ICE-YLAND (Kennecott, Day 11)

Root Glacier

Yay! Today we’re going to hike Root Glacier!  A glacier is a large body of ice. A guy from Wild Alpine Tour came to pick us from the metal bridge between McCarthy and Kennecott. It was drizzling. BAD day to hike outdoors. Cold!!! L

Anyways, we stopped at Kennecott, a small but interesting town to start our hike. We hiked a mile and a half or so to the edge of the icy Root Glacier in a muddy trail. Man, it was tough! Plus it’s raining! Phew….

Cramp-ons

Upon reaching, the guide gave each of us a pair of crampons, a metal thing with straps and sharp spikes that attach to your shoes to help walking on and prevent slipping on ice. J

With the crampons, we hike up at down through the glaciers. It’s SO bumpy that I kept twisting my ankle, even with the crampons on. L The ice are white, light blue, and brown with tiny streams flowing down. SO cold!!!

The cave

Finally, after hiking an hour and a half, arrived at THE CAVE, the place Shu Ying and I were waiting for…. The cave was HUGE and magnificent. It has high arcs, and fresh water dripping frequently. I got free fresh water by licking the clean ice walls. Mmm….. We ate a simple lunch there. J

We left the cave and hike much more. The guide showed us a deep, DEEP hole, like a mini waterfall. It’s very dangerous to go near it!!! CREEPY!!!

At 4:00 pm, we took a different route back to Kennecott(still a mile and a half). My feet!!!! OW!!! L

King Salmon, Day One

The Falls at Katmai

Finally, we arrived at Anchorage International Airport, Alaska. We slept there for about 7 hours, waiting for a plane to King Salmon. We boarded a tiny plane that can only fit in 30 persons. After an hour, we reached King Salmon’s small airport. We got lots of information there.

We planned to go to Katmai National Park to look at grizzly bears and the salmon run. We wen there by a float plane within 25 minutes. We spotted a bear wandering around the tall grass. After a Bear Talk, we hiked around, planning to go The Falls, the best platform to watch bears and salmons. After a mile walk, plus a 'bear jam', a jam that causes tourists to stop because of the bears, we arrived. We saw several bears and 3 salmons jumped only. The bears are huge, covered with scars. 

While we walked with a ranger back to the lodge near 5:00 pm, we met a bear 50 ft. away walking down the road. We were kind of nervous (except for the ranger maybe). We made a reverse back and hid at the woods. Luckily, the bear went to the other way. SCARY!!! Tomorrow we’re going to Katmai to watch bears again……

P.S.   If you are going to Katmai National Park, remember to bring binoculars.     

Mini Society

Zoe selling hair clips (5 ea.):3

Audrey selling mustaches (5 or 10 ea.)XP

Today is the last day of Mini Society market day. Mini Society is where you need to make and sell your hand-made product. The Product must be made by each student using their own creativity and inexpensive materials. We can spend up to $10(real money) to make the products for each market day.

I decided to make Japanese doll bookmarks, and it's a hot seller! They cost 15 Mini Society bucks each.


 

Time Lime For Mini Society

April 26-30: Form partnerships for business and brainstorm ideas for products 

                   to make and sell

May 3: Bring in a sample product and conduct market survey on sample 
           product

May 7: Bring all needed supplies to class to begin production of product for 1st                

            market day

May 11: First market day at 2:00 p.m.

May 14: Bring all needed supplies to class to begin production of product for

             second market day

May 18: Second market day

Me selling Japanese paper doll bookmarks (15 bucks ea.)XD

My business partner was Sophia, we named our store Payless Gift Shop. Sophia made key-chains, bookmarks, and bracelets. They were awesome! I made 27 bookmarks for the first market day, and about 45 on the second(lots of classes were invited for the second day).

So, first day-- Lots of parents were invited. I bought a lot of magnets for my 
                     locker next year. They are awesome! I have 3 bookmarks left      
                     and I gave them to Sophia.


Second day-- My booth was in the hallway so we need to pay a hundred bucks     
                    for our booth's location! The rest of the students were setting up                          their booth inside the classroom. Tons of people came to buy so I sold out quickly. Sophia's stuff sold out, too! 
                    
After we sold out, we went to other students' booth to buy stuffs that we like.



I bought 2 flower clips, 3 clips, 2 Hunger Games magnets, 5 slingshots, 8 magnets, 3 clipboards, a duct tape purse, a bookmark, and a pipe cleaner pen. I think I spent a total of 250 bucks or more, but i still have about 650 bucks left.


I hope we can do this again because it's so fun and interesting! I made 72 bookmarks in 2 weeks only. They are so hard to make!

Gabe and Connor selling home made slingshots ( 5 bucks ea.):P

Maya and Bella selling clipboards (20 bucks each):)

     

Sam Houston Museum, Huntsville

Sam Houston's statue

Today, I went to the Sam Houston Museum. Sam Houston was the first and third governor of Texas and the leader of the Battle of San Jacinto. 


Going to Sam Houston's Museum is my school, Buckalew's, field trip. At 8:50, two buses came. We hopped on the bus and we were on the road!


At first, I listened to the i-touch because it's boring. 40 minutes later, I started to half-sleep. -_-  


The bus started to stop. Half of the fourth graders squeezed inside the mini auditorium to watch a video clip about Sam Houston.


After that, the fourth graders were divided into four groups-- two in Sam Houston's house, one in the kitchen, and one in a place called bear house ( I think). 


First, We went into Sam Houston's house. A woman guided us throughout the house. It's pretty, really. Suddenly, we heard a loud 'bam' ! Some of us even screamed (not me)! We realized that the gunfire noise was to remind that we need to switch station.


Next, we were ordered to go to the small, stuffy room-- luckily there are some benches-- the kitchen. Another young woman made popcorn with real coal ( the kitchen was almost burning!), pig fat, and corn. While we waited for the corn to pop, she demonstrated some chores the slave would do. She picked several people to demonstrate carrying two buckets of water, grinding corn, and grinding butter. I got picked to grind the butter for two whole hours! My friends kept saying, " One hour and 55 minutes left!" so I laughed really hard! But of course, I didn't do it for two hours! 


Before we went to another station, and after terribly loud gunshot, the young woman gave each of us a handful of plain, yummy popcorn. Mmmm....... Better than buttered popcorn, but not caramel popcorn ( my favorite)!


Lastly, we went to a small wooden house. Two men told us about the weapons, including axes. They answered the questions we asked and finally, one man took out a gun and told us to watch when he shoots. We yelled "one, two, three!"  and he shoots. ' BAM!!!' Lots of smoke flew towards us students.

Sam Houton's Museum

We went into the Sam Houston's Museum. There are tons of artifacts and paintings. We just went inside for seven minutes because the bus drivers were in a hurry. We went to the gift shop next. There are lots of keychains, necklaces, bracelets, flutes, and even slingshots! I bought a pale pink charm necklace and a tiny pouch with a dream catcher on it. Too bad that the line was long, long, long.


Lunch time! We ate at the gazebo for 15 minutes and were on the road again. We reached Buckalew at 2:10 and watched a movie. Today is such an interesting, full-of-fun, and awesome day!

Sam Houston

The Exciting Tournament in P.E.

Cup stacking

In my P.E. class, I learned many sports, including basketball, hockey, volleyball, football, soccer, jump rope, and cup stacking(I don't think this is a sport). 


Last week, we learned B.A.D.M.I.N.T.O.N.!!! I was extremely excited because I'm OK at it(but I'm a pro in basketball)! :)


The first day--we learned easier stuff, such as serving.   
                     Finally, we played against an opponent.


The second/last day--2 on 2 tournament! My partner         
                                was Sophia. We won all the           
                                games we played!  ^.^  


Badminton is my favorite sport is P.E.(by far)! Wish we could play it again! It would be super fun! 0_0

Badminton

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games movie stars

Last Sunday I went to watch a movie..... Of course it's The Hunger Games! It's the most popular/newest movie in the theater! My sister and her friend went to watch the movie on the first day, and I decided to watch,too.

I read The Hunger Games trilogy less than two weeks because it's fantastic! The first two books are about the games. Two scary and violent games. But still, it's good! 

So I went to watch the movie with my mom and bro. It's kind of scary when a person was killed. >_< I miss the part I'm waiting for--a boy who killed a girl with a large rock by breaking her skull! Only because I went to the restroom! 

Overall, The Hunger Games is a awesome book/movie. I LOVE The Hunger Games! The Hunger Games R.O.C.K.S!!!

The reaping

A Scary Recess =_=

This snake is similar to the snake we saw at the playground

Today is such a scary day! Guess what?! During recess time, my friend Audrey saw a garden snake! Of course, all of the fourth graders crowded around the slides, where the snake kept slithering. 

Playground that the snakes were found

The recess teachers told all of us to stay away from the snake. Finally, the teachers called two of the school janitors, and the janitors brought some tools (I can't name them). Suddenly, two garden snakes peeked out from a hole. TWO!! Surprisingly, all of the students kept standing, watching the janitors catching the snakes. 


After a while, a janitor caught the larger snake! Not with his hands, but with a tool. We clapped our hands loudly as the janitor threw away the snake in the woods down the hill.


Because the other snake is tinier and skinnier, it took a long, long time for the janitor to catch it! It's so scary!


3.29.2012 is a scary and awesome day! I wouldn't want to forget this day because it's the first time I ever saw a snake in such a close distance (there's always a glass between the snake and visitors in the zoos...)! Luckily, the janitor threw the snakes quite far away! Hope they won't bother us anymore!

The woods the janitor threw the snakes away

My Research Of Poodles And Dachshunds

  My research of Poodles and Dachshunds is almost done! Yipee!

  The research is a book club project. The book I read for several weeks is called Flawed Dogs, and it's quite good!


  I could choose one of the options to present my project--poster board or using computer. I chose the poster board option because it's easier, but I need to decorate it. 

                                                                 A miniature poodle

  First, I need to gather TONS of information about Poodles and Dachshunds, which is extremely hard! I'd also need a research conclusion, at least four colored photos about the dogs, and 5 similarities and differences! 

 

  One day, my mom and I went to St. Michaels, a huge store with millions of art supplies! We bought a neon-green poster board, and several dog stickers. All of them are AWESOME!!

  This project is 'kind of' hard because I need to make up my OWN sentences about Poodles and Dachshunds, decorate the poster board, and present it in front of my WHOLE class! OMG!!


  I can't wait to see my finished project! Here's a HUGE surprise--I got a 100 on my Titanic project! Isn't it great?! :]


 



A Dachshund 

My 'kind of' Worst Grade In Math T_T

Omigosh!


I got 94 for my MATH benchmark!!


I mean, I can't believe that I got the best math grade in my whole class!! My math teacher, Mrs. Hveem told us that the math benchmark is REALLY, REALLY hard.


But I don't think so........ I missed 3 questions. 3!! I made 2 silly mistakes, and there is 1 question that I actually know how to do, but I still missed it. So sad.......


One of the silly mistakes' answer is 104, but I forgot to put the '0' in it--14. Why am I so silly?!


For the good news, my math grade is the best in my class!! YAY!! The best grade in fourth grade is a minus one, so I'm 'pretty' good. :D 


I'm gonna find out who missed one question in the math benchmark, and got the BEST grade! Wonder who she is.....(I think it's a girl) >.<  She sure is EXTREMELY smart!! Really, really smart!!


Still, it's my worst grade in math! Most of the time, I got 100 or 98, 96...... Now I got 94!! At least that is an A. 


I am SO happy with my grade, and surprise, too! Please, wish me luck for the real STAAR (State of Texas Academic Assessments Readiness) test after spring break~~ 
  

If I were the President of United States(from school)

If I were the president of United States, I would help the poor, encourage people to recycle, and there would be world peace for everyone. I can make an excellent president for U.S.


First, I would help the poor people. I am going to give them food, like meat, eggs, veggies, and other healthy food. They would be very thankful. I would donate old clothing to keep them warm. Also, I am going to donate some money. It would be extremely nice if rich families in U.S. would help to donate money! All of us can save lots of people! I would definitely help them.


Furthermore, we need to keep U.S. clean, so I would encourage citizens to recycle. Recycling can protects the Earth! Soon, U.S. would become a very clean country. Tourists from all around the world would want to visit here. I would also help schools, too. I would do this by donating money, so kids can have better education!


Lastly, there would be peace for everyone. I am going to keep everyone safe, including the tourists that are visiting. There would be no battle or war. U.S. would be safe for everyone! Citizens and tourists would be glad if they're safe.


In conclusion, I think that I can be an excellent president of U.S. I would help the poor, encourage recycling, and there's world peace. These improvements would help our future a lot. Wouldn't it be great if everyone are happy and healthy?

P.E. Test

   Sophia and I


It's Fitness Gram Test again! Fitness Gram Test is like P.E. tests in Malaysia. The test was running, curl-ups, push-ups, and shoulder stretching. Sometimes,I like the Fitness Gram Test, but sometimes, I do not.


The first test was curl-ups. I'm bad at it! I was extremely nervous that time. Well, guess what? I did 32 curl-ups!! 32!! 32 out of 80....... some of my friends did 80. Can you believe that?! >.<  Of course, my muscle hurts badly the next day!!


The running test was next. Since I'm a basketball player in Malaysia, I'm good at it. We need to run straight ahead, hear a "BEEP!!" sound, and run back again. It's pretty easy for me. I ran 42 laps! Pretty good, huh? I'm exhausted. I even had a sore throat, and it hurts badly! I mean, really, really bad. VERY BAD!!! My friend, Anna, ran 49 laps! OMG!!!


Friday is the last day of the test. I did 13 push-ups. I had to admit that my push-ups are the worse of all. Shoulders stretching was the easiest one of all. I got 2 out of 2. YIPPEE!!!

After a week of testing, we were done. I was both happy and sad. Sad, because I WILL miss the Fitness Gram Test, and happy, because I'm done of that.       ( my muscle hurts though ) Well, my friends in Malaysia,gambateh in your P.E. test! ^_^ 

Valentine's Day in U.S.A.

     Finally, it's Valentine's Day..... My mom bought chocolates for my classmates, and Lindor Truffles for my two teachers--Mrs. Points and Mrs. Hveem, as an appreciation to my teachers' hardwork. 

My class, probably the WHOLE school, will have a party!! Of course, it's fun.


In the morning, I brought my valentines to school. I gave the chocolates for my teachers. There's a surprise--we can sit with our friends in the other class when it's lunch time.(we usually don't) 


Well, for me, it's not a really big surprise because I don't really have any CLOSE friends except Sophia and Anna.


For the last 10 minutes in Mrs. Points' class, we need to give out valentines. I had a baggie, which I decorated with pen drawings and hearts, to keep valentines given by friends. Some of my classmates even had fancy shoe boxes, decorated with stickers, hearts gift wrappers, and much, much more! I had to admit, I am a little jealous about that..... 


I received a whole lot valentines: toys, tattoos, candy and some cards. It was so fun!!! I am so, so ,so happy that I wanted to dance right away!!!





We also made a valentine's card for our parents.


When I arrived home, I ate some of the candy: Life Savers gummies, Kit Kats, Nerds..... Yum!! It's sweet and sour, my favorite taste. Today is a exciting day with lots of surprises. I don't expect Valentine's Days to be like this. It is SO different from Malaysia, where I came from.


P/S  My friends in Malaysia, I will bring a lot of different candy for y'all this summer holiday!!!See y'all in June/July!
PP/S  Happy Valentine's Day!XOXO

What I Loved To Eat

What I loved to eat,
is delicious, scrumptious meat.
Sometimes, I like chocolate pie,
veggies, which mom ALWAYS buy.
Chicken, shrimp, and spaghetti,
and of course, York's Mint Patty.
I've always like to eat sushi,
and sugar-covered cookies.
My beloved friends, Buy me those, do not be "shellfish".
But I will tell you one thing: Do not buy me any fish.

Super Bowl Party! And Other Fun Stuff In One Day!

Do you know where I am?


Finally, it's Super Bowl Party!!Yahoo!!


We ate nacho cheese(YUMMY!!)and Super Bowl cupcakes with a lot of icing and a gigantic Super Bowl ring on top of it.I ate two plates of nacho cheese!My homeroom teacher, Mrs. Points melted the cheese herself and poured it on the nachos. The cheese was hot and yummy.


We also have Poetry Cafe that day.Poetry Cafe is about writing a poem and get treats like juice and cookies. That day, my mom let me brought some "Caprisun" juice and sugar cookies. I love Poetry Cafe!!


Plus, my friend Audrey brought home-made brownies to school for her birthday!It was like heaven!

After lunch break and indoor recess, we ate the cute Super Bowl cupcakes. I chose  a chocolate cupcake with white icing and a red ring on it. It was superb! 


2/3/12 was the greatest day in school I ever had!!!       

My Project--Titanic

Last Friday, my homeroom teacher told us to make a diorama about Titanic with a shoe box. We need to write and designed our favorite scene  from Titanic. My mom suggested to me to use the shoe box as the ship and decorate the ship with boxes and art supplies. I painted the shoe box with black. (it is kind of messy) I covered two smaller boxes with paper, and paint the details with many colors. It is very hard! Also, I wrote RMS Titanic with dark blue. (RMS stands for Royal Mail Ship)This took about a week to make that. I paint a lot of windows with blue. I used dark blue to make the Titanic looks like it's broken. (very badly) I made some tiny people and put them in the scene. I think I will make some lifeboats with people in it to make it even better. This project is due on January 31st. I am so nervous! Wish me good luck! XD

More About Titanic

• Titanic was designed by Mr. Thomas Andrews
• She was unsinkable (but she sank)
• Sister ship to RMS Olympic, and HMHS Britannic
• The night of 14-15 April, 1912 was the day when the Titanic sank
• She was the largest passenger steamship
• 2223 passenger on board, but the lifeboats can only carry 1178 people

What I Found In My Locker

What I found in my locker;
Some bubble-gum found in the park,
A sticker that glows in the dark.
A blue diary with a big, rusty lock,
A pair of ugly red and black socks.
Some boxes of jelly beans with only one flavor,
A note from my friend that says, "Do me favor."
Last, but not least, a note from teacher "CLEAN UP YOUR LOCKER!!"

Winter Dream Poem

Last night, I dreamed of teddy bears.
There were teddy bears everywhere.
They were dancing on my bed,
They were laughing at my old underwear.
They were jumping that make me crazy,
They were chewing my new fish hook.
They were fighting for my gummies,
They were reading science textbook.
There were teddy bears, teddy bears, teddy bears as far as I could see......
When I woke up today, I noticed there were brown fur on my knee.

Badminton (a poem)

Softly, the shuttlecock flew towards the other end of the gym.
Happily, the player return the shuttlecock to his opponent.
Fiercely, the player hit the shuttlecock hard against the other player, and it landed on the ground.
Finally, the whistle blew and the game ends.The champion disappeared under the crowd hugging him.

OUCH!!!!!

My friend Dorian invited me to her birthday party at SK8 Town.(skating rink)

But it hurts a lot!!! because I kept falling.....(first time to skate) I AM REALLY LOUSY!!!

When I reached SK8 Town, I was afraid. I rented a pair of four-wheels-roller skates and tried it on the carpet.MY BUTT HURTS!!!A LOT!!!Finally, I learnt and tried it on the real rink.The first thing was,I fell down.So,I hold the handlebar at the side and slowly, I started to skate.

Dorian 's brother taught me how to skate better.

I tried, and tried, and tried, finally, I did not hold the handlebar and could skate a full circle.(although sometimes I fell) And I was getting better and better.

We ate Dorian 's cookie cake and started to skate again. Someone told a joke and I fell down really hard because the joke was too funny! OUCHHHHH!!! I twisted my left hand so I went out to rest.

Later, I went skating again. I learnt how to balance well, so I skated faster and...... Guess what? I fell down AGAIN!!!

At 6:30 p.m, when SK8 Town was closing, I went home with an almost-swollen-butt, a twisted hand, and major bruises...... IT HURTS A LOT THE NEXT DAY!!! I learnt a lesson that if you want to skate, skate on Friday, because you won't feel so much pain on weekdays......

The happiest place on Earth, Universal Studio

Last Winter break I went to a lot of places,including Universal Studio Orlando.It is a blast!!There are several theme parks in there.





Frog choir in Hogwarts that sang "Toil and Trouble" and "Can You Dance Like A Hippogriff?"





(TL)Hogwarts castle in the morning
(TR)Butterbeer(it is sooooo good)
(BL)Suess Landing
(BR)Hollywood Rip Ride Rock-it!


I LOVE The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 'cause I started reading the Harry Potter series.First, we went to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,which we waited for about  100 minutes.  It is a little scary for a ride.But I enjoyed it A LOT!!!Then,we went to Flight of the Hippogriff, a smooth ,family -friendly and easy roller coaster.I put my hands up in the air sometimes!!Quite fun! I also went to Dragon Challenge,a high-speed roller coaster with twisted loops and loops.IT IS SO MUCH FUN!!!

Miniature of Hogwarts castle.....


We went to Suess Landing afterwards.My sister and I went to The Cat In The Hat.It is soooo cute!(it is a ride)And then we went to Poseidon 's Fury,a show that is really amazing.I like it a lot......


We also went to Jurassic Park,a kind of dinosaur theme park.Some of us went to Jurassic Park River Adventure,where you sit in a big boat and you float around to see all the fake dinosaurs.The last part is ,there is a giant T-Rex in front of you,you look up and suddenly,you fell down of a 85 feet steep water way, and water splashed on us! I was soaked wet. I also went to Dudley Do Right Ripsaw Fall, which is a 75 feet steep water way!!It is scary......


Finally, we went home at 9:30 p.m. It was a really fun day.