I spent most of yesterday evening judging a 3rd and 4th grade writing contest for the Reflections program at Charleston County public schools. The topic was “I can make a difference by…”
Most entries were adorably cute. Some were surprisingly insightful. And then some were plain bad.
Excerpts from the winners …
1st place
I can make a difference by …
cleaning up the street,
making food for the poor to eat,
giving money to the poor,
volintearing at a store,
helping people stop drugs,
giving the thirsty water jugs,
making toyless kids a kite,
saving a puppy from a dog fight.
I can do many things to make a difference.
What can you do?
2nd place
… I could wash my dog. It will make a big smell difference. I will tie him up and put the shampoo on him. So now I am going to cut on the water. Then wala! He’s clean.
To keep the whole Earth clean, maybe I will just keep my half of the world clean. Well to do this I need a trash bag, and a thing to help pick up the trash. Next get parent or gardeon to take you to a place on teh rode that is trashy or drity…
…(washing mom’s car) Lastly let the car dry, and wash the windows. Wow, that car is like a shining star.
3rd place
…I can make a difference by giving toys to children in the hospital. I feel bad because some people treat children badly and don’t care. I want to give a child a gift so they feel there still cared about and loved. Those children need your help for good reasons.
I really care and want tot help but sometimes it won’t help or work it, sometimes it does. All you can do is TRY and HOPE.
Others wrote a dialogue, including one whose main character was a “magic button.” I’m impressed by these 8-year-old understandings of the world, and it was cool to spend an evening like so many of my teacher friends do every night. I’m grateful to be a writer though…
