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

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

Mini Report on Thanksgiving

On September 6, 1960, a ship called "Mayflower" left Southampton, England with one hundred two passengers, and thirty crews. We call the passengers Pilgrims, Separatists, or Settlers. The voyage took sixty-six days. As the ship drove across the Atlantic Ocean, the Pilgrims had to face many storms. Two Pilgrims died, and one baby was born. On November 11, 1920, they reached Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.

The Pilgrims stayed on the anchored ship for eight to nine months, because it was bitter cold outside and there were no shelters. Some Pilgrims tried to build shelters, but it was very difficult to build in the winter. In the summer, seven houses were built, and the Pilgrims got off the ship happily. They still needed food to eat. Forty-six Pilgrims died of Pneumonia or Scurvy during the first winter.

Indians also known as Native Americans helped the Pilgrims grow crops. The two Indian friends that helped the most were named Squanto, and Semoset. The Pilgrims grew more than enough crops, so they had a feast with ninety-one Indians a year later. The feast was to thank the Native Americans' help, and the amount of crops they had grown. They ate fowls such as turkey, geese, chicken, and the five deer the Indians brought.

Today, we usually donate food or money to the poor, or people who have lost their homes from a natural disaster. It is always the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is like family night. People usually eat turkey, potatoes, and ham for their Thanksgiving dinner. For dessert some people have apple pie, pumpkin pie, or ice cream.

11/22/2009

A pumpkin's story

"Hey Peaches! Are you excited?" my friend asked. I replied, "Are your crazy? Do you want to get carved?" My name is Peaches. I am a plump pumpkin. There is a pumpkin next to me, and she is my friend. Her name is Skinny Mini, because she is skinny and diminutive. I live in a pumpkin patch in pumpkin patch farm.

On October 26, 2009, I was looking up at all the girls, and boys. By the look of it, they were all about thirteen years old. I could hear jabbering, “I found one!” and “This is perfect!” and so on.

I really did not want to be picked, neither did my friend. That was because we knew Halloween was coming, and we did not want to be carved. The bad thing was we were in the very front row, and we were both very clean.

I am not connected to a vine. Oh no! A boy’s hand was reaching for me. He was almost there. I thought, please change your mind. Suddenly a strong wind brought me closer to my friend. Then, I cocked my head got hold of Skinny’s curly stem, and we rolled down a hill.

A girl was coming. She was thirteen. She said, “Hey look there’s a perfect one! I love it!” As she came running down the hill, I thought, "Pick up my friend too." Then, the girl sees that behind me there is another pumpkin. I pondered, "Thank you for seeing her. Now you might pick both of us." She asked her friend, “Can I pick two?” I thought, "Yes! She might pick us both." Her friend answered, “Sure you can.” She picked me then Skinny-Mini.

I sure was not glad that I was getting carved. I was as scared as a person who lost his house on a dark street. It calmed me a little when I told myself that at least I was with my friend. I felt tingley as the thirteen-year-old-girl carved my face. It was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Once we were carved I found out we could talk easier, smell, see, and we could think, too. Our brain was a candle, and that is how the saying “You are a bright person.” came to be. Of course, our candle was bright. Since I could think, I thought of a way to scare people.

How? Find out on October 31.

11/15/2009

Travel brochure – beautiful Cancun beach

You should go to Cancun Beach, because you need a rest. There are spas, a whole lot of activities, great food, and the weather is exquisite.

Cancun is in the State Quintana Roo and the country Mexico. It was founded on April 20, 1970. Cancun has sensational sights.

At the beach you can go snorkeling, ride a parasail, or/and go kayaking. In another place like your resort you can play golf and go horseback riding.

When I went snorkeling I saw turtles. My mom swam right over one. I also rode a parasail with my friend J and my dad. J sat on the right, my dad sat in the middle and I sat on the left. J’s mom and dad went kayaking. When we did the activities we wore life jackets.

For breakfast you would usually have egg, bread, fruit, sausage, or bacon with wine or juice. For lunch you could have food such as a sandwich, spaghetti, or/and seafood. They have seafood such as shrimp, fish, squid, crab, and oyster. At dinner you could have fajitas, burritos, tacos or beans with wine juice, wine, beer, or liquor. You could have a snack such as gold fish or chips.

The weather there is warm. In fall it gets a bit chillier and during the winter it gets a bit breezier. If you need a rest go to Cancun Beach. You should go before all the hotels and resorts get filled. Have fun!



11/10/2009