Oh no the Red Dot Tree is gone
Shock and horror met Wairakei Primary School students as they discovered their beloved Red Dot Tree had been cut down. Finn and Jack found pieces of the Red Dot Tree and brought them into the class as mementos. Room 3 students wrote stories about how they felt and what they thought happened to their Red Dot Tree. As you will see some of our stories are rather imaginative.
Little pieces of the Red Dot Tree were found and are now treasured in Room 3
The class has been learning to follow a writing structure to sequence ideas in their stories. First we brainstormed their ideas about the Red Dot Tree. Then, Mrs Sprague shared a story that she had written about the Red Dot Tree. Next, the class constructed a success criteria based on Mrs Sprague’s model to help them sequence their ideas.
Katie working hard and getting her ideas down
Rikihana knows hows to be successful and is ready to write about the Red Dot Tree
Farewell My Red Dot Tree By Mrs Sprague
Something has happened, something has changed. I could not believe my eyes when I looked out across the school field and saw that the Red Dot Tree was gone. Someone had come and cut the tree down. That someone who cut the tree down probably used a giant roaring chainsaw.
I feel sad that the tree has gone. That tree was a special place for me. I liked to climb it and watch children playing on the field.
I think the tree was cut down because a naughty possum gang had made a home in the tree. The naughty possums were coming out at night and scaring the teachers before they went home. So Mrs Farquhar had to get the tree cut down so she wouldn’t have a bunch of scaredy teachers.
We are learning to follow a writing structure to sequence our ideas.
Success Criteria
My writing has a title. - RIP Red Dot Tree - Love Red Dot Tree
I have begun my story by telling the reader what has happened - that the Red Dot Tree has been cut down.
I looked out the window ...
Tell the reader how you feel about the Red Dot Tree being cut down. Explain why you feel that way.
I feel ...
Explain why you think the tree was cut down. Remember writers are creative.
I think ...
This time, Mrs Sprague published the students writing and a class display in tribute to the very special Red Dot Tree has been created in Room 3. A next learning step for Room 3 students is to publish their own writing - watch this space.
Here are some of Room 3’s stories about the much loved Red Dot Tree. Please come into Room 3 to see the entire collection, along with our Red Dot Tree art.
Jakes Red Dot Tree was a home for eagles
Katie thought Mrs Farquhar needed some firewood
Ryker created a detailed tribute to the Red Dot Tree
Indigo wrote a very creative story about what she thought happened to the tree
Indias created a beautiful Red Dot Tree to illustrate her story
Rikihanas completed work
Bye Red Dot Tree
When I got off the bus I saw the Red Dot Tree got cut down. I was sad at first but then I remembered there were rats making the kids scared before they went home. Mrs Farquhar had to get it cut down with her chainsaw.
By Zoey
Bye Red Dot Tree
The Red Dot Tree has got killed. I felt sad because it was gone. I think the Red Dot Tree got cut down because it was rotten. If the Red Dot Tree never got cut down it would have fallen down and someone would have got squashed.
By Jack
Why Did They Cut the Red Dot Tree?
I was sad when I saw that the Red Dot Tree was gone. In my brain I said “RIP Red Dot Tree”
I know why they cut the Red Dot Tree down because there was a gang of big birds. They were pooping on all the teachers.
By Riley
Love You Red Dot Tree
I can’t believe that the Red Dot Tree got cut down. I felt disappointed because it was cut down. I want to be happy but I am disappointed. I thought that the Red Dot Tree had a hawk living in it. It was pecking the tree and that's what I thought.
By Avery
RIP Red Dot Tree
Something has happened, something has blown my mind. The Red Dot Tree is gone. I’m feeling sad that the red Dot Tree is gone because I liked jumping off it when I was playing with Riley, Reid and Mason. I think the Red Dot Tree was cut down because there was a tree murdering man. He cut down every tree in the village and then the Red Dot Tree got cut down. Then the tree went to my house and I replanted it.
By Jake
The Wonders of the Red Dot Tree
One day at school I went to look out the window. I was so, so surprised. The Red Dot Tree got cut done. I felt shocked. I put my hands on my head so hard. I think the Red Dot Tree got cut down because a scientist was doing some tricks. Then, poof, boom, bam, click, a time machine appeared. He was shocked. Then a dinosaur appeared. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He fainted. When he fell on the floor his hand hit the button that turns the time machine on. The dinosaur was still waiting peacefully in the time machine. The dinosaur was shocked he was sent to Wairakei Primary School right where the Red Dot Tree was. It got so mad that it ate the Red Dot Tree. There was only one leaf left. It tickled his mouth. He laughed so hard that he wobbled and wibbled so much. He went down the road and ate every single tree down the road.
By Indigo
It's sad that the Red Dot Tree got cut down. I think the Red Dot Tree and Wairakei Primary School just went together. Zoey
I found a piece of the Red Dot Tree and brought it into class so we can remember it. Jack
I noticed the Red Dot Tree and all the trees down the road also got cut down. That is what my story is about. Indigo
I am going to use Google Docs to publish my own story next time. Grayson
I knew what to write about because we had a plan. Rikihana
Curriculum Links
English: Speaking Writing and Presenting
Keywords
Red Dot Tree, authentic learning, writing process, writing structure, Our Place inquiry
Attributed to Room 3 Wairakei Primary School, Paul Morehu - Room 2 Teacher writing sequence model, Pact writing progression by Jenna Foley
