Student Samples: Upper Elementary
The two fourth grade samples below were written after their class decided that Ralph Fletcher might have been inspired by this prompt when writing his "First Pen" chapter:
We have all received gifts.
Tell the story of a special gift and why it was important to you. |
 The Heart Necklace
by Lauren, fourth grade writer
When I was eight years old, my dad gave me a necklace. The necklace had a crystal in a shape of a heart attached to a sterling silver chain. The crystal was tinted red and pink.
My dad was getting married to my step mom Nicole. Nicole had short golden blonde hair no longer than her shoulders. She had caramel brown eyes that lit up when she smiled or laughed. I helped her pick out her wedding dress. The dress was a sleeveless top that had little crinkles for decoration. My dad and I picked out the cake. The cake had three layers of vanilla cake. For decoration it had strawberries dipped in chocolate.
At the wedding, I wore the necklace. It matched my white dress and cooperated with the pink sash. I thought Nicole looked beautiful and after the wedding my dad said, “You look very grown up.” After he said that, I thought about looking grown up and the more I thought, the more I felt grown up.
Every time I wear that necklace I feel grown up. I love that necklace so much. I feel special every time I put it on. I can’t wait until I wear it again.
 Getting my Knife
by John, fourth grade writer
On my 8th birthday, I got a present that I still have now, and it’s very useful to me. It was my first pocketknife. It was a big steel, shiny knife and it could unfold into a pair of pliers. The brand was Leatherman. I opened it up to see what tools it had. There was a sharp, shiny blade, two screw drivers (one flat head and one I’m-not-sure-what-it’s-called head) and a ruler. Last but not least a circular thing that I still don’t know what it is.
I went outside to try whittling something. I got a stick and started carving the end of it. Scrape, scrape, scrape...the knife worked perfectly. I stopped whittling when the stick was as sharp a pin. I got up and a pile of shavings fell off of me and onto the rocky path.
I closed my new knife and walked back up the stairs to tell my mom how much I liked it. Then I walked up to my room and put it in a little wooden box on top of my dresser. I use that knife for a lot of things and I don’t want to give it up.
(Click here to view/print these two fourth graders' samples to share with your fourth grade class.)
The sixh grade sample below was written after Riley's class decided that Ralph Fletcher might have been inspired by this prompt when writing his "First Pen" chapter:
Sometimes we receive things that change our lives.
Tell the story of a something that changed your life or the way you think about things. |
Carnival Treat or Worm Bait?
by Riley, 6th grade writer
One late afternoon, on a boring Sunday, I needed something to change my world and that’s what I got. I leaped down to the kitchen and found a plastic case containing three golden apples, smothered in caramel and roasted peanuts. I took one out and nibbled on it. I found out it was one of the most tremendous fruits I’ve ever put my hands on.
When I was almost finished, I munched into the very last bite and came upon something. The taste of dirt loomed around my mouth.
“Was this a dream?” I wondered. “Was this really in my apple?”
There was long and slimy worm dangling from my treat. Instantly, I launched it into the stinky trash can. That is when I got sick. Now you can believe that something changed my world that day.
Before that moment I thought that apple was going to be a carnival treat but now I know it was nothing but worm bait.
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