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WritingFix is currently seeking additional student samples from this writing assignment that can be featured in this space. Submitted student work must show evidence of revision, editing, and the final draft must be typed and sent through e-mail. Teachers: if you can help us obtain one, two or three student samples, along with a digital photo of the student(s) and a signed permission slips, we will send you either a complimentary copy of one of the Northern Nevada Writing Project's print publications.

Contact us at publish@writingfix.com and write "Duck on a Bike" in your e-mail's subject line, if you have a student sample to share with us.

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Student Samples: Upper Elementary

Panther’s Purple Tram
by Cassandra, fourth grade writer

Panther woke up one morning in the mood to play. “I will play with Brother and Papa Panther today,” she said. “They will want me to visit them at the Fauna and Flora Zoo and Gardens.”

Panther headed to the zoo, wondering what her family was up to. “Maybe they will want to race,” she thought. “Or they might be eating.” She stepped through the hole in the zoo gate.

“Maybe Mama Panther will be feeding the new cuuuu….” She stopped dead in her tracks. There, sitting in front of her was the large, shiny, new, purple zoo tram. She stepped forward to examine it. Slowly, she edged her way toward the driver’s seat. She stepped inside.

“Look at all the buttons and levers!” she shouted in surprise. She turned the key and the tram rumbled as if to say, “Take me for a spin, I know you want to.” Panther put her paw on the gas pedal and turned the wheel.

“To the kangaroos!” she declared.

When she got to the kangaroo exhibit, she honked the tram horn. Roothy Kangaroo was leaping about, but stopped when she saw Panther and looked distressed. “Hello, how are you Mrs. Kangaroo?” Panther asked.

“I was better before you drove up in the tram,” muttered Mrs. Kangaroo.

Panther ignored the rude comment.

(Click here to open/print Cassandra's entire story for your fourth graders to read.)

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Lion Drives a Ferrari on the Safari
by Paul, fifth grade writer

Lion was a small and weak lion with a stringy mane, blunt short claws, a small stubby tail, and a sad frown. Instead of the proud blue glint in the eyes of the other lions, Lion had murky brown eyes with no glint at all. His fur stuck out in places, and he had many in-grown whiskers.

Lion had always dreamed about being the center of attention. As you can imagine, he wasn’t. In fact, he was teased by many of the other animals. But inside the head of Lion’s ugly body was a brain that charted out a plan. He put it to action.

Lion saw a Ferrari one blistering, scorching day. It was scarlet red with big wheels, oversized rubber tires, and a jumbo form. Some people stepped out of it, speaking a language that wasn’t Lion Language, and walked away, emitting more strange sounds.

Lion opened the door and leapt in. As he had seen the people do, he pushed on the pedal with his back paw. The Ferrari zoomed forward, but Lion kept it under control, and he clumsily steered it towards Tiger.

“Hey, Tiger,” called Lion out the car window.

Tiger ignored Lion, but here is what he pondered – “Get away from me, you – you – you lion!”

Lion swerved towards Elephant. “Hey, Elephant,” he called out the car window.

Elephant ignored him, but this is what she wondered – “How does he do that without crashing and hurting himself?”

Lion drove forward towards Jackal. “Hey, Jackal,” he called out of the car window.

Jackal ignored him, but this is what he emoted – “Gimme that car, ya misshaped puss!”

Lion forlornly decided that his plan must have failed because the other animals weren't impressed. He was about to exit the Ferrari when he saw Tiger driving a Lamborghini, Elephant driving a Mustang, and Jackal driving a limousine.

(Click here to open/print Paul and one of his classmate's stories for your fifth graders.)

Lucky Pedals
by Tyson, eighth grade writer

Lucky the squirrel was gathering nuts for the winter when he came across the bike. The whole bike was red except for the fork, which was a deep blue. The bike had two wheels and a really cool basket. The best thing of all…it was just the right size, and you know how squirrels are; they can’t resist a good look at something. It was just too tempting, so he dropped all of the nuts that he was carrying and shot toward the bike. He looked it over front to back, then deciding to take it out for a little spin, he leapt onto it.

As he was riding, he came upon Beaver working on his dam. When Beaver saw that Lucky was riding the bike, he jumped up onto the dam. “Goodness, that is a very good bike that you have there, yes, yes, yes. Where did you get it?”

“I got it in the forest. It was just lying around. I decided that a ride was necessary. Don’t you think that it looks great?”

“Oh, yes, yes, yes, I wish I had one just like that. I think that after I finish the dam that I will take a look myself and see if there is any more of those just lying around. That would be very fun to get one just like that!” Beaver then jumped off his dam. “I think that I should go now!”

So Lucky kept riding on. When he turned the bend, he heard a splatter and suspected that the dam had broken.

Then he came to Duck. She was taking a picnic when he rode past her. “That is a wonderful bike that you have there. Does Beaver know about it? I think that he would like it very much.” Before Lucky could speak, she packed her lunch and said, “I think that I will go look for one myself. I would love to have one.”

She hobbled away, muttering to herself about youngsters being so careless. So Lucky kept riding.

As Lucky was whistling to himself, he heard an angry cry from behind him. It was Chimpanzee, who looked really angry. “That’s my bike, you thief!” Then Chimpanzee leapt up into the air and landed on Lucky’s back.

Lucky fell off the bike, landing on the side of it. He was not hurt, but he did not know about the bike. He didn’t know anything about bikes, but it seemed okay. He brushed himself off with his paws and got up.

Chimpanzee was furious. “How could you steal my bike?! I had left it leaning against a tree while I climbed another tree and ate bananas. When I came down, it was gone. I saw the nuts that were scattered on the ground and realized that it must have been you.”

“I am SOOOOOOOO sorry,” Lucky apologized. “I did not mean for this to happen. When I saw the bike, I thought that maybe someone had left it, and it would be good for me to take it for a spin. I was going to return it, and I am sorry that I stole your bike. Here is your bike and I will go gather nuts,” Lucky said as he handed the bike to Chimpanzee. “I know now that I should never take anyone’s stuff, even if it is just sitting there.”

“It’s all right. Don’t go making a fuss about it. I didn’t realize that you had not meant to steal it. I should be the one saying I am sorry.” Then he got on his bike and rode off.

Lucky shook his small head and headed back to gather nuts.

(Click here to open/print Tyson's and story for your middle school students.)

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