Mechanical vs. Standard Pencils

Here's another Blog Worthy journal entry from one of our students in Room 205. This time students were asked to pick a side in the debate "Which type of pencil is better? Mechanical or Standard?

Number 6 did a terrific job making her point in this debate:

Mechanical pencils! They are much better for the environment! Why? What are regular pencils made out of? Wood! Mechanical pencils come with extra lead. But why is it important? First, wood comes from trees so you have to cut down trees to make them. Second, mechanical pencils are made from plastic and can be recycled! And if mechanical pencils come with lead, you don't have to hear that annoying pencil sharpener sound. It'll distract people in school! And if you run out of lead in a mechanical pencil, you can just stick some more lead right in! It also doesn't make you waste money on pencil grips and stuff because mechanical pencils can already come in cool designs! So everyone, vote for mechanical pencils!



Extra Credit Questions:



1. Do you agree now that mechanical pencils are better?



2. Will you stop buying regular pencils and start using mechanical ones?



3. Do you think that if more people used mechanical pencils the environment would be better?



4. Do you think that you will still buy accessories for your pencil?

I am a Tree

A Blog Worthy Piece by Author # 14



I'm a vast tree towering in the sky.

When harsh winds blow, I sway all around.

In the intense winter I close all openings in my branches.

I am bare.

When time changes to Spring, I grow.

In the blazing summer, I shade people.

When there is a storm you hear "crack".

I have fallen.

My life is over.



Questions/Comments:

1. Who is the "I" in this poem?

2. Which descriptive words help you feel how the tree feels?

3. How do you feel at the beginning of the poem? Do you feel the same at the end?

4. What is your favorite part?