it hasn’t snowed yet. You are near the end of the trip and low on food. Finally, you make it. You have arrived at Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento.
How many animals do you have left to pull the wagon? What things do you have to leave behind? How cold is it in the mountains? How do you keep warm? What do you have left to eat? How do you feel that you are so near the end of your trip? What do you do when you finally see Ft. Sutter?]
October 23, 1844
Dear Journal,
2 animals are left for pulling wagons. I had to leave my favorite pot because it was too heavy. It was very cold outside. I was so cold that I was all wrapped up. I have jerky left. I felt happy when I neared the end
of my trip and when I saw Ft. Sutter.
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