Connecticut

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Farin under Edson, Humanities, Sixth

The highlight of my spring break is cleaning/decorating a tree house with Sophia and Lucia. The tree house was at Sophia’s country house in Connecticut. It was meaningful to me because I got to act like an interior designer. I found out how much I liked to design places. I found a way to express my creativeness into something besides drawing and writing. What we actually did was first cleaning up all the leaves and poop (we actually found animal poop inside of the tree house, we think it was a raccoon). Then we went to a hardware shop to see if we can find any decorations for the hang up. We came back with two solar powered lanterns, twelve mason jars, twelve fake candles (we put them inside of the mason jars), a smaller broom, a hanging platform (originally for bird seed), a small fake plant (we put that inside of the hanging platform), and a plastic basket to pack our stuff in. After we got back we remembered that we wanted some chairs so we can sit down. We already had a stool but we planned on that being a table. So we explored the creepy storage barn. Inside of the barn we found a woven basket (to use as a third chair and to put the mason jars in when we leave), and two wire chairs with wooden seats. Sophia’s mom also found some table cloths, and fairy lights for us. So after a couple hours of sweeping and moving furniture around (with a splinter in my finger) we finished our final results. Sophia, Lucia, and I were very proud of our finished project. The next morning we decided to take some pictures but it was raining so we had to take them quick. So that was my trip to Connecticut.

This is us the rainy morning after we finished the tree house. Lucia and Sophia are inside of the tree house.

Morning News-Donald Trump’s Cabinet

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Farin under Humanities

Every time a new president comes into the office they bring a new cabinet with them. The Cabinet is a group of people that are picked by the president and consists of the vice president and the heads of 15 departments, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Attorney General. All of the heads of the departments are called the “Secretaries” of the department, like Secretary of Education.

Donald Trump’s cabinet is made up of a bunch of problems like inexperience, lack of diversity, and ignorance. So far this combination is one of the worst cabinets in American history.

One example is Rick Perry, the Secretary of Energy. The Obama’s previous Secretary of Energy was Ernest Moniz, a nuclear physicist with much respect and experience in the field. While Perry wanted to eliminate that department. Later it is found that he didn’t even know what the department did. 6 weeks ago Trump offered Perry the job and he graciously took on the role, thinking that he would be the head of American oil and gas industry. Now that he has taken on the role he regrets ever wanting to eliminate the department and is becoming more aware on how important he is.

I got my information from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/01/19/donald-trump-has-assembled-the-worst-cabinet-in-american-history/?utm_term=.fd190ed177af

HONY Creative Writing Revisions

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Farin under Humanities, Uncategorized

A lot of people think that editing and revising are the same thing. Sure, they are very similar but there is one difference. Editing is when you fix grammar mistakes and revising is when you add more detail or fix the story line. The best way to revise is to stop working on it for a little bit then to go back with new eyes. I think it certainly helps flow new ideas.

My goal for revising was to add more detail to the scene when the main character gets poisoned, and the epilogue (the part with the blue haired girl). I think I did a pretty good job adding more detail on to those scenes. I believe that it adds a lot more context and it makes a lot more sense. I hope you like it!

Gwendolynn’s Time

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Farin under Humanities

Everyone is in the hall, gathered for me. Finally I can become a knight. Just don’t mess this up, Gwendolynn, you worked so hard to pass as a man for this. You cut your hair and used most of your savings to buy fabric for men’s clothing. This is your dream, the king is right in that other room. You came all the way from the South of France, to the middle of England to learn how to be a knight. You are just minutes away from your dream, to actually become a knight. Luckily my page Quinn kept the secret, or else I would be ratted out to the king and all my fellow knights. Hopefully they don’t find out that I’m a girl.

My name is called, and Quinn nudged me in side with his elbow. My turn. Quinn has done so much from fixing my hair cut, to keeping my secret. I can’t let him down. With every step I take down the middle of the aisle towards the king, I start to think. What if it goes wrong, what if they find out! No, just believe in yourself. If this goes wrong they might execute me; or shun me away from the village or even worse; laugh at me. It is ok, you wanted to be a knight, you wanted to take this chance. Just breathe, and don’t cry. His holy sword in his hand ready to make me a knight.

After what feels like minutes of walking I meet him, the king. I remember everything that Quinn taught me. Bend down silently, pray to God, and say my forever thanks to the great king, Hadrian the Third. King Hadrian’s sword lowers onto my right shoulder then moves slowly to the left, he grants me knightship then everyone cheers on the sidelines. Time to stand up, Gwendolynn. I turn and walk out of the room, time for my first real adventure, after the feast.

My Coat of Arms

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Farin under Humanities, Uncategorized

This is my own coat of arms that I created today. A basic coat of arms just needs a shield, but there is a lot more you can do. An example is a supporter, they are normally regular animals but I decided to do a mythical animal, the Hydra. Different supporters can mean different things, the Hydra means conquest of a powerful enemy. Another part that you can add is colors (also known as tinctures). I chose to use gold, green, blue, silver, and white. Gold means generosity and elevation of the mind, green means hope; joy, and loyalty in love; blue means truth and loyalty; and silver/white means peace and sincerity. You can also use plants or flowers, I chose a white rose in the center of my shield. A white rose means love and faith. Finally you can have a motto, the one I chose is victor exercitus, in latin that means conquest of a powerful enemy. I got all my information from http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/blog/genes-reunited-blog/archive/2013/11/7/what-the-symbols-on-coats-of-arms,-family-crests-and-seals-mean

My Ashokan Paragraph

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Farin under Humanities

We were playing Flux! Nice photo bomb Julia.

The 2 ¾ days that I spent at Ashokan were interesting because the staff were really entertaining, I spent more time than I normally do with different people, and we had a ton of opportunities to learn.

The 2 ¾ days that I spent at Ashokan were interesting because the staff was really entertaining. The staff at Ashokan took us through our classes and put us to bed at night. One of the staff members that I liked was Siggy. For example Siggy rapped, sang a “repeat after me” song, and told us a “scary” story about mosquitos. He sang them to us around the bonfire that the 6th graders had on the first night. They also read us stories before bed, and played games with us in some of the classes. I thought one time that was especially enticing was when we were all laughing and having s’mores around the campfire with the songs that Siggy sang, we were all having a great time. Ashokan was interesting, and the staff made it even more fascinating.

My Hero Essay

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Farin under Brandstetter, Fifth, Humanities

Heroes demonstrate many acts of generosity, bravery and wit in the face of danger, and put aside their own needs for others. They are also admired and appreciated by many that have heard of their acts. Heroes will always be remembered. They can be found in today’s news like Harry Swimmer of the CNN Heroes series, or in old stories, such as Robin Hood. Although Rosemary Sutcliff’s Odysseus is a hero to some but that is very debatable, because there is much evidence that he is the opposite of a hero.

Although Odysseus displays some heroic acts in the book The Wanderings of Odysseus, by Rosemary Sutcliff, Odysseus’ heroic qualities do not compare to his sins. Odysseus shows wit and determination but his many acts of hubris is never heroic. Odysseus shows excessive pride after cleverly blinding Poseidon’s son, the cyclops, Polyphemus. “If anyone asks who blinded you, tell them it was Odysseus, son of Laertes and Lord of Ithaca, Odysseus the Sacker of Cities.” Odysseus taunts Polyphemus after he have wounded him and causes Poseidon to bestow a curse on Odysseus and his men for this act. A true hero would have tried to save himself and his men but not shown ignorance and boasted about his win.

Harry Swimmer is a hero and a friend to many disabled kids that went to his non-profit farm. He works all day to help kids that normally can’t ride to ride horses. It takes two-hundred volunteers every day to help so many kids ride. They need two sidewalker and one leader for one horse and one child. It’s been running for twenty-two years now and he never gets tired. Harry feels like his farm is a “Sanctuary to the kids that come”, and “It’s not just my farm it’s their farm too.” Both show how much he cares for all of them, and how much he wants to help. It helps all the children build up their core muscles so if they couldn’t walk or speak or sit up they can.

Without heroes the world would fall into a deep pit of selfishness and cruelty. Nobody would help the helpless. Nobody would inspire people to be their best selves. Heroes like Harry Swimmer bring the world out of that darkness with their generosity and bravery. People like Odysseus are the culprits that brought the world into the pit with their selfishness. Lots of people think that heroes are the people that fight crimes and put bad guys behind bars. That’s not true. Heroes can be found in everyday life; they can be your mom or dad, your best friend. We are living in a world that needs more heroes. More people to save the hungry, more people to save the animals, more people to help us. After learning about so many wonderful people that are heroes, actual ones, I decided I need to step it up. I need to make a change in the world, help the world on it’s path to greatness and peace. Everybody needs to make a change for the better.

My Book Partnership!

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Farin under Brandstetter, Fifth, Humanities

My partner and I read Bud, not Buddy. Our partnership was enjoyable and fun because we are so much alike. I really like my partner, Stella, and would like to work with her again. I’m proud that I talked more in our discussions. One challenge for me was to not read a head. I love just reading for a while and the book is so interesting.

Hey! This is my Personal Narrative!

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Farin under Brandstetter, Family Conferences, Fifth, Humanities

I got the wind knocked out of me. It is possible that I could of landed on my feet, but that didn’t happen because I fell right on my tailbone… How about five minutes earlier, just to make everything make sense…

He reared, bucked, leaped, and ran. Everything that a spooked horse would do. While all that happened, I just thought “WOAH! What is happening? I have no idea! AHHHHHHH!” It was like a roller coaster, yeah I like that. It flashed before my eyes right before my brain could catch up. Maybe it is like when you remember a memory that you didn’t know before.

I fell, flying through the air. Up and up and up it almost to the ceiling. Weeeee, (Nope)! I sunk to the ground as soon as I have taken lift off. Right on my butt, BAM! I was on the muddy dirt ground. Here we go, back where I started. My breathing did get shallow, probably because the wind got knocked out of me. I also got scared, afraid of that horse, Louie. An earthquake after shock. Rumbling, shaking, everybody running, afraid, scared. I might have quit horseback riding. And right then and there reality came back. It was like a bowling ball doing a lopoddity loop. Hitting all those pins, you celebrating, then it coming straight back at you, hitting right in the middle of your stomach. I was shocked, eyes shut trying to hold myself together. Like a building that’s about to fall. Then they rushed in; the instructors comforted me, told me that I was ok, and that I got the wind knocked out of me. They explained what that was, sort of. It made no sense, most of it probably because I was crying through the whole explanation. My mom came in and pulled me into her lap ( my building of protection fell, my mom a crane rebuilding me). Everyone staring, I don’t care. I just fell of a horse, I smelled my mom’s pants. The smell conforted me, I knew she was there. I thought about what just happened. Pulling each and everything into the mind of me. Piece by piece, brick by brick. “Getting on the horse named Louie, walking in the rink a little bit, start trotting, spooks, rears, runs, I fall off, shallow breathing, people run, crying, mom, right now.” After that load of thinking I need a walk (the weight coming back), to walk off the stiff feeling that you can’t move. The building of my mind coming back. To walk off the pain, the thoughts, trying to calm down. The building is secure, just shaken. I smell the cold air of the evening, I look around I see others riding. Having fun, not knowing what could happen right now. I smile looking, watching them knowing that they are learning. Like I do, I stop walking and think.

My mom starts talking, a pep talk I believe. “I know you just got bucked off but you can get back on. Have a great time and ride. You took a lot of air and that must of hurt but you can go on and, have fun. You will build yourself up, and go at your peak. Just keep on riding and you love the horses. That will never get in the way of anything. Know that, and go on and ride.” With that I started walking back, with that I said “Thanks Mom. I will ride on again.” Me and my mom went up the stairs to the office to see if I am riding Louie again.

Hey! This is my Personal Narrative! I choose to this piece to because it was a challenge finding the right words to describe this hmm… whats the right word… important adventure. It was really hard to define words into different categories, so that I could make my writing meaningful. Like not literately, non-realistic and realistic. I really wanted to make whoever was reading really understand the experience. I also put in a lot of analogies, I love analogies! I had to work really hard on cutting out analogies because there were to many. A learning habit I focused on was focusing on focusing on my work instead of getting distracted. Finally from working on this piece I learned to many analogies will make your writing piece very confusing.

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Category Archives: Humanities