After Halloween was over and the students had plenty of time to enjoy their candy, my older students did a fun assignment on the concept of "Show not Tell" and using the five senses to write sensory details about our favorite candy. I posed this question: If an alien came down from outer space and you were asked to describe your favorite candy to a being who has never seen or tasted it, could you do it?
My students came up with a clever beginning in story-telling form, to explain how they encountered an alien in the first place. Then they went on to describe their candy of choice. Some students wrote about their favorites, while others wrote about the gummy Lifesavers I brought in to inspire them (there are LOTS of sensory details about gummy Lifesavers, by the way!)
Alien's Lifesaver, by Diba (5th grade)
One day at my mansion, an alien named Al-ien said, "What are you eating, Human?"
I said, "This is a strawberry Lifesaver, but it can't save my life. It can save yours though."
Al-ien said, "Well, what is it?"
I answered, "This strawberry Lifesaver has a wrapper. When you open it, it is loud and crunchy, and when you eat it, it sounds chewy."
"It looks round like a donut. It is a neon reddish pink. It even has the words 'Lifesavers' on it."
"It smells like a Red-40 medicine. I can't forget the fact that it is very, very artifically flavored. I can even smell it."
"It tastes sweet with a gummy texture. It tastes like a strawberry flavored piece of plastic."
Al-ien respoded, "I don't want it anymore. Good bye!"
I can't say I blame him.
.... So I Sold an Alien a Lifesaver, by Adrian (6th grade)
Ahhhh... November 1st. I mean, Halloween is great and all, hanging out with friends, getting candy and all that. But November 1st, that's when it pays off. I have so much candy it'll all go stale by the time I get halfway through. What a waste, is it not? Why wait around with so much loot just for it to expire in a month? Why not sell it?
So here I am on quite a plentiful November 1st, outside the school selling yesterday's sweets to hungry students. I see a figure moving towards me. Must be a customer, I think. But as this consumer gets closer, I see an oddness in his skin; it almost looks green.
"Greetings, Scrawny Earthling," says the weird man with a voice that almost sounds like musical notes. "I, Zaphod Beeblox from Beetleguese 4 would like to make a purchase." He scans my selection with his red eyes. "One of those things please." One of his 24 fingers points towards a pack of Lifesaver gummies, one of the less valued items due to the fact that NO ONE LIKES THEM.
"You sure?" I ask in a bit of disgust. "One of those?"
"Of course, foolish carbon-based life form!" The alien chuckles grimly. "Now, give me ten of those things and I may spare you from your planet's inevitable vaporization."
"What?"
"Now, what are these 'Lifesavers?'"
"Ummm...." I say, dumbfounded. "Well..."
"Earthling, Earthling," the alien scolds, "with those giant ears you have, can't you tell me how they sound?"
"I mean... the werapper sounds kinda crinkly, and when you open the bag it sounds like a 'rippp.'"
"Hmmm... very good Earthling," the alien purrs. "Now how do these Lifesavers look?"
"Is this some sort of trick question?"
"No."
"Oh, okay," I mumble. "They're multi-colored and I guess they almost look like little donuts."
"Donuts?" questions the alien.
"Not important," I respond. "They're also transluscent."
"How do these things feel?"
"They're squishy," I respond, "and sticky, and bumpy, and gummy, and soft, and dry."
The alien purrs again.
"You happy now?" I ask.
"Just tell me how they smell!" insists the alien.
"They just smell like a bunch of sugar."
"I can tell you don't like the smell, how about the taste?"
"All they taste like is some dusty plastic, artificially flavored with like ten gallons of Red-40--" I get cut off by sirens in the distance.
"Oh no!" yelps the alien. "It is NASA! I need to go!"
As the alien hops on a UFO to escape, I start to rethink my life choices...
Alien Burglar On Oct. 31
by Chuyu (6th grade)
I have had a very bad time with burglars. Candy burglars, coming every once a year. I leave a large blue bowl out and put up a massive sign to take ONE, but these thieves always take as many as they please. This year, I coded my ring camera to detect how many candies they took. I routed it to one of my extra sirens so that the siren would howl when they took more than one. I was anxious and excited to see and scare the trick-or-treaters that took more than the board said.
First came a boy with a dragon costume. He took one of my M&M packets. I shook my head in disgust. Everyone knows that Twix are the best!
The next person came about an hour later. He was in a bright green suit with big black eyes. A spectacular Alien costume, I thought. My joy immediately evaporated from my body as the siren started beeping. “That stealing rascal!” I thought.
I immediately leaped out of my doorway to face the burglar. He turned to stare at me, his eyes large with fear. “It’s not what you think!” he cried.
I sneered at him and replied, “What excuse are you going to make up, that you were sleepwalking?”
“I’m an actual alien! I was banished by my group and was slingshotted here!”
“ Fat chance!” I replied with disgust. “You’re nothing but a little thief.”
“This isn’t a costume!! I’m a real alien!” the person said.
“Show me!” I screamed.
Suddenly, I heard the ground rumble. A strike of lightning flashed the ground and it flew upward. The green grass crumpled and turned brown. The dirt flew back into the ground and the alien glided back to the door.
“You believe me now?”
“Uhh …. Ye - e -e ea?” I sputtered.
“Anyways, which of these candies are the best? I saw people eating it and I didn’t know which one was best,” the alien said.
“It is obviously Twix™!” I pointed at the golden wrapper.
“What is it like to eat it?” he asked.
“Oh, don’t get me started. The wrapper opens with a heavenly crunch, like stepping on a pile of dead maple leaves. It sounds like firecrackers exploding on New Year’s Eve. There is a small tearing sound also.”
I stopped to take a breath. “The top feels bumpy and it feels brittle yet strong. The bottom however, feels smooth, contrasting the bumps on the top. When you break it open, you see a layer of smooth, creamy caramel on top of a crunchy wafer. All of it is surrounded by a layer of creamy chocolate. ”
“The smell of a Twix™ bar is unmatched in all of heaven and earth. It smells sweet, the flavor of the caramel and chocolate blending beautifully.”
“The taste is even better. The caramel and chocolate are now boasted by the buttery taste of the wafer. The Twix™ bar is truly majestic.”
The alien gasped. “Can I try one?”
“Of course!” I exclaimed.
He tore open the wrapper eagerly and quickly scarfed down the whole bar.
“This is just as delicious as you said it was. Can I bring some home to give to my family?”
I beckoned him inside and opened a large refrigerator. Inside were neat stacks of Twix bars, shining like a beautiful heavenly gift.
“Take all you want,” I said.
He quickly took out a beautiful blue bag and threw about 50 Twix bars inside. He thanked me quickly and left my house.
I sighed with relief. I met an alien, and did not get killed. Thank God.
My Encounter With a Fun, Curious Alien, by Jojo (6th grade)
It was the night of October 31st, and several trick or treaters lined the streets, their feet pounding on the sleek, cool pavement. Neon, colorful lights lined each house, and scary, frightening creatures loomed in the yard. Excitement and anticipation filled the air, as if a dangerous monster was hiding in the shadows.
As the night went on, I lay on my comfy, cozy couch, watching a movie. Suddenly, I jumped in fright. A DING-DONG burst like an alarm. I had not heard the doorbell ring all night, as I had a candy bowl outside where trick-or- treaters could acquire the candy without bothering me.
I flew to the door, and opened it. Standing at my steps was a tiny, green child dressed as an alien. He had a mask on, so I could not see his face. “Hello there! Is there a problem with the candy?” I asked calmly.
“Um, what is this?” The child spoke in a blurred voice, with a soft lisp. He held a sparkly, shiny candy bar, and I immediately recognized it for my favorite candy, Twix!
“Oh, this is only the best candy in the world! You really don’t know what Twix is?” My mind became utterly confused, as I had never met someone who had not heard of this fabulous, spectacular candy.
“No, I have not,” he murmured. I wondered why he was so shy, as he was talking in a very quiet, respectful voice, and I could not understand him well.
“Well, I will explain it to you, as I do know a lot about Twix.” I spoke triumphantly. “Twix is an amazing, excellent candy bar. It consists of chocolate, caramel and a scrumptious wafer. I have one here right now.” I held up the sparkling, golden wrapper. I opened the wrapper, and a thousand sounds exploded in my ears. “Do you hear that? That is the crinkly, calm sound of Twix. It reminds me of fireworks popping on the Fourth of July, and walking through a park in the fall, with a bed of dead leaves crunching under my feet.”
“Ooh.” The alien gently stroked the Twix, listening for the sounds of the symphony that I had described. “I can hear the sounds!” he exclaimed with a hint of joy in his voice.
“That’s not all. I have not yet described the feeling of touching a Twix. Once you stroke the surface of the candy bars, you will feel many different textures. It is smooth and firm, with little indents crawling over the top, like ants on a log.” I closed my eyes, and felt the little grooves on the top of the bar.
“Ah, I feel the ants.” The child spoke with happiness, and I knew he was enjoying my description.
“There’s more. When I spot a Twix, my mouth immediately waters. I will describe the sight of a Twix, now.” I felt joyful and content, happy that the alien was interested in my topic.
“Enveloped around a buttery, soft wafer of a Twix, is soft, velvety chocolate, with gooey soft caramel tucked inside.” I smiled at the alien, and he smiled happily back at me.
I leaned in closer to the alien, and held up the candy bar. “Smell it. You can feel and taste all the flavors.” The alien put his nose to the wrapper, and sighed in content. “I sense many different ingredients.”
“Yes, there are various flavors in this candy bar. I smell creamy, rich hints of cocoa butter and velvety chocolate, just by sensing the top of the bar.”
“Tell me more!” the alien squeaked happily, his pleads growing larger as every minute went by.
“Alright, I will tell you one more thing about the fabulous Twix bar.” I grinned. “Lastly, I will explain the taste of a Twix. As soon as you bite down on this bar, you taste the scrumptious layers of wafer to caramel, and caramel to chocolate. The buttery, crisp wafer is tucked inside gooey caramel and thick chocolate, which creates a symphony of flavors when you bite down. It is flaky, gooey, and mouthwatering.” I peered at the alien. “Would you like to try one?” I spoke kindly.
“Yes, please!!! The alien squealed in delight, and joyfully took the Twix bar I handed him. As soon as the alien had bit down on the bar, he cried out ecstatically. “It is amazing!” The alien jumped up and down, amazed at the delicious bar.
As I watched him jumping up and down, I grew very happy. Content, I walked back to my house, delighted to have made someone's day.
