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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781524644086 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 11/01/2016 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 126 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
A Squirm of Worms
By Sherry L. Meinberg
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2016 Dr. Sherry L. MeinbergAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5246-4409-3
CHAPTER 1
READY FOR THE CONCERT
It's almost time! It's almost time!" chanted Jade and Lyric, as they danced around in a circle together.
"I can't wait!" shouted Mateo.
"We can't either!" agreed Zak and Carson, as they ran to join the group.
INVITATION
Everyone is invited!
Come and listen to the
CONCERT ON THE KNOLL,
presented by the
Long Beach City College band.
Please join us on the
school playground at 2:00 P.M.
on Wednesday, November 12th
Excitement spread through the group of children. The third graders in Room 21 had been looking forward to this day. So had everyone else in the school. Every six weeks, the school had a special event. It was called the CONCERT ON THE KNOLL. Bands and orchestras came from nearby high schools and colleges to play for the elementary school. Everyone enjoyed the music.
All day long, the children watched the workers. Before school began, during recesses, and lunchtime, they watched the stage being put together. They watched the workers stretch many electrical cords and fix them in place. Later, they watched as the amplifiers and loud speakers and microphones were being set in just the right spots. Everything fit together like a giant puzzle. It was so exciting!
Today, the Long Beach City College band was coming to give a special concert. The students and teachers were not the only ones who looked forward to this special day. It was really a neighborhood event.
Everyone liked to come to the CONCERT ON THE KNOLL. Parents came. Big brothers and sisters came. Little brothers and sisters came. Many small toddlers were pushed around in strollers. Lots of tiny babies were held, so they could enjoy the music together. Grandparents, aunts and uncles showed up. Neighbors who didn't even have kids came too. Sometimes, people in cars that were just driving past, would park alongside the school to listen. Everyone liked to hear the music. It made them feel good. The concert was held during the last hour of school, so the students could leave directly afterward with their families.
It was almost time for the concert to begin. One by one, each class walked out to the concert area. This was a large space next to the primary playground. It was called the knolls, because it was made of many big mounds of grass. These grassy hills were fun for the children to run over, roll down, and play around on, during recess.
The stage was big. It was set on the largest knolls. Many chairs were placed on the stage for the band members to sit on. There was plenty of room around each chair for music stands and other instruments.
Some band members played more than one instrument, and had to have them close by.
The school audience sat on the grass. The kindergartners sat close to the stage. The first and second graders sat down next. The third, fourth, and fifth graders sat behind them. Everyone could easily see the band. Then all the adults stood in the back, behind the children. There were a lot of people at the concert. But there was plenty of room for all.
It was so quiet. Even with so many people in the audience, everyone was using their best concert manners. They knew it was an honor to hear this group. Only a few babies were crying, but the students knew that the little ones didn't know any better. And, once the music started, the babies always stopped being fussy.
CHAPTER 2THE CONCERT FINALLY BEGINS
At last, the audience was seated. Everyone waited quietly for the principal to begin her welcome speech.
"We are happy that so many of you could join us," the principal began. We are going to hear a special treat today, and I'm sure you will all be using your best manners." She gave the students such a look! All the children nodded their heads up and down, to show her that they knew how to act.
"She doesn't need to remind us, whispered Zak.
"Yeah! We're not little kids," added Carson.
The students in Room 21 all nodded in agreement. They knew all the rules.
"And now," continued the principal, "I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Manley, the Long Beach City College band director." Everyone clapped politely, as Mr. Manley stood up and bowed.
"What a beautiful day! It's just perfect for an outdoor concert!" Mr. Manley said, in a very cheery voice. "Thank you for the invitation. I know we'll all have a fine time together."
Then Mr. Manly introduced the members of his college band, and each stood up to show their instruments, and play a few notes. The audience clapped and clapped. The students nodded their heads at each other, when their favorite instruments were shown.
The students in Room 21 felt very smart. They had been learning about the different kinds of instruments. They understood everything that Mr. Manley was saying. Finally, Mr. Manley told about the music that was going to be played.
The whole audience was happy to hear the music begin. Some of the music was familiar, and some was new, but everyone enjoyed it just the same. What a wonderful concert they were hearing! What a wonderful day!
Everyone was on their best behavior. The students had been to many CONCERTS ON THE KNOLL, and knew what was expected of them. All the visiting adults were impressed with the children and their good manners.
Sometimes Mr. Manley asked the students questions, and everyone raised their hands to answer. There was no talking during the music. The children just smiled at each other when they liked the songs. Sometimes they held hands, or swayed back and forth to the music, but everyone was quiet.
Sometimes the students were invited to clap along to the music. Everyone clapped in time, and didn't miss a beat. No one was acting silly. Sometimes the boys and girls were asked to sing along with the music. They all did a good job. No one was messing around. The children were acting very grown up. What a great audience!
CHAPTER 3THE CONCERT QUICKLY ENDS
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
In the middle of the concert, a girl stood up and looked down at the grass. She quietly moved over and sat down. Then another girl did the same thing. Next, a boy looked startled, stood up, and moved over. Then all over the audience, groups of twos and threes, stood up, moved over, and sat back down.
Many students were looking down at the ground, instead of up at the band. There seemed to be lots of questions, and lots of moving around. Children were tapping the shoulders of their friends, then whispering, then pointing down. Some of the boys began pounding the grass.
Small groups began standing up and sitting down at the same time. Then bigger groups started doing the same thing. None of them paid any attention to the other children. They just kept looking down at the ground. It looked very much like people doing The Wave, at football games. It was very odd. But everyone was still quiet. All were trying to be on their best behavior. After all, they knew the rules.
"What could possibly be going on?" asked Ms. Matson to another teacher standing nearby.
"I don't know, but something is definitely wrong," she said, as she pointed to another group that was quickly trying to stand.
By this time, all of the teachers were whispering to one another. The waves of movement were getting faster and faster. Larger groups of children were standing up as others were sitting down. But none of the teachers wanted to interrupt the band, by talking to their students in the middle of the audience. The teachers just nervously watched. It was a very strange sight.
Suddenly, a girl shrieked, "EEEEEK!"
Another joined her, "YOW!"
Someone else screeched, "WORMS!"
Soon, all over the audience, students were hopping up and down, chanting, "Worms, worms, worms!"
"Eeeyooou!"
"GROSS!"
"Disgusting!" shouted Zoey.
The crowd went wild! Children started a stampede to the playground. They were pushing and shoving as they tried to get away. Even some of the adults ran.
"HELP!" yelled several first graders, as they began to crawl away from the stage. Screams, noise, and confusion were everywhere. All the teachers stood by helplessly, as dozens of long, thin, squirmy worms were suddenly being thrown all over the outdoor audience. People were shouting, crying, and running all over the place. Mothers with strollers were running away.
Since Mr. Manley had been conducting the band, his back was to the audience. He motioned for the musicians to stop playing the music, as he barked, "I have never, ever, heard such a disrespectful audience ...," as he turned to see what all the noise and commotion was about. He couldn't believe his eyes, as he saw both children and adults running away from the grassy area, as worms were flying through the air.
CHAPTER 4DOOMED
The next morning, all the students were nervous. They stood around together in unhappy groups all over the playground. No one wanted to go into their classrooms on the day after the worm problem. They all knew that each and every classroom was going to get a TEACHER TALK.
"Ms. Matson's going to be mad, mad, mad!" said Mateo, frowning at the very thought.
"That's right!" worried Precious. "I don't even want to go in there today," as she pointed to the door of Room 21.
"Me, either," said Autumn shaking her head.
"All we're going to hear all day long is stuff about manners," grumbled Zak.
"Yeah!" muttered Carson. "And stuff about good behavior." He shook his head at the thought of it.
"We'll have no fun today!" added Lyric.
Everyone looked sad. They all knew they were doomed.
Then another group came up to the classroom door. They were having the same discussion, but from a different point of view.
"My family laughed all night about it," grinned Quin.
"Mine, too!" agreed Ryder. They thought it was funny!"
"So did mine! Everyone had a great time because of the flying worms!" said Jade. The children pictured the scene in their minds. They all cracked up just thinking about it.
"Did you see the look on Mr. Manley's face?" laughed Ryder. "He couldn't believe it!
"My mom didn't believe it, either! I had to convince her," said Precious.
"Did you ever see so many worms in your life?" giggled Lyric. Everyone wagged their heads from side to side. They all had big grins on their faces.
"But some of the worms got squished! " worried Precious.
"Yeah, SQUISHED!" added some of the boys.
"Squished, squashed, sqwooshed!" they chanted, as they stamped their feet on the ground. The boys laughed loudly, as some of the girls squeeled.
"Eeeyooou!"
"Gross!"
"Disgusting!" yelled Zoey.
"And did you see all those worms flying around?" asked Lyric, with her arms making big looping motions.
"There were lots of them ..."
"There were hundreds of them ..."
All the children talked over each other about this unusual sight. They all agreed.
There were more worms than people at the CONCERT ON THE KNOLL.
"Thousands of worms! Thousands of worms!" the children happily chanted together. They jumped up and down in their excitement. Just then Ms. Matson opened the door. All of the students became instantly quiet. No one could look at Ms. Matson's face. They knew they were all in BIG TROUBLE.
CHAPTER 5QUESTIONS
As expected, the class did hear about the worm incident. At the end of the talk Ms. Matson surprised the third graders by saying, "I was so proud to see that no one in Room 21 was throwing worms." Everyone straightened their shoulders. They felt so good about themselves. "It is no surprise that it was those big 5 grade boys — those constant troublemakers — who were throwing the worms. And they are in the principal's office right now." Eyes darted around the room. Everyone knew exactly who she was talking about, because those boys caused all kinds of problems. All the time. "Unfortunately for them," Ms. Matson added, "there will be consequences." Ms. Matson had little patience for such student hijinks. The children were all happy in their hearts that they weren't on the receiving end of such treatment.
Then the direction of the discussion changed. "Why do you think that everyone was in such a rush to leave the concert?" asked Ms. Matson.
"Because of the worms!" everyone answered together. That seemed like a dumb question to many.
"Yes, but why?" she continued. "They were only worms, after all."
"Because they're long!"
"Because they're skinny!"
"Because they're sliii-my!"
"They're nasty!"
"That's for sure!"
Ms. Matson nodded her head. "But just because a worm may be long, and skinny, and slimy, isn't reason enough to run away from it. Let's think of another reason." Everyone thought and thought. Some shrugged. Others frowned.
"Were the worms big?" asked Ms. Matson. "Were the worms as big as you?"
"Noooo!"
"They're disgusting!" added Zoey.
"So what could they do to you?" The students were not happy with the way the discussion was going. Ms. Matson made them use their brains. A lot.
"So, why do you think so many people — even some adults — were afraid of those little worms?"
It was quiet. Everyone was thinking.
"There were too many worms!" said Autumn.
"Yeah," everyone agreed, nodding their heads up and down.
"It was scary to see that many worms all at once," said Precious.
"You usually only see a couple of worms at a time," said Zak.
"Mostly, after it rains," added Carson.
"Well, it was something I never ever saw before!" said Lyric.
"Me, either," agreed Jade.
"That's right!" others said. "There were too many worms!"
"It's nothing I ever expected to see!" said Precious. "It was raining worms!" Everyone nodded.
"Yeah. It was nothing I ever even thought I'd see," said Quin. Everyone nodded.
"That was very unusual," agreed Ms. Matson.
"And, we weren't used to seeing so many disgusting worms flying through the air," said Zoey.
"And they were all so wiggly . . ."
"They tickled!" shouted several others.
"It was such a surprise," explained Mateo. "We weren't ready for worms. We were ready for music!"
Much later that day, Ms. Matson said, "Help me, class. I'm still trying to figure this out. Why did everyone run? I saw children running away. I saw adults running away. I saw mothers pushing strollers running away. Everyone ran away from the worms. Can worms run after you?"
"Noooo!" the students said together.
"Can worms bite you?"
"Noooo!"
"Can worms sting you?"
"Noooo!"
Hmmm. Ms. Matson thought some more. "If everyone ran off a cliff, would you?"
No one said anything.
"Are worms dangerous?"
"No!"
"Are worms poisonous?" she asked.
"Noooo!"
"Some snakes are poisonous," Zak said.
"Yeah, some snakes are poisonous," Carson repeated.
"True," smiled Ms. Matson. "But we are talking about worms." She always tried to keep everyone on target. She called it being focused.
The room was quiet.
"Can worms chase you?"
"Noooo!" The class laughed at such a silly idea.
"So why did everyone run?" Ms. Matson asked again.
The third graders in Room 21 began thinking to themselves, Why did we run?
Later on in the day, the subject of worms came up again. Ms. Matson said, "Remember a long time ago, when I read the book, Ramona the Pest, to you?" Everyone nodded, grinning at the funny things that happened to Ramona. "Do you remember when she wrapped a worm around her finger, and called it a wedding ring?" Everyone laughed at the very idea. "Ramona was eight years old, like most of you. Was she afraid of a little worm?"
"NO!" the class roared.
"I can't seem to get my mind off of worms. This is such a big mystery to me," said Ms. Matson. "Why do you think so many worms came out of the ground at the same time?"
"Maybe they liked the music!" said Autumn.
"Yeah, maybe they never heard music before," said Zak.
"Yeah, maybe this was their first chance to hear music," said Carson.
"Or maybe the worms wanted to see what was making the music," said Quin.
The students all liked these ideas. That was the answer! The worms liked the CONCERT ON THE KNOLL!
CHAPTER 6WORM STORIES
Room 21 eagerly wrote stories about the worms that came to the CONCERT ON THE KNOLL. Next, Ms. Matson typed the stories, and printed them, while the students drew pictures to go with their stories. Ms. Matson cut out their stories, and pasted them onto their pictures. One fun day, the pupils got to read their stories out loud, and show their pictures to everyone in the class. The audience got to eat Gummy Worms candy, as they listened to the stories. Yum, yum!
"Hey, look at me!" Zak shouted, as he loudly slurped a Gummy Worm into his mouth. So did Carson.
"Eeeyoou!"
"Gross!"
"Disgusting!" yelled Zoey.
Then Ms. Matson fastened all the pages together, to made a class book. It was fun to read The Worm Music over and over again. Everyone was proud of their book.
The class started a chart about everything they knew about worms. It was on a large roll of butcher paper. At first, they couldn't think of very many facts. "Oh, come on!" said Ms. Matson. "Put on your thinking caps!" The group thought and thought. "You always know a lot more than you think you do!" she added. Ms. Matson was right. As usual.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WORMS
1. Worms are alive.
2. Worms are long.
3. Worms are skinny.
4. Worms are slimy.
5. Worms have a head.
6. Worms have a body.
7. Worms have a tail.
8. Worms can wiggle backwards and forwards.
9. Worms do not have a backbone.
10. Worms do not have bones.
11. Worms do not have teeth.
12. Worms do not have arms.
13. Worms do not have hands.
14. Worms do not have legs.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Squirm of Worms by Sherry L. Meinberg. Copyright © 2016 Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
1: READY FOR THE CONCERT, 1,2: THE CONCERT FINALLY BEGINS, 6,
3: THE CONCERT QUICKLY ENDS, 10,
4: DOOMED, 14,
5: QUESTIONS, 18,
6: WORM STORIES, 25,
7: THE WORM BOOK HUNT, 31,
8: JUST LIKE REAL SCIENTISTS, 34,
9: A WORM'S BODY, 38,
10: PROJECTS, 48,
11: MOVING ALONG, 54,
12: FEEDING, 62,
13: TUNNELING, 69,
14: ENEMIES, 76,
15: WORM LIFE CYCLE, 83,
16: ALL SORTS OF WORMS, 88,
17: NOT ALL ANSWERS ARE FOUND IN A CLASSROOM, 94,
18: AN UNUSUAL REVIEW, 104,
EPILOGUE, 111,
WORM WORDS, 113,
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, 115,