Creative Writing Skills - Use Vivid Words (Synonyms for "walk")

There are many ways one can move. A good writer will use vivid words to describe how a person moves.
Here are a few synonyms for the word "walk" or "move". Where do we get the list of synonyms for the word "walk"? We can look up synonyms online (www.thesaurus.com) or buy a thesaurus.


(1) swagger - to walk with a swinging movement, in a way that seems too proud and confident
The notorious bully swaggered towards the quivering girl and demanded money from her.


(2) amble - to walk slowly in a relaxed way
The couple ambled to the beach.


(3) prance - to move quickly with exaggerated steps so that people will look at you
Ben was prancing around on the stage with the microphone.


(4) trudge - to walk slowly or with heavy steps because you are tired or carrying something heavy
The farmer trudged home with the heavy sack of rice.


(5)creep - to move slowly, quietly and carefully because you do not want to be seen or heard
Tim crept up the stairs as he did not want to wake his parents.


~  Serena's Greenhouse

A Word A Week - Week 5

Devastated (adj)

(1) extremely upset and shocked

Dave was devastated when his pet dog was killed in an accident.

Devastate (v)

(1) completely destroy a place or an area

The earthquake devastated the village.

(2) make somebody feel very shocked and sad

Tim was devastated by the bad news.

~ Serena's Greenhouse 

What determines the gender of a baby sea turtle?

 

A baby sea turtle is known as a hatchling. After an adult female sea turtle nests or has laid her eggs, she returns to the sea, leaving her eggs to develop on their own. The developing hatchlings do not have sex chromosomes. Their gender is determined by the temperature of the sand they are found in.

There is a "pivotal" temperature which varies slightly among species, ranging between 28 and 29 degrees Celsius. If the temperature of the sand is above this temperature range, female turtles will result. If the sand is below this temperature range, male turtles will result.

~ Serena's Greenhouse

Good Read - Magic Tree House Fast Trackers

It is important for children to read a wide genre of books and this includes non-fiction books. In recent years, the cloze passages in the PSLE are usually non-fiction or information texts. For example, in the 2011 English PSLE, the cloze passage is based on Egypt, pyramids and mummies.

The Magic Tree House has a series of simple yet informative non-fiction chapter books - Fast Trackers. For example, children will learn how pyramids were built, how and why mummies were made, what hieroglyphics is and many more interesting facts.

For kids who love animals, they can also find out more about dolphins and sharks, polar bears and dinosaurs as there are also books on these animals.

~ Serena's Greenhouse

Places to take the kids to during the holidays!

The year-end holidays are just round the corner. Here are some suggestions of places in Singapore to take the kids to.

(1) Singapore Science Centre
The kids will be thrilled to embark on a journey 250 million years back in time for a prehistoric adventure at the "Dinosaurs-Live" exhibition. There are 50 life-sized dinosaurs on display. The kids can also learn more about Science when they view other exhibits. Click on the weblink below to find out more about the other exhibitions.
http://www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/SCSExhibitionsHome.aspx

Venue:
Singapore Science Centre, Annexe Building

Date:
21 October 2011 to 26 February 2012

Admission Charges:
Adult                              $23*
Child (3 to 16 years old) $18*
* Includes Science Centre Admission

Opening Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(2) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
The kids can look at the interesting and rare mangrove species and find out why mangroves are important, their uses and benefits. Those in the upper primary can also learn how mangroves have adapted to their surroundings. There is also a free wireless trail. It uses ColourCode to enable visitors holding mobile devices with cameras and internet connection such as smartphones to learn about the flora and fauna there. Click on the weblink below to find out more about the wireless learning trail.
http://www.sbwr.org.sg/events/wirelesslearningtrail/

Homepage of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve:
http://www.sbwr.org.sg/aboutus/ourhistory/

Admission: Free entry
                  except on Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays and School Holidays
                  (Adult : $1; Child/ Student / Senior citizen $0.50)

Opening Hours: 7.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Monday to Saturday
                         7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Sunday and public holidays

(3) Farms in Singapore
The kids will enjoy a trip to the farms in Kranji. Hop on the Kranji Express and explore the countryside.
Click on the weblink below to find out about the farms that you can visit via the Kranji Express.
http://www.kranjicountryside.com/

Here are some of the farms that I have visited with my nephews and niece.
(a) Bollywood Veggies
You can lead the kids on a free and easy self-guided farm tour or a 30-minute farm tour on some uses and interesting uses and facts of the fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and other medicinal plants grown there. Tehre are also other activities that are organised by Bollywood Veggies. Click on the webllink to find out more.
http://www.bollywoodveggies.com/pdf/Bollywood%20Farm%20Tours%20and%20Activities.pdf

(b) Hay Dairies
The kids can get to view the goats and observe how milking is done between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Click on the weblink to find out more about Hay Dairies.
http://www.haydairies.com.sg/

(c) Jurong Frog Farm
The kids get to see bullfrogs up close. If they join the Frog Fun tour, they will be able to  hand-feed the bullfrogs, differentiate between a male and a female frog and observe how a frog camouflages in its natural environment.
Click on the weblink below to find out more about Jurong Frog Farm.
http://www.jurongfrogfarm.com.sg/main.htm

~ Serena's Greenhouse

A Word A Week - Week 4

Embezzle
(1) to take (property entrusted to one's care) dishonestly for one's own use
Dave was convicted of embezzling money from his clients.


Word formation:
embezzlement (noun)
embezzler (noun)


~ Serena's Greenhouse