Story from Bradford Elementary School
Bradford Elementary School

This is an extended family that works in the rainforest. They do not have the luxuries that we have in our house. They keep their dishes in a plastic holder with several layers. It must be very hot there since the older man is sitting at the kitchen table with no shirt. This would be considered impolite in the United States .

You can see the Rainforest hat and the bags which are guessing are dried rice. The family looks like the children and the men work with the crops in the rainforest and the mother takes care of the home. In Australia , they lived in caves; we are assuming they are living in huts. There does not seem to be any lights in the hut. There is a tablecloth and the food looks delicious. We are not sure what type of food they are eating.

If we were to assume it is not important that there house looks real pretty, it is more important that their daily work takes priority. That is why the bags of what we think may be rice sits right next to the kitchen table.

Kiss for the Road
Ms. Tilley's Class, Comanche Elementary School

In the very early morning, before even the sun had risen, I gave my little brother a kiss goodbye. I am going to work today with Dad who works in a paint shop near the edge of the rainforest. I feel bad to leave my brother because he is hard to take care of, and I usually help grandpa take care of him. Mom has been too sick to take care of my baby brother, so grandpa has offered to help with little brother and I usually help grandpa. Today however, I go to help Dad because Dad needs my help to paint a boat.

The boat we are painting is a very special boat needed for the coming boat festival. The whole village will honor the most beautiful and unique boat and we will be giving it as a gift to our village leader. My Dad is very lucky that he has been chosen to paint the boat. I am very lucky to be his son, and will get to help him.

My brother will miss me. Even though I have given him an anklet and bracelet to remember me by, he will be lonely with me gone. Grandpa keeps him company, but grandpa doesn’t play with him like I do. I hope he will think of me while I am gone. I hope he will miss me like I will miss him. He will probably be happy to see me when I get home tonight. I adore my little brother and he adores me.

Stories from Bala Cynwyd Elementary School
Ms. Hegeman's Class, Bala Cynwyd Elementary

Story 1: One day the village boy, Paco, realized he was of the age to learn hunting skills. During breakfast, the boy asked his uncle to teach him to hunt in the plains outside his village. The uncle collected his carved club and cylinder container, and donned his traditional hand-woven, wool clothing – cap, beads, vest, and loincloth. They left their wooden hut and walked away from the village into the grassy plain.

Paco followed a few steps behind his uncle. Watching him closely, he tried his best to look as stern as his uncle. They were walking quietly so they didn’t disturb the animals. Because they were wearing sandals, they had to be careful not to step on sharp objects. Paco didn’t know what to expect and that made him feel nervous, although he tried not to show those emotions in front of his uncle.

Story 2: When he woke up, it was still dark outside. Joey was excited to visit his grandfather that morning. His grandfather lived in a nearby village in Brunei. In that village, everyone knows each other and they follow traditional customs. His family’s friend was ready, waiting in the reed boat on the river, to take him downstream to Grandfather’s village. The trip through the forest underbrush would take about 2 hours.

When Joey arrived, grandfather greeted him warmly. Some of the villagers stared at him as he walked to grandfather’s wood hut. Grandfather was dressed in traditional clothes that showed his tattoos, beads, cap and loincloth and vest. Joey thought this clothing and the hut were so different from his own home in the city. Grandfather led the way, carrying his club and wooden container, and Joey followed behind, trying to look and feel as serious as Grandfather. He was ready to learn the traditional rituals, but felt nervous, wondering if he would be able to remember them correctly.

Olympia Elementary School's Story
Ms. Rocke's Class, Olympia Elementary School

In the ordinary tropical rainforest, there was a girl who lived in the treetops with her parents. Even though Jane had lived in the rainforest all her life, she was still frightened of one particular bridge. It was a bridge up in the canopy of the forest. This bridge would sway in the wind, and it had a narrow plank on which to walk.

People had always told Jane what a rare treat it was to walk across that bridge. But Jane was too frightened to try. She kept thinking of the long drop if she fell from the bridge. “Just imagine falling from that height,” she thought.

However, one day Jane decided she would conquer her fear of the bridge. She packed a backpack with supplies for her hike to the bridge. Inside her backpack she packed a bottle of water, a basket of food, a first aide kit, and a sketchpad. She got to the bridge by climbing a series of ladders. As she climbed higher and higher, the view became more and more beautiful.

Finally, she reached the start of the bridge. She noticed the shadows falling across the plank of the bridge. Cautiously, she began taking baby steps out onto the bridge. Her heart was pounding so fast as she inched her way across the bridge.

Suddenly her fear was not as strong. “Wow, I can’t believe how beautiful it is,” she whispered to herself. She saw the leaves flicker in the sun. She heard the birds chirping, and felt the summer breeze. She took out her sketchpad. As she sketched, a flock of birds erupted from the forest a few feet in front of her. Some of the birds she did not recognize, but she thought she would look up their names in her Birds of the World book when she got back home.

Reluctantly, she started for home. As she left the bridge she couldn’t imagine ever being frightened of it. She decided she would return again soon. She might even volunteer to help keep the bridge clean. It had become her favorite place in the rainforest.

A Busy Day at the Dock
Mrs. Scott’s Class, Rural Hall School

Setting: Early Morning at the Dock

Characters: Dock Owner, Dad and Daughter, Bait Customer, Tourist, Tour Guide

Scene 1: Dad and daughter arrive at the dock and are greeted by the dock owner.

Dad: Hi. My daughter and I would like to rent a boat for the day.

Dock Owner: What kind of boat are you looking for and how long would you like to rent it?

Dad: We would like a medium-size motorboat for 5 hours.

Daughter: Sweet, dad.

Dock Owner: Right this way. I have the perfect boat for you. By the way, it will be $20 for the day.

Scene 2: Bait Customer comes in.

Dock Owner: Hello! Welcome to Esso. How may I help you?

Customer: I need 2 pounds of bait.

Dock Owner: What kind of bait do you want?

Customer: That sounds great. I’ll take some of those.

Scene 3: Tourist is looking for a tour.

Tourist: I’m new here and I want to check out the river. Are there any tours available?

Tour Guide: We have tours beginning every two hours. The next one starts in 10 minutes. The tour includes sights around the river. You can also rent snorkeling and diving gear if you are interested.

Tourist: Great! I’ll just look around while I’m waiting.

Scene 4: Dad and daughter are ready to leave.

Dock Owner: There. Everything is ready. You’re all set to go.

Daughter: Hey, I forgot my camera.

Dock Owner: That’s O.K. We have cameras available. I’ll be right back with one.

Daughter: Awesome. This is going to be an exciting adventure.