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Sixth Grade Essay
“And A Little Child Shall Lead Them”
By: Simaran Chaube
“And a little child shall lead them.” Young people have the ability to take charge and inspire others to change. Kim, a nine year old girl from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman and Canyon and Sierra, two teens that lost their house to a forest fire, all inspired people to change.
An example of how Kim from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman changed people is by planting six lima bean seeds in a vacant lot filled with old tires, broken glass, rats, and other trash. Soon, more people started planting their own gardens in the lot. It soon became a community garden. At the garden, people became better versions of themselves. An example of this is a statement Amir from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman makes when he chases a guy with a knife to get back a lady’s purse.: ”And we most likely wouldn’t have, except near the garden.” When Kim planted the garden she affected or changed many people. One of these people is Amir. Amir is normally quiet, and doesn’t really talk to people. And people don’t talk to him. However, all this changes at the garden. People talk to each other. They “let their natural friendliness out.”
I think that the garden is a safe place for people to be. People can just be themselves and not have to worry about what others think. They can meet new people, and make new friends.
Another example of someone Kim affected or changed is Wendell from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. When watering Kim’s lima beans, he realizes “that there’s plenty about my life I can’t change.” “But a patch of ground in this trashy lot- I can change.” Wendell realizes that it’s better to put his time into something meaningful, rather than just moping around all day.
I think at the garden people want to be, and are the best version of themselves, and set an example of what people should be: kind, caring and friendly.
Kim from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman is an amazing example of “And a little child shall lead them.” By planting a few lima beans in a trashy lot she got her whole community to change; adults and kids.
Another example of “And a little child shall lead them” is Canyon and Sierra; two teens whose house was destroyed due to a California wildfire. The two teens made a film they called From The Ashes Up to help their community heal.
An example of how Canyon and Sierra were able to inspire people to change is that the two teens made a film they called From The Ashes Up to help their community heal. They were able to make their film From The Ashes Up because of the support they received from their community. “More than fifty people reached out to help. They lent the teens camera equipment, and helped with editing”.
I think Canyon and Sierra were REALLY brave because “it was painful to hear their stories at first, but they also found comfort”.They had been through a lot, yet they still tried to help others.
Another example of how the two teens inspired people to change is by interviewing people who had suffered from the fire. As people told their stories, they understood it’s okay to be sad but they needed to stay strong.
I think that Canyon and Sierra really helped people move on. When people were interviewed, I think they found comfort knowing they weren’t alone.
Canyon and Sierra made a film to help their community heal from a Califormnia wildfire. They helped people move on, and learned it’s okay to be sad, but they need to stay strong and not give up.
In conclusion, Kim from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman, Canyon, and Sierra, two teens who made a film they call From The Ashes Up to help their community heal from a wildfire, helped people change. They took charge and helped people find better versions of themselves. From planting a few lima beans to making a film, these kids have changed many people across the globe.
“And A Little Child Shall Lead Them”
By: Simaran Chaube
“And a little child shall lead them.” Young people have the ability to take charge and inspire others to change. Kim, a nine year old girl from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman and Canyon and Sierra, two teens that lost their house to a forest fire, all inspired people to change.
An example of how Kim from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman changed people is by planting six lima bean seeds in a vacant lot filled with old tires, broken glass, rats, and other trash. Soon, more people started planting their own gardens in the lot. It soon became a community garden. At the garden, people became better versions of themselves. An example of this is a statement Amir from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman makes when he chases a guy with a knife to get back a lady’s purse.: ”And we most likely wouldn’t have, except near the garden.” When Kim planted the garden she affected or changed many people. One of these people is Amir. Amir is normally quiet, and doesn’t really talk to people. And people don’t talk to him. However, all this changes at the garden. People talk to each other. They “let their natural friendliness out.”
I think that the garden is a safe place for people to be. People can just be themselves and not have to worry about what others think. They can meet new people, and make new friends.
Another example of someone Kim affected or changed is Wendell from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. When watering Kim’s lima beans, he realizes “that there’s plenty about my life I can’t change.” “But a patch of ground in this trashy lot- I can change.” Wendell realizes that it’s better to put his time into something meaningful, rather than just moping around all day.
I think at the garden people want to be, and are the best version of themselves, and set an example of what people should be: kind, caring and friendly.
Kim from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman is an amazing example of “And a little child shall lead them.” By planting a few lima beans in a trashy lot she got her whole community to change; adults and kids.
Another example of “And a little child shall lead them” is Canyon and Sierra; two teens whose house was destroyed due to a California wildfire. The two teens made a film they called From The Ashes Up to help their community heal.
An example of how Canyon and Sierra were able to inspire people to change is that the two teens made a film they called From The Ashes Up to help their community heal. They were able to make their film From The Ashes Up because of the support they received from their community. “More than fifty people reached out to help. They lent the teens camera equipment, and helped with editing”.
I think Canyon and Sierra were REALLY brave because “it was painful to hear their stories at first, but they also found comfort”.They had been through a lot, yet they still tried to help others.
Another example of how the two teens inspired people to change is by interviewing people who had suffered from the fire. As people told their stories, they understood it’s okay to be sad but they needed to stay strong.
I think that Canyon and Sierra really helped people move on. When people were interviewed, I think they found comfort knowing they weren’t alone.
Canyon and Sierra made a film to help their community heal from a Califormnia wildfire. They helped people move on, and learned it’s okay to be sad, but they need to stay strong and not give up.
In conclusion, Kim from Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman, Canyon, and Sierra, two teens who made a film they call From The Ashes Up to help their community heal from a wildfire, helped people change. They took charge and helped people find better versions of themselves. From planting a few lima beans to making a film, these kids have changed many people across the globe.
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This is my Outsiders Character Essay from earlier this year. We read the book and had to pick a character to do a character study on (I’m in 8th gradeThe character of Sodapop Curtis in the S.E. Hinton's novel “The Outsiders' ' may be a more minor character, but he still managed to make a pretty great impact on the story without being front and center. Sodapop is a combination of a dynamic minor character. He has some different aspects or parts of his whole persona, some of them more well hidden than others.Throughout the story I could see the progression of him becoming a little more mellow as it went on, the subtle shifts in his personality becoming more apparent. Soda is described in full by his younger brother Ponyboy Curtis (the narrator of the story), and the description included that he is extremely good looking: practically movie star handsome. He has dark gold hair, with lively eyes that are dark brown in colour, and a slim figure. Soda is a high school dropout, stating himself that he’s too dumb for school, but it doesn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. Unfortunately, his parents (also Darryl’s and Pony’s) died in a tragic car accident about a year prior to the events of the book, so he has some pent up trauma from that. He works at the DX gas station with his best friend Steve Randle, who is also a part of their Greaser gang, and he loves working on cars. He’s also always loved horses. He used to have a horse named Mickey that didn’t really belong to him officially, but he still rode it and cared for it until one day it got sold. Sodapop was extremely distraught. Due to his looks, girls practically swoon over him and are always flocking to the gas station to talk to him, whether it be Greasers or Socs. He has many friends, specifically the one’s in their tight knit gang. Soda is very close with his brothers, especially Ponyboy. It seems as though he has one of those personalities that just attracts people wherever he goes. Sodapop Curtis exhibits traits of joyfullness and peacemaking.
The first character trait to be discussed is Sodapop’s more apparent trait of joyfullness. In the text, Ponyboy states that “In our neighborhood, it’s rare to find a kid who doesn’t drink once and awhile. But Soda never touches a drop – he doesn’t need to. He gets drunk on just plain living. And he understands everybody.” This gives us insight to Soda’s lively and carefree presence in the novel. He seems to find joy in just about anything, and it doesn’t really matter to him if he’s smart or not, or if he’s rich or not. Life is his playground and he’s here to have fun and make others happy. Paired with his joyfulness is his great understanding for others. His happy and sympathetic nature, his understanding of what other people may be feeling is a great asset of his. It seems to me that his joyful presence brings his companions and those around him a sense of contentment and ease. The second piece of evidence to support the trait of joyfullness is “His eyes are dark brown – lively, dancing, recklessly laughing eyes that can be gentle and sympathetic one moment and blazing with anger the next.” The description of his eyes being lively, laughing, and dancing shows that Soda embraces good times. He is usually a pure positive presence, and his lasting youthfullness and joy is displayed within his eyes. Again, the idea of him being sympathetic is brought up, pairing that with his usual gentle nature. However, the idea of anger, that Soda can go from zero to one hundred quickly, is also said to be present in his gaze. It tells us that even though he may be joyful, it doesn’t make him immune to other emotions.
The second character trait to be discussed is Soda’s role as peacemaker. With Darry and Soda usually being on opposite ends of an argument or opinion, Soda usually finds himself in the middle. Evidence for this claim is as follows, when near the end of the novel Darry and Pony are yet again, having a go at eachother. “Don’t…Oh, you guys, why can’t you…” “ He jumped up and bolted out the door.” –skip down a little–
“So that was what had been bugging Soda all afternoon. And I hadn’t even bothered to find out. And while I was thinking about it, I realized that I never had paid much attention to Soda’s problems. Darry and I just took it for granted that he didn’t have any.” In the first bit of the piece of evidence, Soda is obviously feeling overwhelmed and fed up, not just with the constant bickering, but with always ending up being the middleman in Darry and Pony tug of war arguments. Running out of the house seemed like the best way to get out and breathe a little. Throughout the whole story, it always seemed to be Soda playing the role of peacemaker. While he enjoys physical fights, like rumbles and wrestling for leisure, Soda really doesn’t seem to enjoy personal conflict, especially within his circle of family and friends. Since Pony and Darry seem to be of opposite personalities, Sodapop ends up being the mediator, and that can be a lot of pressure, especially for a sixteen year old. The emotional, and possibly the mental strain this probably causes him, is well hidden behind a mask of lasting joy and mischief. “Golly you two, it’s bad enough having to listen to it, but when you start trying to get me to take sides…” “Tears welled up in his eyes.” ‘We’re all we’ve got left. We ought to be able to stick together against everything. If we don’t have each other we don’t have anything. If you don’t have anything, you end up like Dallas. And I don’t mean dead, either. I mean like he was before. And that’s worse than dead. Please”-- He wiped his eyes– “don’t fight anymore.” Soda explains to his brother what will happen if they don’t stop the constant fights. He is very obviously scared that they’ll be torn apart and separated. He’s basically the glue of the family. Always so concerned about keeping him and his brothers together, it’s taken a toll on him mentally and emotionally. Soda is always putting on a happy face for others, and everyone often forgets that he too has problems. He’s exhausted from constantly being the peacekeeper, and is trying to get through to Darry and Pony by using the late Dallas Winston as an example of what would be likely to happen if they don’t stick together. This excerpt conveys all of Soda’s inner turmoil very nicely.
Sodapop Curtis is definitely deeper than most would think, and that’s what makes him a truly compelling character.
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