A note to Maureen (and anyone else reading this)

This was a fun project and I can see it working at many grade levels and across the curriculum.  I actually did this assignment with my first graders and I would love to share the results with the class when we meet.  I'd also like to share how I changed it up so that first graders were able to do it and have fun. 

I had told them this was MY homework and after we did it, I asked them how they liked it and did they have anything to say to MY teacher.  Comments were: "It was fun!", "It wasn't 'trash'" (this is a higher student and I think she meant it was worth her while), "Tell your teacher thank you!" "I want to do it again!"

Kath's original drawing

Maria's drawing of my monster

Maria, your interpretation was pretty close to my drawing!  Only thing really wrong is that you put the tail on the wrong side and the teeth are supposed to overlap the bottom.  You get an A!  :o)

Kathleen, here is the Redrawn picture of  your monster.

Monster story

Little Drew had decided that he wasn’t going to let this monster scare him anymore.  With trembling hands, he slowly turned the knob on his closet door.  Quietly and deliberately, he twisted it until it stopped.  Maybe he shouldn’t open the door.  But if he didn’t, he would continue to sleep fitfully and have nightmares when he did sleep.  Yes, he would open the door and confront this troublesome monster!  Quickly, Drew yanked open the door and gasped with what he saw!  Nothing could have prepared him for this pear-shaped blob without any legs.  His body was neon green with a wide purple band around his waist and his fur was as short as velvet. On top of his head were 2 triangular shaped horns that looked like cones that had turned upside down and had lost their ice cream.  Right in the middle of this fiend’s head was one large round eye that spiraled like an orange lollipop and there was an almost straight thin smile except for the tiny slight upward curve on both ends. He had two top teeth that overlapped his bottom lip, looking like 2 miniature marshmallows.  The silliest part of him was the teal blue bunny tail on his left side. The two arms he had were short and thick with 3 fat, round fingers on each and held in his right hand was a bright pink heart balloon!  This “ogre” was so startled when Drew had thrown open the door that all he could think to do was to say, “Happy New Year!” and then he started making a sound like a soft summer rain.