Category Archives: Inquiry project

A Strange Day in July, Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Writing

Strange Day in July

Strange Day in July

 

One day in Winnetka next to Lake Michigan. 2 kids named Jerry and Vanessa. They are big liars but sometimes get away with it. They just woke up and brushed their teeth. They went down the wooden stairs to eat breakfast with their dinosaur and princess pj’s. They had scrambled eggs and toast with butter.

“Ma,’ this is so delicious,” said Jerry.

“Really, is it really good or are you lying again like last time,” vocalized their mom.

“No i’m telling the truth,” said Jerry.

“Can we head to Lake Michigan,” asked Vanessa.

“Yes, be careful,” said their mother

“Ok Ma’,”

 

Before they walked, they saw a newspaper that said A ghost has been haunting  . The ghosts name was ‘ lester Crane,’. They started to walk to the lake but right before that. Jerry tripped over a branch and got back up.

“That was a close one, I almost cut my knee. It’s nothing,”.

 

They reached to the lake and Jerry suggested to throw stones.

 

“I have a challenge,” said Jerry.

“What?” asked Vanessa.

“Whoever can throw a stone farther, than the other person has to do your chores for a week” replied Jerry.

“Ok, thats a deal,” vocalized Vanessa.

 

They were both trying to find stones that they know would throw good.

They found over 10 stones and they could only use the best 3 stones. It was Jerry’s turn to throw the stones. Jerry threw his 1st stone but it didn’t go too far. His 2nd stone was just a little more than his 1st stone. His 3rd stone was thrown but it didn’t stop. He threw with all of his might but, The Third  stone came skipping back. Jerry thought he was seeing things but

 

Vanessa asked “Why did that stone just come back to us,”.

“Ok, after all I wasn’t seeing things,” replied Jerry.

They have been thinking and thinking of what happened.

“What if the ghost from the newspaper is actually real,” vocalized Vanessa.

 

“Do you really think that the ‘ghost’ is real. “Pffffffff…. no, that ghost is totally fake. yeah it’s totally fake,” said Vanessa.

 

“Good, now we can go home and forget this whole thing behind us,”said Jerry.

“Thats not the only thing behind you!” shouted Vanessa.

“Ahhhh, Ghost!” yelled Jerry.

 “That looks like the one on the newspaper,” said Vanessa.

“That does,” vocalized Jerry.

“Wait,  ghosts can’t touch us,” replied Jerry.

“Remember my ghost hunting kit, do you think that will work to catch the ghost ,” said Jerry.

“No, that will never work. it’s fake,” vocalized Vanessa.

“Well, lets give it a try,” replied Jerry.

“Come as quick as you can then lets get home to hunt some ghosts,” vocalized Jerry.

 

When we went home I told my mom and my dad but they didn’t believe me so I asked them to come. Vanessa and I put our suits on and went with my mom and dad. Vanessa told me

“Don’t forget the vacuum cleaners,” Vocalized Vanessa.

“Yeah, thanks,” replied Jerry.

 

 It took five minutes to reach the lake. Their parents went to the lake and didn’t see the ghost. When there parents left, the ghost showed up and then Jerry yelled “Mom, dad come and look,”

 

“Stop pulling pranks on me and you father now we are going home!” yelled there mom.

“Ok then, they don’t have to believe us but we saw it with our own eyes,” said Jerry.

“Wait the ghost is back!” yelled Vanessa

“Oh my God”, “He’s back”, replied Jerry.

“Are you ready to use your vacuum cleaner”, asked Jerry.

“My bad boy is all loaded up”, replied Jerry  On 3, 1,2,3 Charge!”, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” yelled Jerry and Vanessa.


They caught the ghost and didn’t let him free no matter what the ghost kept asking them. They put the ghost in a jar then kept in a very safe place. In their hands. Jerry and Vanessa showed the neighborhood but they didn’t believe them. Instead they showed the jar and they weren’t called liars anymore now everyone is safe but what will happen to the ghost.  

Archie Smith, Boy Wonder, Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Writing

Archie Smith Boy Wonder Grade

Archie Smith Boy Wonder

By:Matthew

One hot and sunny day in California a boy named Archie was coming out of school Archie looks to his right and sees a man in black coat that’s looking straight at him in a scary look. Archie look to his left then back to his right and the man in the black coat was gone. Archie silently got scared and quickly gets on the bus Archie in his mind said

‘’What was that’’

Archie’s friend Ron sits on the seat next to Archie. Ron says to Archie “what’s up,” Ron says

‘’Hey’’ Archie said. ‘’

‘’Are you ok,’’

Ron said.

Archie replied “No I feel scared’’ ‘’Why,’’ Ron said.

 

‘’When I was getting on the bus a man in a black coat was staring at me,’’ said Archie

‘’Oh maybe he is just trying to scare you,’’

Ron said. ‘’I don’t think so he look like he was serious,’’ said Archie

‘’Then tell your parents that they can pick you up from school so you can feel protective,’’said Ron.

‘’Maybe you’re right i’ll tell my dad and see if he could pick me up from school,’’

said Archie. Archie goes to his dad ‘’hey dad from now on can you pick me up from school because earlier a man was stalking on me,” said Archie

‘’Ok,’’ said dad.

Archie goes upstairs to brush his teeth and go to bed as Archie is brushing his teeth Archie looks out the window and sees a black thing on the road Archie looks back to the mirror and says “what was that’’ he looks back out the window and the black thing was not there Archie was a little worried but not as much when he saw the man in the black coat so Archie went to bed.

4 hours later 3:00 am the in the black coat was in Archie’s home he steals lot of items then he see Archie’s room the man walks in Archie’s room and stared at him while he was sleeping a tiny voice asked ” Is he the one?” the man thinks what he should do the man he walked down the stairs and made a big nose dad hears the noise and quietly get out of bed he goes to the dressing room he pulls up his phone and calls the cops the man in the black coat heard the noise he goes to the room the dad hears him walk in he tries to stay quiet. The man hears the police in the neighborhood he tries to hide the cops park outside the house the man walks to the garage he opens it the police get in to pishon and they say get on the ground the man does not listen. 23 seconds later Archie walks out the garage door and says daddy what is happen with his face down still sleepy he puts his face up and schemes in hear the man turns around and throws a knife a Archie the knife hits Archie on his ribs then the man turns back around dad comes in with a fiery pand and hits the man in the head.  the man is knockout and the police arrested the man the dad and family grang up they pack their things get in the car and run away.


1 year later Archie reunites with his family and they live happily ever after.                                         

Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Under the Rug, Writing

Under the Rug

Under the Rug

 

In 1972 in hollywood, a famous celebrity named Jimmy Tallman was going to walk the red carpet. He was getting out of his Lamborghini with another celebrity. He was nominated the best actress for 1972. Not everybody believed that. That’s when the 3 terrorists came. All three of them were men. Their boss wanted Jimmy Tallman dead for a $500,000,000 reward. The 1st terrorist accepted that offer but the other 2 thought that was harsh so they left before anyone saw them. The terrorist grabbed a machete and sneaked up behind him and cut his head off but that wasn’t the real head. That was the wax version of him. Jimmy now knows that someone is coming. The terrorist ran off and took Jimmy’s Lamborghini.

Police went to investigate who the terrorist was. His name was Kevin Western. He is wanted his 19 states and hasn’t really got away with anything yet.. All he cares about is money. He only gets the money if he gets back to his hometown. He wouldn’t live for long because the police were right under him while he was trying to hide in somebody’s apartment.

3 hours later, the cops finally found him was later killed in prison. Rumors have been spreading that Jimmy Tallman left the red carpet and just left. Well that rumor was true. Jimmy was caught with his second Lamborghini trying to go somewhere where no one will find him. . There was a old man who lived down the street in Australia. His name was Mr. De Santa. Mr. De Santa was watching a movie before he heard someone coming into his house then he looked outside. He saw nothing then he closed his wooden door against the brick wall. When he comes back to his sit on his chair. He notices something is not right. He saw something under his rug. When he pulls up his rug and see’s Jimmy Tallman’s head. He doesn’t know how the head was their in his house. He also didn’t realize the head was fake. “This isn’t the real Jimmy Tallman’s head. It’s a wax head” Mr. De Santa said. He thought the head was an exact replica of the real Jimmy Tallman’s head. He gave it to the museum and never told anybody where he found it.

Now, in 2015, Jimmy Tallman has never been known and has been missing and nobody has heard from him. Did he really hide or did he die, No one knows.

Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, The Third Floor Bedroom, Writing

The Third Floor Bedroom

The Third Floor Bedroom

By: Abdi

 

It all began when someone left the window open, this is the tale of the third floor bedroom.

 

 

 

There once was a girl named Stephanie McLain. She was the princess of Gardenia. She was the daughter of Ashlie and Luke “Luck” McLain, the king and queen of Gardenia. She had long blond hair with a silver highlight with blue eyes that made all of boys in the land swon. She wore the same thing to school everyday (because she has 2,000 made in the same things for each day), a dress that has a pink top and blue skirt and a black jacket that read ‘Property of the McLain’s’ and purple tube socks with a rainbow headband. Every day, her butler, Willfred (but the McLain’s call him Willy), that drives her to school in her limo. Stephanie went to Einstein Academy where she’s the top in the whole school.

 

 

 

One day back from school,

“Willy, when are we going to go home. I need my massage and I need it NOW!”Yelled Stephanie louder than a lion on a empty stomach.

Willfred wanted to pull over and throw her out of the limo,”We will be home right away your majesty”

“Thank god, finally,”Sighed Stephanie in relief.

As they pulled up to the castle, the wonderful Stephanie got her blue and black purse and headed for the door. The silver and gold living room with a Samsung 110-inch TV right in the center of the room was shining like diamonds while the maids were cleaning the floor and she went to her room. Her room was filled with the most expensive toys and clothes. She plopped on her Sleep Mattress, which she always adjusted according to her mood, but she went to her desk to do her homework.

 

What is the square root of pie?

A.5

B.37

C.all of the above

 

Stephanie thought for 10 seconds, (a new record), and finally went to Willfred. After she came back from making Willfred do her homework for her, she watched TV downstairs.

“MOTHER,”Stephanie yelled louder than ever.

Her mother was curling her hair,”WHAT”

“I’M GOING TO GO TO THE STORE AND GETTING NEW CURTAINS FOR THE THIRD FLOOR BEDROOM”Yelled Stephanie as loud as she could.

“OKAY, JUST DON’T GET ROBBED”

 

 

 

As she approached the shops, she noticed a store saying, “Magic Jack’s Magic and Furniture Store” that caught her attention. She walked into the store where she saw a boy about 12 years old, (as old as her), wearing a name tag that said ‘Hello my name is Magic Jack” and a fake mustache.

“Ah, a new customer. Would you like…..”His voice trailed off as he saw the princess.

He fixed his mustache and said, “Your majesty, I was waiting for your arrival”

She was pleased that he was waiting for her, but she said loud and proud, “Fetch me your finest curtain and it better be not boring”

Magic Jack ran all the way down the hall, and 5 minutes later, he came back panting with a beautiful curtain that was the color of the sky on a nice spring day and white doves.

“I’ll take it,”Stephanie said with all her attention on the curtain.

Magic Jack looked at the princess in worry and said, “Be careful of what you say to the curtain. It has powers that are untold,”

Stephanie was out the door when he finished talking.

 

 

 

An hour had passed since the princess was at the store. She had gone downtown to see all of the people that adore her. After all of the meet and gifts, (that is where the people of the kingdom meet the royal family and give them gifts), she came home to see that everyone who works in the castle were going in groups and dispersing, which means leaving the group, Stephanie was confused and thought,

What the heck is going on up in here? Is there like a party that I was not informed about?

She ran up the thousands of stairs until she found her mother’s room.

“MOTHER! WHAT IS GOING ON!”Yelled the beautiful, majestic, and annoyed princess, then she remembered that 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 13 seconds ago that there was going to be a ball where everyone in the kingdom will come and meet the loving people that rule the kingdom. She was so excited because her all time favorite BFF, Katie, was coming so she rushed to the third floor bedroom and put the new curtain on.

“You better be a crowd pleaser, or you will be replaced with the old one,”Said Stephanie. The curtain glowed, but she left as soon as possible to go get ready.

 

 

 

It was 9:00 pm when the beautiful, and majestic princess came down the steps.

“Here ye here ye, all rise to King Luke, Queen Ashlie, and Princess Stephanie of Gardenia,”The announcer announced. As the the people of the kingdom rose to the arrival of the royal family. She walked elegantly down the stairs and ran to her best friend.

“OMG girl, you look fab!”

“Thanks, it’s made from silk all the way from Australia,”

The girls were having a fashion conversation, the third floor bedroom curtain was only blue with no doves anymore, all of the doves were all through the castle and through the kingdom.

“AAAAAAAAA”

“WERE ALL GOING TO GET POOPED ON”

“RUN FOR YOUR LIVES”

Everyone was running throughout the kingdom, so Stephanie went to the only person who knows about the curtain, Magic Jack.

 

 

 

As Stephanie approached Magic Jack’s store she wondered why did he not warn her, (he did, but she didn’t listen), but she forgot all about that when she entered the store.

“Help me, the curtain doves are terrorizing the kingdom!”Stephanie pleaded to the boy.

Magic Jack looked at the princess with a bored face and said,“Let’s go”

As the people were freaking out over doves, the two kids made use of their time and made them selves magic dove catchers. The two ran through the kingdom catching the doves and eventually put them back in the curtain.

“Thanks for helping me catch them”Said the tiered princess.

“Your welcome, and i’ll be taking the curtain you know, so that this happens never again”Replied Magic Jack.

 

 

 

2 days later, the kingdom was cleaned up and no one was pooped on. And the princess now is nice because of the ‘incident’.

 

THE END

Archie Smith, Boy Wonder, Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Writing

Archie Smith Boy Wonder

Archie Smith Boy Wonder By: Joshua There was once a dark world where there was a boy named Archie. He lived in Washington DC. He was being stalked by a terrible monster. It was the Night Stalker. The monster was 8 feet tall and was invisible. The only thing that wasn’t invisible were his eyes. The monster stalked Archie all night. Archie still didn’t notice until the year 2100. He saw two big floating bright lights. He didn’t know what they were. He slowly walked to his mom’s room. Once he’s in the room Archie yelled “Mommy!” Archie’s mom hit him with her belt because he woke her up. Now Archie’s butt is red as a tomato. He went to his room and went to bed. Suddenly the Night Stalker came back. Instead of going to his mom’s room he went to the front door and he made a run for it. He went through the town dogs are barking everywhere. The Night Stalker was still behind him then Archie made a hard right. Archie lost the Night Stalker. Archie was hiding behind a house. Suddenly the monster teleported right in front of him. The monster asked in a tiny voice “Is he the one?” Archie freaked out and punch the Night Stalker in the face. His mom call the monster hunters and they said “For Archie bravery he took down a creepy monster so for this day forward we should call him Boy Wonder!”  
Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Just Desert, Movement Essay, Writing

Just Desert

On a late Halloween night somebody was cutting a pumpkin in a old neighborhood once she lowered the knife it glowed she looked outside every pumpkin was glowing she looked at the sky she saw a UFO sending out a energy beam to all the pumpkins and turn them into pumpkins into space pumpkins warriors.These warriors were the best warriors of space and earth they can melt steel walls and brick walls with their lava  spray and cut through mountains with their razor sharp claws and they can destroy buildings when they blow up and they can blow up the earth if they blow up together.The women called the military,police,air force the navy and army they were about to start the pumpkin war. Pumpkin guts everywhere fallen soldiers their were too many pumpkins but their leader came. Come my minions we shall destroy this planet.The army,navy,air force and the military aimed for the pumpkin king so they can not destroy the world or the galaxy. 20 Minutes later their was something in the sky a shooting star or a spaceship it was take off day the tanks of gas fell on top of the pumpkin king and its minions pumpkin guts everywhere It was the most weirdest and funniest victory ever and they made the worlds biggest pumpkin pie.  
Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, The Third Floor Bedroom, Writing

The Third-Floor Bedroom

The Third-Floor Bedroom

By: Briana

 

“MOM!!!”  “Hurry the show is about to start!”  “I’m coming Alex!”  Alex and his mom were getting ready for a bird show. Alex loves birds so when he heard a bird show was coming to his town he had to go. Alex’s mom came down the stairs running.  “Come on!”  “I’m coming”  And it all began when someone left the window open…  They got into the car and his mom started to drive. Meanwhile in Alex’s third-floor bedroom there was a window that was left open and the Carrier pigeons on Alex’s wallpaper came alive one by one and flew out the window making noisy wing beats.  “Ahh, finally I’ve been waiting for someone to leave the window open it feels good to be back!” exclaimed Percey.  “Yes yes it feels good,”said Pat, he was the smart one, “But we haven’t been carrying messages for years.”  “Yes. What if people don’t need don’t need us anymore?  What if  they invented something else?  What if………”  Percey interrupted  Paul, “Don’t worry, you always worry.  I bet someone still needs us!”  “Actually, I believe Paul is right.  We have been stuck on that wall for a while. I don’t believe that anyone needs us anymore.” said Pat disappointed.  “Oh come on you  guys you can’t say that, look the window is open.  Come on.  I’ll prove to you that they still need us. Let’s go!!!” and with that Percey leaded the others out the window and they followed him out to New York City.  “WOW!!!” yelled all three of them at the same time.  “See look how much work will have here no one will ever stop needing us!!” said Percey.  “Well what if they invented something else that tops us?” asked Paul  “Oh stop ‘What if-ing’ look I bet…….”.  “Wait guys look down there at that house” interrupted Pat  They looked down at the house and they saw a man he was giving a woman something that looked like a card something that they use to give to people. The woman thanked him and the pigeons charged for the man but the man managed to duck.  “Wow, those pigeons were surely mad. They looked like carrier pigeons Bet they were mad you’re stealing their their job, huh??” the woman said.  The man and the woman both laughed at the women’s joke.  “How’d they know that we are carrier pigeons???” asked Paul  “No idea, but that’s not important right now. What’s important is that we stop that man from stealing our job!!” said Pat heroically .  They followed the man to the next house.  He gave the mail again and when the man wasn’t looking they grabbed most of the mail from the guys bag.  “Now we deliver!!!!!!!” they said together.  So the pigeons split up and delivered the mail. After they were done they met back up at the house and went back to the wall  “Right on time,” Percey said proudly as he saw Alex and his mom come back “See told you guys that they still needed us”  “You were right,” said Pat  “I thought we were going to end up like the bird that left 2 years ago and didn’t come back,”said Paul  “Was that a good show Alex???”  They could here Alex and his mom down stairs.  “Hurry!” said Percey. “Until next time fellas,”said Pat  “Until next time!”said the other two and they went back to the wall where they stayed and waited again for someone to leave the window open.

 

THE END

Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, Oscar and Alphonse, Writing

Oscar and Alphonse

      Oscar and Alphonse

  November 18, 2005, Miami, Florida,   My name is Oscar Williams. I’m 12 years old. I live in New Orleans. I go to Northridge Middle School. 3 of my brothers go to Northridge High School. The other 1 go to my school. I have 4 brothers, Noah (16), Liam (15), Jacob (14), and Mason (13). All of them are mean to me, except for Mason. He helps me with my homework while the rest play football, he tutors me in math and language arts while the rest watch WWE. But one day, it all changed. This is the story of how I meet Alphonse. I remember it like it was yesterday. The next day, after school me and Mason got picked by Noah, Liam, and Jacob in Noah’s 1980 station wagon. It had fake wood on the side and yellow almost everywhere. “Hey loser. Get in the back, NOW!”yelled Noah like a tiger to us. I yelled back, “OOOKKKKAAAAAYYYYY. You don’t have to yell.” Noah gave use the big eyes and I knew exactly what would happen if we didn’t, so we got in the car before he could say it again. As me and Mason got in the car, Noah put some bags in the back. “What’s all this?”I asked Noah. “None of your business loser’s,”screeched Noah louder than a eagle.       We got home when I found a caterpillar on the grass of our front lawn, so I picked it up and got it inside before my brother’s saw it. “Mom, can I keep him. PLEASE?! I will do better in school. I’ll get A+++ instead of an A++.”I begged my mom to keep the caterpillar. “Fine, only if you feed him, water him, and make sure your brother’s don’t touch him,”blabbed my mom. When I finally got away from my mom and escaped to the wonderful island called my room. Even though I live with 4 brother’s, I still get my own room. It has my favorite color, PINK, I have a pink bunkbed with a bed on the top and a desk on the bottom. My desk has a 1980’s computer with a binder full of study sheet’s, school books and a caterpillar cage with food and water and everything a caterpillar needs, a big book shelf full of ‘Time Warp Trio’ books, and a super big bean-bag chair next to my ,and big mirror with a hem lace on the edges. “I’ll name you, Alphonse. Yeah. Welcome to your new home Alphonse, I’m Oscar!” I explained to my new pet. “Hey loser. Whaddya got there, a pet? So you’re some kind of kind of, FREAK! Hahaha,” laughed Noah. “Hahaha,” copied Liam and Jacob. Then I saw Mason. ‘Should I join in, or stand up for my sister?’ Then I saw Mason come up to me and did the unthinkable.       “Hahahaha loser. So you’re a caterpillar person, that means you must be a caterpillar,”Mason said to (for some reason) empress his older brothers. I was sad and confused, so I asked Mason,“What was that for,” “Come on Oscar, don’t be such a wet blanket.” said Mason loud and proud. “Besides, they finally like me!” whispered Mason as soft as a mouse. I was so mad at him for being something he’s not so I yelled,“I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND AND MY BROTHER, but I was wrong!”       The next day at school, “What was all of that yesterday Oscar. It’s like you hate me now?”Mason related to the ‘incident’ yesterday. I, on the hand, didn’t say a word. I was very frustrated at him. The only time he was mean to me, (and not trying to impress Noah, Liam, and Jacob), was when we were 3 years old and I took his books by accident. “Why aren’t you responding to me. What did I do wrong!?”Mason yelled at me. Ring As I heard the bell I told my brother, “Sorry, I need to go to math and I do not want to be tardy,”       When I got home, I went straight to my to my room to do my homework, when all of a sudden, I got a email from the national weather center saying, In 1 week, there will be a severe hurricane will stick the gulf coast. So people who live in New Orleans, Georgia, Mississippi, or around that area, be prepared. I was so afraid I had to tell my mom, so I went down stairs to see my parents look at me with the sad eyes. Then they told me something, “The hurricane will hit Cuba, and your family do not have enough money to protect their houses,”My mom told me. My dad called my brothers down stairs. As they came down, my mom started to tear up. I told them about the storm and our family in Cuba. Since I was born in Cuba (It was a family vacation) I was really worried, but my brothers didn’t care that I was sad.   Ten minutes later, “Oh Alphonse, what am I supposed to do. The hurricane is going to hit my home country in 1 week, my brother/best friend betrays me for our BROTHERS!!!”I cried to Alphonse about my problems. Of course Alphonse said nothing. Then I went to get ready for bed, thinking about what the hurricane is going to do. All of that worrying made me fall asleep.     The next morning, “Morning sweety,”my mom said doing her work on our marble kitchen island. I was not in the mood to talk so I said,“Morning mom” Then I saw the Fabulous Foursome a.k.a Noah, Liam, Jacob, and backstabber (Mason). “Awesome shot dude, Radical man, Total score bro, See you on the court,”they screamed down stairs. I rolled my eyes and checked the clock, 6:45am, so I ran upstairs to my room to get my school uniform. White and black. I saw our yellow school pull up to the bus stop, so I ran downstairs and got on the bus and sat next to my other best friend Ashley. Ashley was the 3rd smartest kid in school. I was the 2nd, and mister betrayer was the 1st.       When we got off the bus, I went to the principals office to ask her to switch my locker to be away from my brother. “I’m sorry, Ms.Williams, but you have the closest locker to your homeroom. And I can’t do anything about it. I’m sorry,”Principal Rabinoff said. I was very disappointed to hear that but I kept my chin up and said,”That is okay Principal Rabinoff,”       After the talk with my principal, I went to my locker before the warning bell could ring, but then all of a sudden Ashley came up to me panting. “I’m sorry to say, but Mason made me, but our older brothers came. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!”yelled Ashley as she ran for her life. Then out of nowhere, I saw Noah come up to me with the ‘mad’ face. “OSCAR, YOU COME HERE, NOW,”screamed Noah. Then he did the unthinkable, he hugged me. But I didn’t care.       The following Saturday evening, me and my family were in the basement with all the things we needed to survive. I brought Alphonse with us. I could feel the vibration of the hurricane. We all held on to each other. I looked at Alphonse, he became weak and gray. As soon as I could tell my parents, Alphonse turned into Alphonse’s! The hurricane was over and a lot of houses did not get destroyed, we were one of them. 1 week later, we were all in the backyard playing. I took Alphonse’s outside. I knew it was time to send them back. The caterpillars wiggled in her hand, spelling out “goodbye”.   The End
A Strange Day in July, Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Writing

A Strange Day in July

A Strange Day in July   One time on July 3,1988 everybody was getting ready to shoot there fireworks in the air.there is a kid named Jacob and he and his sister went out to the river to skip rocks while they were walking they saw green throw up and then ran because it changed to red. When they arrived at the river Jacob threw with all his might but the third rock came skipping back. and the same happend to his sister and while they were walking back they saw an arm lying on the ground. They ran home and told there mom exactly what happened and she did not believe what her child had seen an then she heard a scream and looked and saw nothing. She got a little concerned about what they said all in that night the heard 5 screams that night     In the morning Jacob woke up and play video games his parents were getting ready but his dad died a few years back and his mom told him to get ready he said I do not want to go his mom said turn off the game at 10 ok said Jacob hearing his mom close the door he yelled for his sister but forgot that his sister left with his mom so he said he need money for food and new that the farm was looking for helpers so he went down to the farm. And he notice that Mr.steve was a zombie and he ran as fast as he could and also was mr.steve and when he in the house he locked the door and played video games. then saw mr.Steve peak in his window and scream so he called his mom and said that there was a zombie at the door and his “mom said that this is no time to play its the 4th of July.”As she hung up there were 5 more zombie outside so Jacob was making plan to warn his mom and the town so he walked out threw a bone and ran to the town rally. And notice nobody was there and then all the fire work went off under his feet and he ran and saw his mom and told her and she went to the house and heard something so she walked slow and opened the door and it was the dryer because somebody put to many clothes in the and the story of the non existing zombies.   The End!!
Harris Burdick, Inquiry project, Narrative, The Harp, Writing

The Harp

The Harp

Once two friends named Luke and Kai were wandering behind the park when they heard a soothing sound coming from the end of the creek. There was a strange ripple in the water. More ripples came. They were following a pattern that turned into a song. Then they saw it. It was a energy yellow harp that was playing by itself. Beside it was a ocean blue flute that was also playing by itself. So its true he thought, it’s really true. The boys played a game and said that the winner would pick which one they wanted. Kai got the flute and Luke got the harp. Luke said that they should go home and research, so he stuffed the harp into his backpack and walked home. When he got home Luke went to his room,locked the door,and took it out of his backpack. When he researched about the harp this is what he found: The harp is a stringed musical instrument which has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard, which are plucked with the fingers. When Kai researched he found this: Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reed less wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening. When they finished they both met up in a place near a waterfall and a dark cave where nobody could see them. “Did you bring your instrument?”said Kai. “Totally.”replied Luke. And with the first breeze of air, they started. Luke plucked the individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard. First it was a light drizzle,then a few water drops, and finally it came. A thunder storm! Kai heard thunder shocks coming closer and closer until it struck the flute. Kai whistled into the flute and produced a flow of air across an opening. They both watched as the nearby waterfall turn into a massive wave and wiped out the harp. “Dude. These aren’t just regular instruments. There magic.” “Lets call it a tie okay?”said Luke. “Okay.”replied Kai. But the flute wanted to win.. When Luke went to check on Kai he noticed the shattered window. “Dude, the worst thing happened!”Kai exclaimed. “What, no more P.E and Art in school?”asked Luke. “Worse!It’s the flute dude. It’s evil!”screamed Kai. “How?”said Luke. “When I went to go downstairs and watch T.V I heard a sound that almost melted my ears off. When I went to check, my window was shattered!”said Kai. “Dude, I don’t believe you.”said Luke. “Does this prove my point?”said Kai. When Kai moved out of the way he saw the flute floating in the air and trying to destroy Luke’s backpack. “Hey! That backpack’s new!”said Luke. “Wait, do you have the harp in your backpack?” Kai asked. “Obviously.”said Luke. “That’s it! The flute wants to destroy the harp since we said it was tie and nobody won. The flute wants to win.”said Kai. “If the flute wants to destroy the harp,we have to destroy the flute first.”said Luke. They both plucked the strings from each side of the harp and let out a really loud drum roll. “Cover your ears!”shouted Kai. “Ok!”Luke shouted back. Once the drum roll stopped they uncovered their ears. “The flute its… its gone.”Kai stuttered. “I know.Now we have to hide the instrument before it hurts anybody else. The power of magic is too powerful.”said Luke. So Luke and Kai hid the harp and never said anything about what happened ever again.