Young Authors Club 2020
What’s the best part of being a school age author, you ask! Why, the fun of writing, of course – but meeting other young authors is a blast too. The Young Authors’ Club started off the year by getting to know each other through name poems – read on if you’d like to know a bit more about us too!
Sarah:
Super girl power
Amazing at singing
Real deal girl/boy
Active all the time
Helping hand
Akhula:
Awesome at cooking
Kind to others
Hysterical with friends
Unhappy when others are rude
Loves to dance
Always hungry or thirsty
Gabriella:
Great at swimming
Amazing at being a friend
Bright and always positive
Reading is one of my favourite things to do
Interested in new things
Extremely funny
Loves puppies and dogs
Loves reading books
Always wants chocolate
Mia:
May be the most kindest person
I can play piano
Awesomest girl ever
Aimee:
Amazing
Intelligent
Magnificent
Exquisite
Exciting
Vrithi:
Very funny
Really positive
I’m kind
Terrific
Hugs are my favourite
I’m curious
Noa:
Never, ever, ever negative
Observe how beautiful she is
Amazing at singing
Karabo:
King of everything
Accepted everything
Race champion
Apple eater
Big and strong
Orange eater
Isabel:
Incredibly funny
Stunning
Awesome at everything
Beautiful hair
Eating strawberry
Loves Boxers (They’re her favourite kind of dog!)
Hannah Kirkaldy
Club Facilitator
Using Dialogue in Writing
News from the Year 6 class
In Year 6, students learned to develop their writing through the use of dialogue. Dialogue helps the reader get to know the thoughts and characteristics of the characters. It moves the story along, allowing the reader to relate to the characters while showing how the characters relate to, and influence, each other. Students were taught strategies by Mrs Esterhuizen in the English class to hook their readers using well-written dialogue. Here are two stories from our talented Year 6 budding authors.
Amanda Hack
Year 6 Teacher
Written by Rebecca Wiese
“You’ve got thirty seconds to explain to me what you are doing!” Zoey’s father asked angrily, tapping his foot.
“D-d-dad I, um, I was getting my riding helmet because I, umm, forgot it at the stable this afternoon and I—“ (of course Zoey was lying but her dad didn’t notice.)
“Do you have any idea what you put me and your mother through? We were so worried about you,” he said, his face softening.
“I know, I’m sorry and it won’t happen again. I thought that –”
“No buts young lady,” Zoey’s dad sighed. “Now come home to bed and no more sneaking out understand!” He started to walk to the car.
“Ok, I know,” Zoey sighed moving towards the car. As her dad was driving home he sat in silence, not realizing Zoey was not there.
“Zoey, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be hard on you back at the stables. I just –”
But Zoey wasn’t in the car. She had jumped out without her father noticing and ran back to the stable as fast as she could.
“Ok big guy, let’s try this again,” Zoey whispered, moving closer to her horse Twilight, trying to put the saddle on without the horse being spooked again. But the horse immediately reared and struck her on the back.
“What have you done now, Twilight?” Zoey whispered falling to the ground in agony. And then Zoey’s world went black.
Written by Leah Breet
“That’s too tight,” King Bertie said as the tailor pulled at the strings on his shirt.
“Sorry your majesty, but I need to get this outfit ready before the party tonight,” Sir Cuffman, the tailor, said.
“Yes, you’re right. I wouldn’t want to look untidy for Cameron’s birthday.”
A few hours into Cameron’s birthday party, the King was called into the kitchen. When he walked in there was a glass with a green liquid inside with a note next to the glass.
“Good day King Bertie, I have come up with a new mouth-watering drink just for you. Signed: Chef Herron.” The King read aloud to himself with a posh British accent.
“Oh my, this is delicious,” he said to himself, with wide eyes and licking his lips.
A few minutes later, Sir Cuffman searched through the crowd of people at the party and pulled Cameron aside into an empty room.
“The King is missing.”
“WHAT?!”
“Yes, I last saw him walking into the kitchen a few minutes ago and he never came out, so I went in there and he was missing.”
“Well, have you searched everywhere?” Cameron said emphasising the word everywhere.
“Yes madam,” he said looking down, “but he was nowhere to be found.” Cameron sat down on the chair closest to her and buried her face in her palms.
“We need to send all the knights out to search for him,” she said standing up and leaving the room.
“Uh, y-yes ma’am,” Sir Cuffman said standing on his toes and leaning to her direction.
A few hours later Sir Cuffman and Cameron gathered all the knights and started counting them.
“Uh madam, Knight Felt is not here …”
In The Mood To Write
In Year 6, the students have been working on their descriptive writing skills as well as their ability to create a specific mood through word choice. They had an assessment where they responded to a photo that allowed them to either create a calm, relaxing mood, or one of fear and tension. Naluthando Mangaliso and Darian Iyer both wrote stunning pieces of contrasting moods. I applaud their talent and look forward to reading more from them in the future.
Yours in writing,
Marisa Esterhuizen
Year 6 Teacher
Tone: Calm and Relaxing
By: Naluthando Mangaliso
By the time I had set up my camp-fire to heat up my freshwater hake, I suddenly glanced up at the fire-orange, majestic sun, taking its decent like a cruising airplane. My eyes were glistening with eternal joy for this was no ordinary sight. This was a momentous view of the blazing cherry-red and apricot-orange infused sky.
The mild scent of the air swam into my nostrils and in the process polishing it like a priceless shoe. The sun-smoothed sand caressed my naked feet with love, and the music of the wind sunk into my ears as if a DJ was in my head.
There was one thing that stood out to me though.
This brunette-brown, young, vibrant tree was dancing with the music as if it was on stage and at the same time, it seemed to be giving me this joyous smile that warmed me to the heart like a mug of cappuccino.
By then the sun had descended and the moon was ascending like a jet, dashing on a runway. My now golden hake was inviting me to eat. It didn’t have to ask twice.
Tone: Fear and Tension
By: Darian Iyer
Read MoreSlowly, I drifted downstream. The icy fog bit deep into my flesh while blood-red flowers glared at my soul. I was almost paralysed by the fact that this once luscious canal could turn into part of hell in less than a day. The convoy would arrive soon.
I rowed…
And rowed…
And rowed…
Beginning to cloud over the river was the fetid scent of decayed fish. I was close. While resting my aching bones, I gnawed on a ripe apple. Although being fresh and pure, the mere aura of the canal had diseased the taste of the fruit. Tasting like a pair of moulded socks, I spat out the vile thing. The cacophony of mutant animals were bullets to my eardrums. Feeling like my life had drained away, I thought of when joy and mirth ruled my life.
The trees waved in frustration, trying to stop me.
But my tenacity persevered.
Without warning, an arrow whizzed past my head, a horizontal bolt of lightning, just grazing my ear. The sentry howled with anger as my life essence dissolved it into a pile of ash. Nearing it, I noticed the dirt start to look almost like scorched flesh.
Oh wait… it was.
I was at the demon convoy…