People and Places: Creative Writing about Southwestern Pennsylvania

Day Five Photos

2008-06-21T21:49:00.001-04:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

Sharing Day Five

2008-06-21T11:39:00.011-04:00

Sharing on Day Two

2008-06-21T11:02:00.002-04:00

Webkinz.....

Day Four Photos

2008-06-19T19:48:00.002-04:00

Through the Eyes of An Immigrant

2008-06-19T18:43:00.015-04:00

After our visit to the Heritage Discovery Center, the children were asked to write a letter home from the viewpoint of an immigrant. Here are some their letters:

May 4th, 1902

Dear Mom,
How is everyone home in Italy doing? Guess what? I married the guy my Aunt told my about. He is so nice! I met him at the train station. People here can be rude. I saw the mine and store. I can’t find a job yet. They think women in mines are bad luck. Isn’t that silly?
With love,
Maria, your daughter

P.S. When I have enough money and a job, I’ll send you a ticket.

by: Alexis

May 4, 1902

Dear Dad:

Hello! I want to tell you about my life in America. It is hard because I’m treated different because they don’t like Polocks. It is so weird because nobody is the same. I work in the coal mine. In America I hope to live to be 100 years old. I joined a church. It smelled terrible in Johnstown because of the mills and mines.

From,
Stefan
By: Hunter

May 4, 1902

Dear Mom:
Hello! I want to tell you about America. It is different from Australia. The people talk funny. It is hard to talk to other people because I don’t understand them. I hope to become the president of United States of America . I worked at a coal company. I didn’t join a church or club I do plan to stay so I can become an American.

From,
Stefan

By: Darious

May 4, 1902

Dear Dad:

Hello! I want to tell you about my new life in America. The people treat me nice. It smells nasty here in Johnstown. I joined a church club. In America, I hope to accomplish taking care of my family.

Love,
Andre

By: Andre

May 4, 1902

Dear Dad:

Life in America is pretty good, but when we traveled by ship it was pretty rough. Now that that's over it's fine. Well, there is something bad. No one speaks Polish. So I hope to learn English. Johnstown smells different from my old country because of those steel mills. I live in Boswell. I didn't join a church yet, but I hope to soon.

Love,

Stefan

by: Ian

May 4, 1902

Dear Mom

Hello! I want to tell you about my new life in America…
Right knows I am on my way to America. I am getting seasick. I can’t wait to see you. I think I heard that I should be home in 2 days. Hope to see you soon. On the ship
people are treating me really badly.
It is really smelly under the deck. The ship also is brown and black.

Sincerely,
Katrina

By: Sadie

Keep an eye here for a few other letters that are being polished by their authors.
Please leave us a comment!

Field Trip~Day Three

2008-06-18T14:49:00.004-04:00

Today we visited the Heritage Discovery Center and The Wagner-Ritter House located in Johnstown's historic Cambria City neighborhood. The children were very inspired by the experience. They wrote of their expectations before we entered the museum. Following our tour, while eating a snack in the courtyard, the children wrote letters home through the eyes of an immigrant who was living in Johnstown. Below are the photos of our experience. The most exciting part of the trip for Mrs. Penrose and myself was when a child asked if we'd be doing this writing camp again next year. It's so wonderful to have them excited about writing!

Day Two Writing

2008-06-17T18:45:00.008-04:00

Today the Young Writers brought in artifacts to share with the group and then wrote about why those artifacts were important to them. We also webbed a topic close to our hearts and then wrote a story using the information on the web. The writers really impressed us with their enthusiasm and energy today. Here are a few samples of their work:

An Acrostic

by Alexis

Writing lots

Reading too!

I love it!

Too much fun

It's so cool

Not boring

Go writing!

Crazy for stories

Awesome place

Magic it seems to get these kids to like writing

Perfect place for your kid

Hockey

by Ian

I love to play hockey. It is my favorite sport. I play for the Johnstown Warriors. I am in Squirts A Minor. This is my second year playing hockey. My coach's name is Kevin M. I can wait until the season starts, but that won't be until about two and a half months.

Bible School

by Sarah

My best friend Lexie invited me to a bible school. Lexie and I got to each other's houses a lot. At bible school a girl named Savannah hung out with Lexie. ON Tuesday, Savannah and I became friends. Wednesday, we played volleyball with each other. Thursday, Savannah was sick and didn't come. I met a girl named Charisa and we became friends. We play volleyball a lot, too. Friday, again Savannah didn't come so I played with Charisa.

In those five days I learned Psalm 23: 1-5. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me. Thy rod and they staff they comfort me. I forget the rest.

THE END

My Day at the Water Park

by Andre

When I went to an indoor water park I got to hold a baby tiger. I also got to pet a male lion. I got to see it play with its toys. I got to take a picture of a rhino and a leopard. At first I was scared, but after a while I thought that it was cool. The best part of my trip was the Leap of Doom water slide. It was the best because the slide starts inside and then goes outside. That is why the Leap of Doom was the best thing at the Ohio Indoor Water Park.

Day One

2008-06-16T16:37:00.002-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had a fantastic first day at our Young Writers Workshop. The children were very engaged in writing and sharing their writing with each other. Look for their writing here soon!

Welcome

2008-06-09T22:03:00.006-04:00

Welcome to our blog! We look forward to sharing the writing of the participants of our Young Writers Program entitled: People and Places: Creative Writing about Southwestern Pennsylvania during the week of our workshop, June 16th through the 20th.