More Turkey Please! Story By: Andrew Frinkle

More Turkey Please!

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Johnny and Cindy were planning their first Thanksgiving together. They had only been married a few weeks, and they lived far from their families. They had moved for job opportunities, and that had put them too far from home to go back for turkey dinner.

"What should we make?" Cindy asked.

"Turkey." Johnny growled hungrily. He laughed. "Of course, we need turkey." That went on the shopping list.

"I know, but what kind of side dishes?"

"I definitely need some candied yams. My mother makes the best ones ever." Johnny rubbed his belly, thinking about the yams.

"I like those, but I need some green bean casserole. That is a family specialty for me."

Johnny nodded. "I can eat that. I like it, too. What are your feelings on gravy and stuffing?"

Cindy smiled warmly. "Yes, please? I love those."

"Stuffing in the bird or on the stove?" Johnny wondered aloud.

"In the bird..." They both said at once, smiling as they said the same thing. They agreed on most things.

"How about cranberries, should they be in a can or in sauce?"

"In the can." Cindy said, as Johnny said, "Definitely as a sauce."

They frowned at each other. Johnny sighed. "Is this our first fight?"

They burst out laughing. "Let's try it both ways," Cindy suggested diplomatically.

Johnny wrote that down too, adding it to the shopping list. "I can live with that, just so long as we get pumpkin pie with the canned whip cream."

"Whip cream in a can instead of the tub? That sounds nice." Cindy agreed. "It's all set. We have our menu, so long as we add some vegetables and something to drink."

"Let's go get shopping. All this talking about food has me hungry."

"Alright, but Thanksgiving isn't for three more days."

Johnny groaned. He could wait, but it would be agonizing! At least when the day came, it would be a great meal.

Eating Healthy Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Eating Healthy

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Ethan loved eating chicken nuggets, pizza, fries, and burgers. To drink, he always liked milk shakes, cola, or sugary drinks. The sweeter it was, the more he liked it.

"You can't keep eating this stuff!" Ethan's mom complained.

"Why? It tastes so good."

His mother frowned and crossed her arms. "You eat too much sugar."

"Yum! Sugar." Ethan smiled happily.

"Look at what you're eating for breakfast."

Ethan looked at the food in front of him. It looked good to him. "I'm having juice, super rainbow sugar sprinkle krispies, and a donut." He smiled and took a bite of his glazed, jelly-filled donut. He chewed and then stopped when his teeth began to ache.

"Ethan, you're going to have to go to the dentist if you're getting cavities."

"No, I'm not!" Ethan denied it. He took another bite to prove he was fine. His teeth really ached, though.

 "See?" His mother sighed.

"Why do all the delicious things have to be bad for me? I can't eat broccoli forever. I'm not a rabbit."

"I know, but you don't get all the vitamins and minerals you need from the stuff you like to eat. All that food is sugar and fat. You need good food for healthy teeth, eyes, and even your brain!" His mother explained. "If you can't start making healthy choices more often, I won't buy any junk food or sweets to keep in the house for snacks."

"That's not fair!" Ethan whined.

Whining didn't work with mother. It made her more serious. "Snacks are supposed to be occasional treats, not you regular meals. I should have bought more healthy breakfast foods for you. Tomorrow you will have eggs, toast without jam, bacon, some fresh fruit, and a glass of milk."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

"I'm not going to put all these sweets in your lunch anymore, either. You will get yogurt, raisins, or fresh fruit for your dessert in your lunch, okay?"

Ethan didn't want to agree, but his mom's suggestion wasn't really that bad. Maybe his teeth wouldn't hurt so much anymore, either. He really didn't like trips to the dentist.

Follow the Recipe Story By: Have Fun Teaching

Follow the Recipe
Story By: Have Fun Teaching

Jonah had to make the dessert for tonight's dinner. His parents were busy, so they had left the task to him. Unfortunately, he'd never baked before. His mother had left all the ingredients and cooking tools out on the kitchen counter, along with a note that said, "Follow the recipe!"

How hard could it be anyway? He glanced at the instructions on the back of the can of pumpkin pie filling. It didn't seem bad. He preheated the oven to 425 degrees, and then began with the pie.

First, he got the pie crust out of the freezer. So far, so good, he thought. Next, he got the can opener and opened the pie filling and condensed milk. He poured both into a bowl, and then cracked two eggs to go with it. Those needed a good stirring to get the chunks of eggs broken up and the filling consistent.

Now he poured the filling into the crust, but there was a little extra. That he set aside. He wasn't sure what to do with it, and the instructions had been followed exactly, so he wasn't sure why there was any extra at all.

When the oven dinged to show it was preheated, he put the pie in. Then he waited 15 minutes, like the instructions said, so he could turn it down to 350 degrees to finish the pie. Now it was a waiting game, because he was supposed to wait 50-60 minutes before it was finished, but he wouldn't know if it was finished without testing it.

After 50 minutes, he opened the oven, careful of the hot air, and stuck a toothpick into the filling. It came out a bit wet and gummy, so he let it cook 5 more minutes. This time, the toothpick came out clean. The pie was done.

Using an oven mitt, he took the pie out of the oven and set it on his mother's pie cooling rack, like he'd seen her do a hundred times before. He felt pretty good about himself. It smelled great and everything had turned out perfect.

Suddenly, he had some inspiration. He pulled out the cookbooks and looked for pumpkin recipes. He finally found one that could be made with the leftover pumpkin pie filling. It didn't look hard, either. All he had to do was... follow the recipe!

Eye of the Storm 1-2

Eye of the Storm

Eye of the Storm is about storm chaser and weather photographer Warren Faidley. Faidley crosses the United States each year, following lightning storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes to capture them on film for his photo agency, Weatherstock. He became world-famous after photographing a lightning bolt that was the closest ever filmed.

Faidley follows weather patterns that happen at the same time, in the same areas, every year. In the summer, he stays near Arizona to photograph lightning storms in the desert. In the spring, he travels to Tornado Alley, which includes northern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Faidley spends about six weeks there, tracking thunderstorms and looking for tornadoes. His truck, Shadow Chaser, has a video camera, radios, scanners, emergency flashing lights, electronic equipment, and a lot of maps.

Faidley writes in his diary about what happened one May day in Texas. For the first part of the day, he and his partner, Tom Willett, listen to weather reports and go to the National Weather Service for updates, to predict where the storms will be.

Faidley and Willett drive north toward a spot where a funnel cloud has been reported. After a few close calls, they see a white funnel cloud coming down. When it touches the ground, it becomes a tornado.

Faidley sets up his camera and takes pictures. There are two huge storms coming together and creating more tornadoes in the area. Through the evening, the storm chasers follow the storms into Oklahoma. Soon, it gets too dark to take any more photos. By the end of the day they have seen a total of seven tornadoes! Fortunately, there are no reports of any injuries.

Halloween Costumes Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Halloween Costumes

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

It was nearly Halloween, so Jenny and her friends had to finish their costumes soon. Everyone was working so hard making them. It was hard work, but it would pay off with extra candy if they finished on time! It didn't hurt to look good, either.

Frank, her little brother, was going as a Fantastabot. That was a kind of robot that he liked from his cartoons. He was using a lot of cardboard, paint, paper, and shiny plastic to make his costume. It actually looked really good. He was a pretty good artist for his age, and was very good with lego blocks. Maybe that's why he was so good at making a robot costume.

Her friend Sandra from next door wanted to be a fairy. She used coat hangers to make the shapes of the wings, and she'd stretched colorful tissue paper across the wings. With spots and sparkles, they looked like real butterfly wings, only human-sized! She was finishing the costume with her ballet outfit and some sparkly tights and a tiara. It was a very pretty costume.

Thomas, Sandra's brother, wanted to be a superhero. He had some stretchy pants and a cape he'd made. He was working on a mask to cover his face and a shirt with a cool superhero logo. It was a decent costume, but he was a bit skinny for a superhero. Jenny helped him a little bit, because he was her friend's brother, and because he was really funny sometimes.

And what was Jenny going to be? Well, she'd be a princess, of course. She'd been adding rhinestones and glitter to an old pink dress she had from a party last year. She was also dong up her hair and makeup with mom's help. Shiny silver shoes with glass beads finished the look, along with a scepter that made her look royal.

When Halloween came, they looked awesome. Everyone complimented them on their costumes and even gave them extra candy sometimes. The whole thing was a great success, and Jenny was sad to finally take off her princess costume at the end of the night. Oh well, she thought... I can always wear it on the weekends!

Earthquake Terror 1-1

Earthquake Terror

As Earthquake Terror begins, Jonathan and his sister Abby are camping with their parents on Magpie Island. When their mother breaks her ankle, their father must rush her to the hospital. Jonathan stays behind on the island with Abby, who uses a walker, and their god, Moose.

Not long after the parents leave, Moose begins pacing back and forth, barking loudly, and shaking the way he does during a thunderstorm. Jonathan notices how quiet everything is - no birds chirping, no leaves moving.

Suddenly, there is a loud noise is the distance. Jonathan feels a jolt and falls forward. He feels the ground moving underneath him. It's an earthquake!

Jonathan feels as if he's riding a surfboard. He and Abby both fall, and she loses her walker. Thinking about the earthquake drills that he practices in school every year, Jonathan tells Abby to put her hands over her head. He tries to crawl over to her but can't keep his balance. Everything is moving, Abby is screaming, Moose is barking, and the earth sounds like a pounding drum. A huge redwood falls, just missing Jonathan by a few feet. It lands on another fallen tree.

Finally, Jonathan reaches Abby. He tells her that they need to find shelter. They manage to crawl over and wedge themselves into the space between the redwood and the other tree. Moose joins them there.

Then, as quickly as it started, everything stops. Jonathan isn't sure how long the earthquake lasted. Everything is quiet again. The children come out from under the tree. They are both okay, except for a few cuts. They know that they are lucky to be alive.

Things that come in 10's Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Things that come in 10's

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Lots of things come in 10's.

There are tens of them.

Can you think of any?

October is the 10th month.

Do you have a $10 bill?

Dimes are 10 cents.

A decade is 10 years.

Crabs have 10 legs.

Squids have 10 limbs.

Shrimp have 10 legs.

Bowling has 10 pins.

You have 10 fingers.

You have 10 toes.

Decagons have 10 sides.

Lots of things come in 10's.

There are tens of them.

Can you think of more?

The Weather is Snowy Story By: Andrew Frinkle

The Weather is Snowy

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

How is the weather today?

The weather is snowy.

The air is cold.

The sky is grey.

It is winter.

It is snowing.

White flakes fall.

They are soft.

They are small.

They are cold.

I wear a hat.

I wear gloves.

I wear a coat.

I wear boots.

How is the weather today?

The weather is snowy.

A Fall Festival with Grandma By: Deborah Lynn

A Fall Festival with Grandma

By: Deborah Lynn

It would soon be Halloween and Mommy and Daddy wanted their kids to have fun!

"What can we do so that Eva and Micah will be safe?" asked Mommy.

"Let them go to the Fall Festival with Grandma. That would be lots of fun!" Daddy answered.

"Yes Mommy, please," Eva Begged. "Let us go the the Fall Festival."

"What is a Fall Festival?" Micah asked.

Mommy explained that is was a place where people from Grandma's church would have games and prizes. She said they would like it very much. There would be children there. So when Halloween arrived, Grandma came over to get Eva and Micah. Eva was dressed up as a Princess and Micah looked like Spiderman.

"This is going to be way cool!" Micah said with a smile.

The festival was outside as a football field. They had bounce houses, walls to climb and swings that went around and around and way up high. There were pony rides, a petting zoo and lots of games to play. Everyone at the festival won candy even if they didn't win the game! There were hot dogs, drinks, pretzels and cotton candy. There was so much to do that they didn't have time to do it all.

They stayed until the rides closed and then they walked back to the car in the dark. It really was a very fun night, and on the way home Grandma even stopped at the ice cream store. Eva and Micah got two scoops of chocolate ice cream.

"I had fun Grandma," Micah said.

"Me too, Grandma, thanks for taking us," Eva said.

Grandma just smiled. I think she was happy too.

Autumn By www.theteachersguide.com

Autumn

By www.theteachersguide.com

As summer draws its final breath

to prepare its curtain call

the monarchs begin their epic trek

to usher in the fall

The northern wind breathes out its chill

as songs begin to hush

and paints the trees upon the hill

with its artist's brush

From green to red, orange and brown

the trees discard their masks

and lay them gently upon the ground

for us to begin our tasks

Autumn makes way for winter's reign

we bid farewell old friend

till summer's warmth begins to wane

and fall returns again

Holidays of the Seasons Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Holidays of the Seasons

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

In Spring, we have holidays with colors that remind us of flowers growing. St. Patrick's Day is green in March. Don't forget that silly holiday April Fool's! We also have Memorial Day in May, so lay some flowers out.

In Summer, we have a lot of family holidays and patriotic holidays. Flag Day is in June, so show your pride. In May there is Cinco de Mayo, when many people try food from Mexico. Mother's Day is Also in May, and you should get some pretty flowers! Father's Day is shortly after in June, so get dad something nice! In July, we have Independence Day, where fireworks are flying high.

In the Fall, we have festivals the colors of harvest. In october, there is orange, brown, and black Halloween. Let's not forget Columbus Day, because that was important for our history. In November, we see those colors again in Pumpkins, pie, and turkey. Veteran's Day is also in November, too!

In Winter, we have holidays that are mostly white, red, and gold! The end of the calendar year has Christmas in red and white. There are many religious and cultural holidays in the Winter, too. New Year's is full of bright and colorful fireworks splashing in the sky. January has New Year's Day, and it is often white outside with snow. January or February is when we have the red and gold Chinese New Year. February has Valentine's Day, which is often red and full of cheer. Groundhog Day in February reminds us of winter's coming end.

There are too many holidays to count, these and many more. They come and go, and then the seasons start over! 

Jewels and Toads: A French Folktale

Jewels and Toads: A French Folktale

Once upon a time, a woman had two daughters. Mila, the older one, was mean and selfish, like her mother. The younger girl, Emma, was gentle and kind. The mother loved her older daughter more, so she treated Mila well. She made Emma work hard and walk a mile to the well to get fresh water.

One day, Emma saw a poor, ragged woman at the well. The woman begged the child for a drink. Emma gave the woman some water to drink. The ragged woman was weak so Emma carefully held the pitcher for her.

"You are so kind," said the woman. "I will give you a gift. From now on, every time you speak, a jewel will fall from your mouth."

When Emma returned home, her mother scolded her for being gone for so long. "I am so sorry, mother," said Emma. When Emma spoke, a diamond came out of her mouth.

Her mother was surprised, but she quickly caught the jewel. "How does this happen, my dear, sweet, favorite child?" she asked.

Emma told her mother about the woman at the well. The next morning, the mother sent Mila to get water. She was sure the old woman would give Mila the same gift.

The poor, ragged woman was at the well. She asked Mila for a drink. "No. You're just an ugly, old beggar woman. Just give me the same gift you gave my sister," Mila demanded.

"I'll give you a gift," the woman muttered.

When Mila spoke, a toad tumbled out of her mouth. Her mother was very surprised, and she didn't catch the toad. "You have caused this," the mother screamed at Emma. "You must leave this house at once and never come back."

Emma left the house and went into the woods. There, she saw the king's son. "Why are you alone in these woods?" the prince asked.

When Emma told him what happened, jewels fell from her mouth. The prince took her home to meet his family. They were soon married and lived happily ever after.

Black Friday

Black Friday

They day after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, so the day after is a Friday. This day has come to be known as Black Friday. It has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005.

Most stores offer great deals on Black Friday. They open their doors in the wee hours of the morning. They try to attract shoppers with big discounts. Some items like TV's are much cheaper than usual. Stores may even lose money on these items. They hope that shoppers will buy gifts for other people while they are in the store.

Black Friday is a great time to get good deals. The problem is that there are not enough low-priced items to go around. Each store may only have a few. These items are in high demand. People stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours before a store opens. They may be hoping to get a low price on a TV or laptop, but not everyone who wants one will get one. Some people leave disappointed.

The situation can be tense. Some Black Friday events have been violent. Large, eager crowds have trampled workers. Fights have broken out over toys of people cutting in line. People have sot one another over parking spots. But most Black Friday events are safe and fun. Still, if you plan on going, expect large crowds and a bit of shoving.

So where does the name "Black Friday" come from? It was first used in Philadelphia in the 1950s. The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew. In the 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday." It did not stick. The name "Black Friday" continued to spread across the country. It seems that it is here to stay.

Now people all over the country take part in the event known as Black Friday. It is even spreading to other parts of the world. Stores have held Black Friday events in the U.K., Australia, and Brazil since 2012. In Costa Rica Black Friday is known as "Viernes Negro." And in Mexico, stores offer an annual weekend of discounts. They call it "El Buen Fin," which means "the good weekend" in Spanish. I guess the language of savings is universal.

Black Friday Shopping! Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Black Friday Shopping!

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Joan couldn't resist a sale. The better the sale, the more she wanted to buy. Words like Buy One Get One, 50% off, or Clearance, were music to her ears. Therefore, there was no bigger day of the year for her habit than Black Friday.

Black Friday was the day after Thanksgiving, when many businesses started selling really well. When businesses were 'in the black,' they were making money. That was fine by Joan, so long as she was spending her money wisely and getting great deals!

Joan set her alarm for 4 A.M., having laid out her clothes and sensible shoes the night before. Her purse and everything were ready, so when that alarm rang, she sprang out of bed and was out the door in less than 10 minutes. She drove quickly, following a route she'd mapped out to avoid traffic. Her parking spot was strategically located between her favorite stores.

She hit the mall like a hurricane, a force of nature in the realm of shopping. She dodged slow-moving zombie shoppers who'd been out all night waiting for one special item. She made people watch in awe as she found the shortest lines, magically seeming to whiz through store after store.

With arms loaded up with bags, she returned to her car to offload. She pounded an energy drink, took a couple minutes to focus on her shopping list, and then it was once more into the fray! She returned to the stores, dancing around people who didn't know the art of the shopping game. She weaved between crowds of people like a ghost, unseen by those of lesser shopping talents than her.

When she was finally done, she returned to her car with another armload of bags. Her work done, she retreated home for some rest for herself and her credit card. Until next year, that is...

Pumpkins, Pumpkins by www.theteachersguide.com

Pumpkins, Pumpkins

by www.theteachersguide.com

Pumpkins, pumpkins

all around,

big and small

oval and round.

Picking a pumpkin

is so much fun,

but how can I

choose just one.

I search the patch

from left to right,

under stems and leaves

tucked in tight.

What is this

that I spy,

from the corner

of my eye.

Just the right size

nice and round,

the perfect pumpkin

I have found.

The Wonkadoodle Story By: Andrew Frinkle

The Wonkadoodle

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

"I want a Wonkadoodle!" Jimmy screamed for the twelfth time. This time he really wanted his dad's attention.

His father glanced back at him impatiently. There were things to do, and he wasn't sure why he'd allowed himself to be talked into this detour. This was why he avoided toy stores. They just seemed like opportunities for his son to act like a brat. "You want a whatzawhizzle?"

"A Wonkadoodle." Jimmy corrected with a growl of irritation.

"What's that?" Father favored him with a look of incomprehension.

Jimmy pointed to a toy robot alien looking thing. Father frowned, clearly unimpressed by the toy. "That looks silly."

"It lights up, talks, sings, dances, and learns!"

"I wish you would learn not to be interested in such goofiness." Father lamented.

"Dad. It's a Wonkadoodle. It's amazing. Look at it and try to imagine how many hours I can play with it, teaching it."

"I imagine about an hour and a half before you're bored with it. Besides, that's what dogs are for. Teach Rex a new trick instead of wasting $42 on this piece of rubber and plastic."

"Everyone has one, and I need one desperately."

Father shrugged. "You need to fix your thinking. I never had one, and I'm fine. In fact, when I was little, kids played with sticks and balls and rolled old tires down the street."

Jimmy stared aghast at his father. Sticks and balls? What sort of Stone Age punishment was that? How awful. "You guys didn't even have handheld video games and smart phones?"

"We had rotary phones on the wall and a computer with a screen as big as a TV set. We survived somehow, and I came out of childhood unscathed, and a bit healthier than you. You're looking a bit pudgy these days. Maybe you need more exercise and less toys."

Jimmy was about to go full meltdown. Somehow, the conversation had turned from the Wonkadoodle toy to the golden days of father's childhood to him getting chubby. "DAD!"

"No way. We're done, and we're certainly not buying that piece of junk."

It was over; the dream was crushed. Jimmy deflated.

"Wait for your birthday." Father mumbled as he dragged his son from the aisle.

Jimmy grinned. Maybe there was still a chance, and maybe by then, a newer version would be out. Magazines had been talking about Wonkadoodle Alpha. Would he be the first person he knew to own one? 

Greece

Greece

The beautiful country of Greece is officially known as the Hellenic Republic (Elliniki Dimokratia). It is located in southeastern Europe. It is famous for the beauty of its landscape. Greece is dominated by mountains and seas. The Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian seas are around the country's eastern, southern, and western borders. Neighboring countries include Turkey, Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. Greece's largest city and capital is Athens.

The Greek flag is blue and white.

Apart from its beautiful landscape, Greece is best known throughout the world for its mythology and legends. Some of the best works of literature in the world come from ancient Greece. The myths and legends of Zeus, Ulysses, Pandora's box, Hercules, all come from Greece.

Famous writers and philosophers from Greece include, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Homer and Sophocles.

The language they speak in Greece is known as Modern Greek. The Greek language is one of the difficult languages to learn. It has existed longer than most languages. Modern Greek uses the same alphabet that was used for the Greek language spoken in ancient times. The Greeks also speak English and German as secondary languages.

The other thing the country of Greece is famous for is the creation of the Olympic Games that began as a national festival. The ancient Greeks celebrated the Olympics every four years in the sanctuary of the god Zeus. It is a festival the Greeks now share with the entire world and is now known as the Modern Olympic Games.

Ancient Greek ideas about art, architecture, drama, philosophy, and government have greatly influenced the Western civilization. Greece is a country with a rich history. It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Floppy Ears Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Floppy Ears

Story By: Andrew Frinkle

Phil was a basset hound. He had very long ears. His favorite person in the world was shelly.

Shelly was his owner's daughter. She always played with him and gave him treats.

Phil's favorite treat was ice water. He liked a nice cool drink after he went outside. He liked a nice cool drink before a nap. He also liked a nice cool drink after he ate.

Phil had a problem. Every time he tried to drink his water, he got his ears wet. Then his wet ears would get water everywhere. It was not a nice feeling.

Shelly was a smart girl. She liked to play with Phil and help him. When she saw his wet ears, she started to think.

"How can I fix his ears? They always get wet."

She definitely didn't want to use scissors to make his ears shorter! That was a scary idea. She would never hurt Phil. Phil's ears were the best thing about him.

What could she do?

She tried to tape his ears up. The tape wouldn't stick well to his fur. Phil yelped when the tape pulled off his hair, too! Poor Phil.

How about a clothespin? She used a clothespin to hold his ears back behind his head. It worked!

Phil drank his ice water before his nap, and he didn't get his ears wet. Now he could sleep without wet ears. Shelly was so happy, and Phil was happier!