"Take My Word For It!" - creative writing for kids

Read it and eat! "Take My Word For It" writers featured in Edible East Bay magazine.

For the complete article, see:

http://www.ediblecommunities.com/eastbay/summer-2012/secret-recipes.htm

You Read it Here First! - Writing Excerpts from Joaquin Miller (Grades 3-5)

 

 

Exercise: "I Am From" poems

I am from eating cheeseburgers.
I am from going to school for the first time.
I am from a fossil.
I am from a sea cookie.
I am from going to my Grandma's house.
I am from clay materials.
I am from a piece of mango.

-Pearce, Joaquin Miller

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Exercise: Secrets on the Line

Once there was a dark-haired boy named Rudolph. He was a really nice boy with bright blue eyes. He was very poor and all by himself, and he had a secret: to survive he had to steal small things from stores. He really hated it, but he had no choice. If he needed clothes, he would cut off the alarm and hide them under his pants. If he needed food, he would eat it at the store when no one was looking. If he needed to use the bathroom, he went to Starbucks.

One day, Rudolph walked into a dark storage room in the back of his favorite store. A light bulb went on, and behind him he heard the store owner say, "You're going to jail, you shoplifter!"

"No," Rudolph said, "Please let me go. I'm an orphan."

"Well," said the store owner, "If you're an orphan, then I'll adopt you."

-Luke, Joaquin Miller

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Exercise: Secret Recipes

Secret Recipe for Epically Awesome Beast Mode

Ingredients:
One television, any variety
One video game console

Instructions:
Plug console into television. Turn on television. Use controller (not included) to turn on console. Result? Home theater!

Side Effects:
Awesomeness, possibility of seizure, tendency to not get homework done.

-Alex, Joaquin Miller

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Exercise: Secrets on the Line

My story begins like this. Every night, someone named Dr. Woods climbed out of his window, went to the forest, and hung out with his best friends. I lived right next door to Dr. Woods, and one night I saw a tree in the forest move. I thought it was my imagination, but then it walked up to my front door and rang the doorbell. I heard the door open, and Dr. Woods came into my house. I hid in the darkness of my room, but soon I heard a voice behind me: "Looking for someone?" it said. I was paralyzed.

-Marco, Joaquin Miller

 

 

 

Check Out Our After-School Class in Oakton, Virginia!

Did you know we have a class out in Virginia? Instructor Cathi Cohen heads our class of creative writing students on the East Coast. Take a look at what they've been up to!

By Katrina

I am from…

I am from loud brothers and sisters

I am from the vibrate of my phone

I am from fainting from blood

I am from my very weird/odd family

I am from the alarm in the morning

I am from my dog barking when I walk in the door

I am from my cat purring whenever I pet him

I am from county, pop, and rap music

I am from my friends cheering me up!

I am from gymnastics

I am from cheerleading

I am from soft ball

I am from my first upside down roller coaster

I am from King’s Dominion

I am from Ocean City

I am from snowboarding

I am from the Washington Redskins

I am from the Florida Gators

 

By Jessica

I remember…

I remember not fitting in, no one noticed me.

I remember watching the Titanic, hearing the bed creak as we wept.

I remember the lies that had been told to me, hearing the waves crashing against the shore, with my feet sinking into the sand.

I remember the forts I made.

I remember being the Indian with the teepee that collapsed on me while I was in it.

I remember Halloween night, the dark rose above. Hearing the kids say Trick-or-Treat.

I remember, “No, Jason, that’s the funny man”.

I remember,  “Jason. Jason.  JASON. We all have spoons.”

I remember fake sleepovers.

I remember getting locked in the car while everyone was at lunch, crying so hard that I didn’t have anything left.

I remember my first famous person concert at a nice place. 

I remember story telling, gossiping, and pranking until 2 in the morning with one of my BFFs.

I remember loud noises everyone made.

I remember telling baby stories at a sleep over.

I remember running around the room saying, “Doh” in kindergarten.

I remember getting lost in Disney World.

I remember, “Don’t touch this..that…NO not that, that.”

I remember the day I thought Dad and Sam were joking about missing my birthday.

I remember hilarious times at the old lunch table.

I remember soccer ball, basketball.

I remember not having a birthday party for three years.

I remember when it hit me, my sister was at college.

I remember our favorite song, then you grew up.

I remember the old me.

I remember my Dad crying on stage.

I remember Brownie.

 

By Bailey

I am from the voices that only I can hear.

I am from their screaming pounding in my ear.

I am from the stories that keep me up at night.

I am from the purring that makes me feel all right.

I am from the knocking that brings new games each beat.

I am from the blades that keep me on my feet.

I am from Ah La Crepes that I can eat and eat.

I am from the pictures that keep me on my chair.

I am from the music that plays when I’m not there.

 

By Emily

I like the number 2 because 2 + 2 = 22

I like the number 12 because that’s how many kids are in my writing class

I like the number 4 because 4 cookies and pieces of pie are better than ice cream

I like the number 83 because nobody thinks about it.  It’s quiet. Just like the way traffic should be.

 

By Lyana

I am from me, myself, and I.

I am from my humorous family and a crazy dog.

I am from my annoying brother or should I say “bother”, and

I am from the competitive water.

I am from the bees knees, and

From a girl who doesn’t like to say, “please”.

I am from a tom boy and Chips Ahoy.

I am from a creative artist.

I am from fantasies.

I am from animals but not baboons.

You might as well say, I come from buffoons.

I am from birds that love to sing.

I am from a person that keeps losing her things.

I am from a great life, the greatest one of all.

And from a writing group created by Sondra Hall.

 

By Tom

I remember my brother yelling out, “I’m Spider Man!”

I remember a green spider at my friend’s house.

I remember my brother reading me books upside down.

I remember having balloon wars with my friends.

I remember  Santa stomping on the roof.

I remember picture day at pre-school and saying, “Bubbles”.

I remember building igloos and my brother saying , “You’re not old enough”.

I remember warm pancakes in the morning.

I remember singing songs, and apostrophes in the 2^nd grade.

I remember playing  tag at lunch.

 

By Tommy

I remember I was four when I went Trick or Treating.

I remember I got a lot of candy from Trick or Treating.

I remember the older kids usually scaring me with their costumes.

I remember the first time on a roller coaster. I was really scared.

I remember going to Oakton the first time. I was shy.

I remember getting my X-box.

I remember playing laser tag, and I lost.

I remember going to Las Vegas. I saw lots of people.

I remember playing paint ball.

I remember the 4^th of July last year, so many fireworks.

 

By Tess

(in response to “Where Did It Come From and What Is It For?” looking at a lemon zester)

How many times have you had to write something but you didn’t have a pencil? Well that will never happen again with this new tech. It is a bluock.  It holds your pencils.  The little holes are where you stick the lead. You can fill all the holes or just a few.  There is also a little hole where you can put your belt though, as long as it’s small.  And I mean TINY! But, don’t let that minor set back keep you from ordering your own.  If you do have a small belt, you can have pencils wherever you go.  Although we cannot promise you your pencils will stay.  Brought  to you by Things You Will Never Need and Won’t Work Anyway.  This is worth $1 but we’re giving it to you for just $19.99.  Warning: Must be 18 or older to order.

 

By Kira

(in response to “Where Did It Come From and What Is It For?” looking at an onion fork)

The hair braider is amazing! You thread the hair through and twist. It even has a hair cutter.  You thread your hair through and move it back and forth.  Or you can just brush your hair.  If you push hard enough, you can shave. Yay! Viewer discretion is advised.

 

After-School at 18 Reasons

As the end of the year draws ever closer, our kids have started presenting their work to their parents during our after-school readings. Here are some of the stars from our Peanut Butter & the Pen curriculum at 18 Reasons:

 

Karam’s Alliteration:

            “Roast chicken rushes right off the rim of the real plate right into my tummy.”

 

 

Mady’s Recipe of Me:

            “1 piece of rock salt which means your life is full of flavor

            3 dill pickles which mean everything to me

            1 oxilion olive which I love

            Cheese!!!!!

            15 lemons

            75 cups of Judaism

            100 lbs of little

            2,000,000,000,000,000 cups of happiness”

 

Kaya’s Ode to the Potato Chip: 

            “You are crispy and salty

            like day breaking into night

            like a swan hitting the surface

            of the water after a long flight.

            You are waiting to crack and

            tell me your story, your accent

            is from tears, waiting to break free

            of the bag. Alas, I seize you in my hand.

            You are the center of my mind.”

 

Anaïs’s food love letter:

            “A chocolate cake is like crunchy, happy cherries.”

 

Ninive’s food love letter: 

            “Dear Chocolate

            It melts in my mouth.

            You are tasty. You have

            sugar and I love sugar.

            I love you because you

            are CHOCOLATE”

 

Ally’s Adjectives:

            “I love fish and chips. Fish and chips are so crunchy on the outside and moist and soft on the inside and it tastes delicious in soy sauce which is salty and sour.”

 

After-School Student Writing: Chabot Elementary

Interested in seeing what our students at Chabot have been up to this Fall?

Take a look at some of these excerpts!

Anna-

Writing about an Imaginary Walk in the Forest

When I was walking in an imaginary forest I saw a giant tree. I have 40 people in my class and everybody couldn’t even fit around it! Wow! Then I went on a path – it was spooky and dark. I was frightened. After I was walking for a while I saw a shiny gold  jeweled key. I picked it up and put it in my pocket...

 

Anna & Molly

Connor

Free-write: “A Day in the Life of a Window Washer”

To-do list

1. Eat breakfast of corn and syrup

2. Go to Chrysler Building

3. Clean bird poop of Miss Salmon’s window

4. At least get to the 5^th floor without acting scared of heights

5. Be sure to check safety band at every step.

6. Make that every half-step...

 

Sara-

Write about a dream or a nightmare of an ordinary object: TV remote

I gasped as I was shoved into the corner of the couch. I was pushed down into it for a very long time. It didn’t matter because my boyfriend, Seri, was shoved next to me. We had a quick kiss before I was yanked up. I groaned as my owner, Jhon, jabbed hi grubby fingers onto my buttons.

 

Sara

 

Justice

Write about a dream or a nightmare of an ordinary object: fork

To-do list

1. Go and get a cookie and milk

2. Go to the gym so I can fit into Uncle Spoon’s house to eat all of the good food on Thanksgiving

3. Go home and take a  nap

4. Call Uncle Spoon up to make Thanksgiving dinner at his house is still on. No? he said it wasn’t? No! My workout going to waste!

5. Wake up and tell myself it was only a dream

 

Justice

 

Molly

Writing about an Imaginary Walk in the Forest

The fence is at the same time shiny and new. It’s just short enough for me to jump over. Over the fence there was field full of fresh baked eclairs. I picked one up and ate it.

 

Sophia

Tony

Sara & Tony

After-School Student Writing: Commodore Sloat

We spark our memories with "I Remember Poems".

Take a look at what Jon-Pierre and Hannah from Commodore Sloat Elementary came up with:

I remember that one night I woke up with a doughnut in front of me.

I remember my cat laying on my lap and purring.

I remember the first time I started making hobbies.

I remember the first time I ate a churro at Six Flags.

-Jon-Pierre, 5^th grade

 

I remember when my Grandma died.

I remember when I went to mini golf.

I remember the first day of kindergarten.

I remember I was a flower girl.

I remember when no one wanted to play with me.

I remember that once I wanted to move to Mars.

I remember the first movie I watched.

-Hannah, 3^rd grade

 

After-School Student Writing: Sunset Elementary

Today we're featuring some creative writing gems from our after-school students at Sunset Elementary. Take a look at some of their pieces inspired by our Dream curriculum.

Kids Write About Dreams or Nightmares They've Had

A dream: There was a giant cello kind of rocking around San Francisco and then it turned into a lion. The lion was bigger than the skyscrapers! He started running down the Great Highway behind us! He got the back of the wheels in his mouth… (I woke up).

-Helena, 3^rd grade

A nightmare: I was surrounded by a lot of boys who wanted to smooch me. They all came in at once, and almost touched me, and then they all changed into elephants who tried to eat me. Then they turned into wolves that had shiny teeth. I woke up.

-Eleanor, 4^th grade

Free Write prompt:  What would you invent to make life better?

I would invent a small little trap to keep me and my family safe. I would put a small lego bucket with wheels on and put it in front of the window, then fill it with something sticky. Next, put a plastic fake piece of gold next to it, then the robber will go for it and slip on the bucket and we could hear the crash and call 911.

-Sakima, 4^th grade

I would invent Fling cars so there wouldn’t be traffic. I would also invent a pencil that could do your homework for you.

-James, 5^th grade

What would you invent to make life better? I asked my dad. He told me that he didn’t have to invent anything. He said life was perfect for all of us and nothing had to be changed or invented. I thought about what he said but I knew that our family was missing something. I didn’t know what was missing so I thought while I was sleeping, while reading, while eating and while playing video games. I thought so much that I lost every level on the game that I had to start all the way in the beginning. Then I thought, what about inventing cheat codes for any video game and a robot that does your homework for you and always feeds you your favorite snack and one that has a HD, DVD, BluRay, On Demand, Virtual and portable TV?

-Noel, 4^th grade

I would invent a passport that lets me go anywhere I want, a cool electronic backpack, a homework machine, and an electronic lunchbox that gives me whatever I want to eat.

-Sherry, 5^th grade

After-School Student Writing: Havens Elementary

At Havens we had all sorts of writing adventures. Here are some of them:

 

Alyssa

Compose a Metaphor

The moon is a big white rat sleeping in a ball.

 

Angela

Compose a Poem about your family using metaphors.

My mom is the changing sky from gray to blue

My dad is the funky balloon that floats next to me

My brother is the sour lemon that turns into sweet lemonade

One of my sisters is the American Flag that we need to respect but it floats around freely

The other sister is pictures on photo booth that have weird faces

My grandma is the warm blanket that you can hug

My grandpa is the wooden chair that is stable and holds you up

My house is the blanket that wraps around the sun

My family is the bundles of flowers that sometimes dry up or loose petals,

but always bloom in the sun.

 

Finn

Compose a Metaphor.

My mom and dad are helpful like a huge library giving me knowledge.

 

Jack

We learned about the ancient poetic form of praise: the Ode. 

Ode to Sleep

sleep

always

plays its game,

it follows you

to bed, it strikes at night

to its game it seems to

work every night. But at

morning if you try to

catch it, it has already

snuck away.

 

Jenna

"I Am From" Poem. Describe where you are "from" using memories, colors, textures, smells, etc.

I am from a rainbow up high

I am from beautiful spring flowers

I am from sweet soft fruit

I am from a soft warm blanket

I am from sweet candy

I am from good food

I am from a soft comfy bed

But most of all I am from a cozy, funny, loving family.

 

Jihae

We learned about the ancient poetic form of praise: the Ode.

Ode to Jellybeans

I love the sweet taste

of jellybeans the nice

way they feel inside

your mouth

I really like the red ones.

The pink taste just fine,

the orange delicious and

blue spectacular

All the jellybeans more and more

Rootbeer, bubblegum, licorice, too.

All of them swirling, twirling in my eyes.

 

Judge

Compose a Metaphor.

The moon is like burnt marshmallow with cheese.

Sadness is like an ogre that is mutated and weighs as much as twenty elephants.

 

Kyle

"I Am From" Poem 

I am from the living room watching The Simpsons

I am from the freezer full of ice cream

I am from outside on my BMX

I am from the dirt courses doing tricks

I am from the rush of the water ride at Legoland on my birthday

I am from the snowboard riding on the white hill with my uncle

I am from a good life.

 

Madeline

Compose a Metaphor.

Hufflepuff (a stuffed animal) is a threadbare couch

Stuffed full with kindness, patience, loyalty

Secure and warm

With sunlight streaming in

A fresh cooked meal

Just waiting to be wanted.

 

Margaret

Writing prompt: I reached into my pocket and found…

I reached into my pocket and found an orange, and yellow rock. It reminded me of the sun, the bright powerful sun that shines over us.

 

Mirabel

Compose a poem about your family using metaphors.

My dad is the glowing beam that flies above my head

My mom is the Easter egg of my life

My two brothers are small stars always protecting me

and my little sister is the tail of my family.

 

Will

Start your story with the line, "One day I received a mysterious letter…"

Once upon a time I got a mysterious letter and when I opened it a big flash of light and a loud voice screamed,"TACO TIME!"

I jumped back. The voice said, “YOU’VE JUST WON A LIFETIME SUPPLY OF TACOS AND SOUR PATCH ICE CREAM!” 

My jaw dropped. Then I heard a loud crash and I saw a huge flash of light and a giant portal opened up, so I stuffed my tacos and sour patch ice cream in a briefcase and jumped into the portal.

 

Yanela

Writing Prompt: I reached into my pocket and found…

I reached into my pocket and found a cloth and the cloth was folded. I unfolded it and it took a long time to unfold. I found a dress. A magic dress.

After-School Student Writing: Joaquin Miller

One of the things we did this session was explore dreams. In one favorite writing activity the kids wrote about an imaginary walk through the forest. Along the way we prompted them to write about their encounter with several things, among them a path; a key; a cup; a body of water; a shelter, etc. 

Marley (Walking through an Imaginary Forest exercise) 

I was walking in a forest, and I saw a huge bear lumber over to a little blackberry bush. Slowly, like magic, the fog turned into a gentle, damp shade of yellow. And that's when a fox appeared. For a moment, he roused the bear, who let out a roar that seemed to make everything freeze. In a low growl, the bear said, "The dark path is the way to Willow Grave. The light path is your destiny. Go." He turned, and I followed the light path.

A little later, I found a silver key about six inches long. I put it in my pocket and continued to walk. I began to wonder if the path would ever end, and just then I discovered a golden cup with a small latch made of rubies. It had a hole just big enough for the key, and I put the key into it. I set the cup and key in a circle of rocks, and instantly the rocks shattered, revealing a small stream that cut through the path. I splashed water on my face, filled the cup, and gratefully drank. Beyond the stream was a much bigger river, flowing silent and swift. Rocks dotted the shore. I flopped down in a patch of long, wavy grass, and soon I was peacefully asleep.

 

In this activity we learned how to use personification to write about the dream ( or the nightmare) of an oridinary object.

Alex

A Lightbulb's Nightmare

My owners, Guy and Girl, moved in and screwed me into the ceiling. That's when it started. There was a switch on the wall, and his name was Flippy.

"Yo Lightbulb!" called Flippy, "Hey, can't you hear?"

I replied, "How do you know my name?"

"Dunno," said Flippy, "Just kind of figured your name was Lightbulb."

Flippy started acting strangely that night.

"I know why you came here," he said. "You came because your family all broke and you want to get away from the past."

"Whoa," I said, "How did you know that?"

Flippy looked at me and said: "I know everything." Then he turned. "And I'm here for you, Lightbulb."

"Noooo!" I screamed.

The kids were invited to write about an imaginary world where the impossible becomes possible.

Lawrence (Dreams)

The Mustache People

The Mustache People live in New York, and all they want to do is stalk you. They'll hide in the back seat of your car, then they'll push you out when you're not looking. They like to eat people, but first they'll follow you through the streets, sometimes for 10 years at a time. If one of the Mustache People follows you, you might wake up to find him standing over your bed, watching you while you sleep. 

 

Katherine  (Dreams)

My picture is of a relaxing paradise. I am not finished yet, though the calm, quiet waves splash on my feet. I am on an island, and the sky is clear except for one cloud. The ground is smooth, silk sand. There are palm trees with hard coconuts that hold milk and sugar – the water inside tastes exotic. Colorful birds rule the sky, and frogs jump up and down all around me. Nearby is a river with fresh water and small fish, and around it are bushes with berries and nuts. I live in a tree house up in the sky with a beautiful view. I cook fish garnished with home-grown herbs, I roast meat in my kitchen, and I designed the tree house I live in with all natural resources. It's fun to hunt, gather, and plant, but best of all I can have many adventures.

 

After-School Student Writing: El Carmelo

Want to see what we're up to in our after-school class at El Carmelo? Here are some excerpts from Lia, Chris, Allen and Clara!  

Lia

(exaggeration poem) 

Harry the horse was so fast

that he went around the world in one day.

He galloped, whinnied, and jumped over a fence

so fast he had no time for hay.

When he passed by he was only a blur,

and his mane flew behind him like a flag.

People loved to watch him run,

and his owner did nothing but brag

 

Chris & Allen

(collaborative exaggeration poem)

I planted a redwood

and it started to grow.

It was extremely tall

so that people in planes

could see it trunk and all.

I tried to stop it growing,

but it was really, really sharp

and cut my hand off whole.

Only then did it finally start to slow.

 

Clara

(Walking through a Forest exercise)

I was walking through a dark, murky forest. There were green slugs, and the trees were covered with brown, rotting leaves. The air felt damp and hot, and I could hear my heart beating. Suddenly, the path I was following split. I stopped dead. One path was labeled "flower" and was covered in flowers. The other path was labeled "skull" and looked old. I chose the flower path. But I didn't know it was the bad one.

I kept walking and noticed a key floating above my feet. I picked it up and felt a tingling feeling through my arm. As it spread throughout my body, I noticed everything around me was spinning. I kept walking and soon found a plain, silver cup. This time I didn't dare pick it up – I still felt dizzy from the spinning.

As I continued walking, I found a patch of quicksand blocking my way. I tried to go around, but there wasn't any ending on either side. So I jumped, hoping I could swim through it. But it kept pulling me down, the sand getting thinner and thinner until I was going down in water. Then, suddenly, I was back up again. I was shivering all over. And I was in a whole different forest, with birds fluttering all around. A happy feeling washed over me, and I decided to take a nap. 

I woke up and continued walking, then fell into a ditch. When I recovered, I noticed that a clear roof had covered the ditch. There was a small hole that turned into a big hole, then into a tunnel. I decided to follow it since there was no other way out.

There was a light at the end of the tunnel, and I started running towards it. Outside, I saw a small, blue fence and a cute doll gate. I went through and stood in a field covered with all colors of poppies.