Nature's Classroom

Nature's Classroom 

12/13/2010
by Yoav Schwarz

The 5^th and 6^th graders of Ancona popped back in from an amazing week at Nature's Classroom Institute several weeks ago. While we were there, we had field groups. Each field group had approximately ten students, and had a field group leader. Field groups had teamwork challenges. For example, they had to swing from two platforms on a rope, or had to get across three platforms without touching the ground by using two wooden planks. The students also did simulations.

A lot of people's favorite simulation was the Underground Railroad Simulation. We were in the Shakespeare Building. We pretended that we were slaves, and that it was Christmas Night. We were all asleep. Then, suddenly, the counselors came in, screamed at us, and told us to face the wall. We were put into three groups. After each group was lined up, we had to get a buddy, and go with our group's conductor. The conductor was the person who was going to lead us to freedom. Our destination was Jubilee, Canada.

We had a cover story. It was that we were a choir and that we had to get to Chicago for a performance.

We ran into the field. Then we ran into a pavilion that we pretended was a barn. There, we could “steal chickens”. But the moment we got into the barn, a farmer knocked over a table that she was hiding behind, and leaped out at us. We had to get down on the floor while our guide talked with the farmer. Then we quickly moved on.

We passed by several houses and met with a slave who had tried to run away but had been caught. His wife had been put in a barrel that had been studded with nails and rolled down a hill!

We kept on going and came to a tunnel. But the moment we got in, we had to get down because there were bounty hunters in the tunnel. (Bounty hunters were hired to capture runaway slaves.) We had to use our cover story so that we wouldn’t get caught.

When we got out, we came to a quaker's house. The quakers were known for helping the runaway slaves. But then, we had to dive under the porch because the sheriff came.

When the sheriff went inside, we had to run. But then a bounty hunter tricked us, so that suddenly we were being attacked. We had to run all the way to a bridge—we were being chased by bounty hunters!

When we got back with our partners we were led to the boathouse—where our part was over. We were safe.

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Written for and first published on the Ancona School Journalism Club, December 13, 2010.

The Tale of Christian the Brave

Christian the Brave was born on a Queen's Sunday.

A merry time for children in the village to play.

Though rain did fall and the sky was gray—

And brave Christian was born unto a pile of hay.

Good years for the brave little child came to pass,

But 'twas too good to stay—alas.

For our brave little hero did love a fair lass—

But to her her father did harass.

He left her on a Witch's Wednesday in

A fearsome Dragon's cave.

The Dragon was delighted

He would keep her as a slave.

Christian wouldn't, couldn't stand for this.

In this manner he would not be pissed.

For the maiden he had never kissed

Had been stolen from their happy bliss.

He gallops off in romantic rage

He will save his to-be wife

He will take any risk

And (hopefully) not lose his life.

It was a Tiger's Tuesday,

When wild things come out

Sure enough, out leaps a Beast

But Christian does not scream, does not pout.

He removed his trusty sword,

The one he'd bought from Weapon Depot.

He did a mighty, swishy SWING!

And struck the Creature—in the throat.

Off came the bleeding head.

From blood it was stained deep red.

He stuffed it in a piece of bread

And—I won't tell what he exactly did then.

He galloped on, came to an inn

And went inside to see a Joker jest,

He felt queasy from his recent snack

Went to the bathroom and—I won't tell the rest.

He went out eventually to continue on his mission.

Up ahead he believed to see the Dragon's Cave.

But it would be a hefty task—

It was surrounded by devilish wood and maze.

Menacing Monsters—out to prey,

For it was the Monsterish Hour, the end of the day,

In the darkness Christian did lay—

A-waiting for the next sun ray.

Next morning, he awakened to light

And sat up in the musty wood.

'Twas a Witch's Wednesday—day of bewitchment,

But those wicked forces, Christian would avoid, he would.

He bravely galloped off, towards the maze,

Squinting in the haze.

He offered up to Heaven several prays

That this quest would not be his final days.

The maze walls he now sees, Hurray, Hurrah!

He strides in through the open gate.

But his confidence fades, he rubs away sudden tears,

He fears he is too late.

He dashes, most bravely, through the open walls,

He bursts through chamber doors.

And on the way battles with

A few unspeakable horrors.

At last, he's at the Dragon's Cave!
He gloats upon his triumph.

And foolishly stepping in, makes contact,

A rogue voice cries, “Umph!”

“Say wha?” Christian says, a bit shocked.

“Who makes that strange cry?”

That harsh voice retorts, “I doth!”—

Thus giving inquisitive Christian his reply.

So Christian and the Dragon

Began their Epic Fight,

It raged and raged on

Throughout the night.

Through a Thorn-cutter's Thursday,

A Flamethrower's Friday,

And a King's Saturday did they war.

Pausing only for brief breaks

At Walgreens Grocery Store.

At last, the mighty Dragon

Did fall down dead.

And eloping to Los Angeles,

They were happily wed.

The End

Temples of the Cumulus Culture

Many Years Ago

Many years ago, child,

This place was very different.

By the oak trees where you

Love to play,

There was a gallows.

And British ships in the harbor.

English flags flashing.

Many years ago, child,

This place was very different.

The townspeople pushed around like

Livestock.

Bayonets warning you

Not to misbehave.

Many years ago, child,

This place was very different.

Men clad in red uniforms.

Living in our house.

In Mother and Father's bed,

Forcing us to sleep

On the floor.

Many years ago, child,

This place was very different.

First Day, 4th Grade

Wednesday, Sept 9th, 2009

Restaurant

Appetizer soup or ranch dressed salad
Broth or bread in a bowl
Or hummus for dippin'
Spice and salt
Finally waiter man comes
Carrying several plates,
That one's the lasagna,
The other's onion-and-bologna
Wait! Is that your food?
Yes it is! Lay out the
Silverware, toast.
Now you can eat!

The Story of Our Family

By Yoav and Orit Schwartz

It is hard to decide where to begin a story of a family, because everyone has parents. It is also hard because every family has a lot of people all remotely related. So who to begin with? In our family some of the most remote people were Julius and Rosa Pregel. Their son Boris was the cousin of Orit’s grandfather. Why start with them, you may wonder. Well, it was actually Boris’s wife, Alexandra Pregel, who inspired us to begin this story in the first place. She was an artist and her beautiful paintings are hanging on the walls in Yoav’s grandparent’s house and in some museums around the world.

Rosa Pregel had a brother named Joseph. They grew up in a small town in the Ukraine. Most people in that town were Jewish and poor. When Joseph married Bronia, they hoped that their children would have etter and easier lives then them. Their son Vladimir was smart and he got to go to school and become an engineer. He also moved to Moscow, a big city which is also Russia’s capital.

Vladimir fell in love with a great beauty, a young woman named Chara. Afer they married, they lived in Moscow and were joined by Vladimir’s sister Sima, who never married. Chara and Vladimir had two charming daughters, Masha the older and Julia the younger. The two sisters were close in age and close in their hearts. Masha grew up to become a painter. Julia became an engineer, like her father.

Julia married Hillel, a young and talented mathematician, when she was very young. Her sister Masha married a fello painter Igor. Unfortunately, their marriage did not last. After they had their daughter Tania, they divorced and Masha never married again. Hille also had a sister, Marina who became a doctor. Her marriage to Meld did not last long either. She remained on her own with her son Goshik.

Julia and Hillel, on the other hand, have been married for almost 50 years. Their three children, Orit, Ruti and Eitan are now grown up. Eitan lives in Texas and works as an accountant. He hasn’t married yet. Ruti became a professor of behavioral science and married Doron (a very tall dude). They now have Tamar, Erez and a new baby on the way. Orit (one of the authors of this story) became an occupational therapist and married a sweet (and a little shorter than Doron) dude named Ezra. They’ve been married about 25 years and managed to have two boys, Ben and Yoav (the other author of this tale).

And just imagine that this long story started with one picture by Alexandra Pregel.

The End