Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Chichen Itza (The snake and the sun)



I would like to go to Chichen Itza (chee-chan ee-sa) in Mexico. It is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is the last and greatest pyramid of Mayan temples. The Maya history started in 700 B.C and ended in 1500 A.D. Mayans are good weavers and potters. They built temples, and carved inscriptions on the wall. They made their own calendar, and they are smart with the sail and knew how to crop well, too.

According to, Mayan (my-ahn) history, there is a shadow on Chichen Itza staircase that looks like there is a squiggly snake descending the stairs on the first day of spring and fall. The squiggly snake on the staircase was a lucky sign/symbol for the Mayans. It meant the golden, yellow sun had entered, and it was time to plant corn. I think that is very interesting. It was built in 445 B.C.E. I would like to go because there is a spiral staircase inside, too.

Now, that I have actually gone to Chichen Itza I know more about it. (My dad and sister went to Cancun, but they were tired so they did not go to Chichen Itza.) My grandma, my mom and I got on a two hour bus ride with my friends A and S. A went with her mom and dad. S went with her grandma, mom, dad, and brother. On the bus ride, we did not get bored, because S’s mom had a dictionary that looked like a cellphone, it was like a mini-computer. The dictionary had games that we played.

When we got there the councils told us to separate to Spanish speaking group and English speaking group. The English speaking people had a tour guide with black hair. S, A and I took a video with my camera. The pyramid is made up of brownish, blackish, grayish stone. Our tour guide let us observe for awhile then he talked a lot- a lot that was LEARNING talk. (I did not know you had to learn on vacation.) He clapped his hands and there was a strange echo. It sounded like birds. There were seven echoes, seven days of the week, and seven triangles. (The triangles are on the pyramid going down the side.)

Our trip to Cancun was plenty of fun. We went to Xcaret, Chichen Itza, and the beach. I liked the beach the best, because we collected shells and S and A said I could have them. (Yay!) We also went shopping. I got some souvegniers. I got a sand turtle (a turtle made of sand), a mini colorful hat, two big shells, another turtle (made of wood), and a magnetic blue Mexican hat (it was small). I am glad I went to Chichen Itza and had a lot of fun. I hope you can go there.


A.D. = Anno Domini "the Year of Our Lord"
B.C. = Before Christ
B.C.E = Before Common Era
C.E. = Common Era

12/18/2009

Holiday Story (taking the perspective of a snowman)



It is December 24 – I am a snowman on the Star family’s deck. I am sitting in a layer of thick snow (with no arms, yet). You see, it all started this morning…

Angelica Star – a preschooler, rolled up sparkling snow for my head. Alisson Star is a responsible third grader. Alisson helped by rolling my head until it was circular. Ariana Star rolled a snow oval for my body. It felt smoothing as they smoothed me out.

After they made me, Ariana – a teenager – carried me to the top of the first hill. Alisson and Angelica slid down the second hill one last time. Zoom! Alisson started up the first hill. When she and Ariana looked back Angelica was holding out her arms, shouting, “Hold me! Hold me!” Ariana put me down and went back to carry Angelica.

I thought “Oh no! They might not take me with them. I do not want anyone else to take me.” After all, they all had walked quite a long distance from me. Then Ariana walked back, and picked me up. “Yay!” I thought, “I am going with them.”

When we got back, Ariana put me in the center of their deck. Next, Ariana put two, purple grapes on my head for eyes, a green crayon for my nose, and for my mouth some grass. All the grass on me formed a smile. What about the arms? I told you I do not have arms yet. I wore a brown cowboy hat, too.

Now, it is Christmas Eve. I hope the Star family will get presents from Santa. I also hope – whoops! Here come my stick arms. I also hope Santa’s flying reindeer do not land on me. I will get squished. Happy Christmas, everyone!

Author says : I hope you enjoying my story. I also hope you can make a snowman! Under/Tapped to this page you can see a picture of “me” in the story. And again Merry Merry Christmas!

12/15/2009

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Thanksgiving Dishes

Turkey
Salty, Tasty
Cook, Carve, Eat
The turkey is crucial to the meal
Poultry

Pumpkin pie
Pumpkin pie, Pumpkin pie
It doesn't taste good. Why?
I think it's because...
Well, I really do not know why.

Mash Potato
Mash potatos are very yummy for dinner.
They look snow white.
MMMM!

Ice Cream
Ice cream is tasty
when you get it, please be hasty.
I love ice cream - it's my dream.

Apple pie
- Do you like apple pie?
- Kind of. It is Okay.
- I love it!
- Hey you take my apple pie!

11/27/2009

Turkey Talk

I asked, "How are you doing?" He answered, "I'm good."

I asked, "Why are you doing well?" He responded, "I'm not going to die like the other turkeys!"

I said, "What are you going to do?" He shouts, "Party all day!"

I exclaimed, "Too bad!" (pops him in oven)

11/20/2009