MDS Messenger Volume 13, Issue 7 | Page 14

Literacy

by E.laine Smulovitch, [email protected]

The 5th Graders have been looking at the importance of ‘settings’ as the basis for a good story. The settings ranged from ‘forbidden forests’ to ‘an abandoned port’, and the classes have enjoyed using language creatively. Following the inspiration from a number of texts, the children watched the opening scene of Harry Potter, and with a great deal of excitement, they began to write. Some samples of the high standard of writing are shown below (and this is only the beginning of the year!) Well done 5th Graders!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Rachel Halpern

Eerie blackness consumed the night as a barn owl flew from the sign and around a bend. Then… suddenly… a footstep. Further footsteps, falling on the cobbled stones, followed. The sound reverberated through the quiet night. As suddenly as they started, they stopped. The little light that there was disappeared, shooting away.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Racheli Dubizh

I saw shadows leaning against the wall, whispering urgently to each other. As I made my way through the alley, I heard footsteps slithering around me. The floor kept on shaking, threatening me to get out.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Noa Klein

As I walked on, the cavern closed and opened. The ceiling revealed broken chandeliers. A simple touch would destroy the walls. Now and then, ashes would fall. I jumped at every sound. I felt a chill rise up my back as I continued walking, trembling.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Galia Atik

Every footstep echoed around me. The walls were covered in moss and looked as if they had been there forever. After every footstep I took, the ghost’s hollow laughter became louder. The floor was barely visible with all the litter. I felt as though this passageway would never end.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Charlie Laifer

As I walked further and further from the light of day, gloomy darkness filled the hallway. I passed offices. Sometimes stumbled upon broken furniture. Further and further I ventured. I could feel the darkness around me. The wall would whisper to me, “We’re coming for you.” The hallway snaked into a

large room.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Yonah Bernell

As I walked on, I continued trembling. I heard the ghosts say, “Come here young boy” as if welcoming me to the doors of death…. All of a sudden all life, light and laughter stopped.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Submitted by

Jacob Kadoe

Jack walked into the silent, forbidden forest. The morning dew glistened on the frail swaying grass. Mice rustled through the grass. A small stream wound through the thick trunked trees, which rustled and stirred as if they were moving to catch time. There was a knobbly trunk which sheltered a colony of ants.