Two students from Mrs. Rymer’s fifth grade at Copper Basin Elementary scored a 6 (highest possible score) on the writing assessment – Alexis Deal, daughter of Angie and Alex Deal and Skylah Mealer, daughter of Charmell and Robert Mealer. Samples of their writing follow.

The Day I Pretended To Be a Raindrop

By Alexis Deal

I was so nervous as I heard the news. My family, friends, and I were about to fall to earth. I was so scared. I didn't even know where I would fall. The only thing I knew was that I would fall from a stratus cloud. I always had a dream that I would be part of a river. I had never been part of the water cycle before. Bump! Bump! All different kinds of raindrops were bumping into me. I looked at the top of the cloud. It was midnight black.

All of a sudden, raindrops started falling akimbo. Wee! I was falling! The bad news was, I was getting separated from everyone I knew.

"Mom." I yelled.

I was getting pushed away by the wind. I was falling through the atmosphere. By the time I could see the Statue of Liberty, I was almost to a river. A very large river! I soon discovered that it was the Mississippi River. It was so cool; my dream came true- except for me with my family. I was so disappointed. I was about to cry. I only met one friend. Her name was Kyra. We told each other about our lives.

Kyra said, “This river is called the Up-Side Down River.”

I said, “Are you feeling okay?”

She didn't answer. I guess she was going to look for her family.

Finally, I decided to push my way down the river. I noticed some familiar faces. It was my mom and dad! After we got together we went through the water cycle many more times. Even sometimes we were in a downpour. Although I was scared, we were always together. That day was the day when I pretended to be a raindrop. The next day at school my reading teacher, Mrs. Rymer, told us that we would be writing a story about raindrops. When she said that I laughed ...

I Won a Camel

By Alexis Deal

My mother was busy when the doorbell rang. She asked me to answer it. When I opened the door, I saw two men holding a large chain. At the end of the chain stood a camel, winking at me.

"We are delivering the prize you won in the Save the Animals Contest. Enjoy it!" they said as they handed me the end of the chain.

"Wait a minute," I yelled as they got in their big truck and drove away. "I didn't enter any contest." But they were already out of sight.

“Mother” I yelled.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Somebody brought me a camel," I said.

I didn't think she cared. The camel is as big as a dragon. I didn't have a clue what to do with the camel. The first thing I did was name the camel. I found out very soon that it was a boy because it was being so mean and rowdy. I decide to name him James. First I put James in the cow pasture. Of course that didn't work. He was eating all of the hay.

Then, I put him in the pig lot. That is why all of the pigs were trying to run away. I had to rush to the pig lot and get James out of there. He was messing up the place. I decided that he needed a punishment. That night I tied him to a tree. He didn't get one bite of anything. He was so still and silent that I knew something would happen. Crunch! Crunch! I heard something coming from outside my window. I ran out as fast as I could. To my surprise, James was eating a stick.

Finally, I decided to build James a little house. That very morning I marched outside. I grabbed some wood and started building. Before I knew it, James's house was complete. He had the best camel house ever! When James finally got used to his home something bad happened.

“Um … Um … excuse me, but where exactly did you get that camel?: a chubby kid said. "Two guys said 1 won it in a contest." I said.

"Oh this is my camel. I entered the animal contest," he said. So I had to give up James. I cried and cried until the doorbell rang. I got up and answered it. It was the two men.

Christmas

By Skylah Mealer

Christmas is coming. The days are getting shorter. Glistening snow lays on the ground and sticks to the bare tree branches. Birds and squirrels seek out whatever they can find. A cold wind blows and scatters the dead leaves, but in our home, a cheery fire burns in the fireplace. My family and I are happily awaiting Santa.

Since Christmas is not very far away we have to start decorating. Everybody is hovering around, trying to hang big red stockings, string the popcorn, and bake cookies for Santa. Every year my family is in a big confusion around Christmas, but everything falls into place on Christmas Eve. After all of the big, bold, beautiful decorations were hung up, we cut a big green tree down and put it in the living room. The kids gathered big, brown pinecones and put them on the tree. After the tree was full of the pinecones, puffy popcorn, and candy canes, it was time to make Christmas presents. I had so much in mind – socks, gloves, pants, shirts, but I have to make all of it. So I got a lot of colors in midnight blue, lime green, rusty red and started to knit. First, I knitted Betty’s gloves, then I knitted John’s socks. After all the big, beautiful presents were made and wrapped; the only thing left to do was cook. My dad and grandpa already killed a pig and a big plump turkey, so all we had to do was cook them. As mom put the pig and turkey on, I baked cookies. After al the stuff was cooked and put on the table, it was time for the family to come.

The doorbell rang, so I went to get the door; my aunt rushed in and gave me a big bear hug. I was nice to see her big old smile. After the bear hug, I went and checked on the food – making sure daddy wasn’t eating it, but he wasn’t. Then I turned around and saw my whole family talking, and the little kids playing. Then my mom yelled, “Time to eat.”

Everybody scurried to the kitchen and grabbed a chair. Everybody dug in, and right before my eyes all of the food was gone. After everybody else discovered all the food was gone too, we went to the living room to open gifts. Oh, how I just love opening gifts – the paper ripping and the smiles going across everybody’s faces; it’s great! When I looked over, I saw three with my name on them; oh what excitement went through me when I saw what I got. Big, red, fuzzy slippers – brown, slick socks, and furry, green gloves. Then I heard sleigh bells ring and a deep voice saying, “Marry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”