Analyse Lesson 6
Can I find and discuss Writer’s
Knowledge 5-8 in the Example Text?
Sentence Accuracy
Sentence Accuracy
Quick Build: single-clause sentence
Verb
seemed
Who/What
place
Sentence
The place seemed sad.
Add Detail: Conjunctions
seeds were starting to sprout.
The place seemed sad
although
____________
Re-read
Build
seeds were starting to sprout.
although
____________
The place seemed sad
___________________________________________________________________________
Check
My turn to write a sentence.
Listen to my writer's voice.
Let me hide it!Now your turn.
Your turn to write a sentence.
Write?
Dictate?
Adapt/Extend?
Combine?
Fix?
Use your Sentence Checker
Sentence time over! Click to move on.
Quick Build: single-clause sentence
Verb
were sprouting
Who/What
seedlings
Sentence
Seedlings were sprouting leaves.
Add Detail: Noun Phrase
were sprouting leaves.
Tiny, delicate seedlings from the soil
_____________________________________________
Re-read
Build
Tiny, delicate seedlings from the soil
_____________________________________________
were sprouting leaves.
___________________________________________________________________________
Check
My turn to write a sentence.
Listen to my writer's voice.
Let me hide it!Now your turn.
Your turn to write a sentence.
Write?
Dictate?
Adapt/Extend?
Combine?
Fix?
Use your Sentence Checker
Sentence time over! Click to move on.
Can I find and discuss Writer’s
Knowledge 5-8 in the Example Text?
Let's take a quick look at how the Example Text is presented and the features it has.
The Example Text has...
Paragraphs
Title
Adjectives
Third person
Verbs
Features
Text structure
The Abandoned Playground
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Paragraph
Third person
Verbs
Title
Adjectives
Click on / Click off
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Let's work in:
Stations
Pairs
Groups
Speech punctuation
Let me show you
Let's add the missing speech punctuation.
Looks worse than yesterday she murmured
Today is the day she told herself
It whispered I'm here I'm here
We aren't supposed to be here they pleaded.
Reveal
Speech punctuation
Let's find and discuss
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Reveal
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Imagine
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Speech punctuation
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Words and phrases for feelings
Let me show you
Drag the words and phrases that best describe how planting the seeds made the little girl feel.
smile that starts from the inside
every handful of soil
heart filled with hope
the seedlings' leaves grew
sun twinkling over her garden
her heart lifted
Reveal
Words and phrases for feelings
Let's find and discuss
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Reveal
Imagine
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Words and phrases for feelings
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Personification
Let me show you
Match each phrase to its meaning.
tiny, green seedling... waving at her
The swings were old and creaky.
The seedling's leaves blew in the wind.
sun began its climb
sad, whimpering swings
The sun rose in the sky.
Reveal
Personification
Let's find and discuss
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Imagine
Reveal
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Personification
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Similes
Let me show you
Match the simile to the image it is describing.
empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes
heart like a tightly pulled knot
as brown as fluffy cocoa powder
Reveal
Similes
Let's find and discuss
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Imagine
Reveal
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Similes
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Question Quiz Time
Secret Selector
Team Competition
How will we answer our questions today?
Vote
ThumbsUp
ThinkPair Share
Bob Up
Which One's Right?
Which one shows speech punctuation used correctly?
A "Today is the day, she told herself."
B "Today is the day," she told herself.
C "Today is the day", she told herself.
D Today is the day, "she told herself."
Picture Me
Which image best shows this phrase?'a smile that starts from the inside'
Odd One Out
Which of these is not a phrase to make an object sound human?
A trailed its golden fingers
B sad, whimpering swings
C the enormous playground
D empty spaces that glared
True or False?
Similies can help the reader to imagine something.
False
True
Can I find and discuss Writer’s Knowledge 5-8 in the Example Text?
CEW
Handwriting
Writing Effects
Spelling
Ideas
Other...
Feedback: Who did what well?
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes
heart like a tightly pulled knot
as brown as fluffy cocoa powder
"Looks worse than yesterday," she murmured.
"Today is the day," she told herself.
It whispered, "I'm here, I'm here."
We aren't supposed to be here they pleaded.
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
seeds were starting to sprout.
The place seemed sad
although
____________
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
were sprouting leaves.
Tiny, delicate seedlings from the soil
_____________________________________________
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
smile that starts from the inside
heart filled with hope
her heart lifted
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Y4F The Secret Sky Garden Analyse L6
Literacy Counts
Created on March 24, 2026
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Transcript
Analyse Lesson 6
Can I find and discuss Writer’s Knowledge 5-8 in the Example Text?
Sentence Accuracy
Sentence Accuracy
Quick Build: single-clause sentence
Verb
seemed
Who/What
place
Sentence
The place seemed sad.
Add Detail: Conjunctions
seeds were starting to sprout.
The place seemed sad
although
____________
Re-read
Build
seeds were starting to sprout.
although
____________
The place seemed sad
___________________________________________________________________________
Check
My turn to write a sentence.
Listen to my writer's voice.
Let me hide it!Now your turn.
Your turn to write a sentence.
Write?
Dictate?
Adapt/Extend?
Combine?
Fix?
Use your Sentence Checker
Sentence time over! Click to move on.
Quick Build: single-clause sentence
Verb
were sprouting
Who/What
seedlings
Sentence
Seedlings were sprouting leaves.
Add Detail: Noun Phrase
were sprouting leaves.
Tiny, delicate seedlings from the soil
_____________________________________________
Re-read
Build
Tiny, delicate seedlings from the soil
_____________________________________________
were sprouting leaves.
___________________________________________________________________________
Check
My turn to write a sentence.
Listen to my writer's voice.
Let me hide it!Now your turn.
Your turn to write a sentence.
Write?
Dictate?
Adapt/Extend?
Combine?
Fix?
Use your Sentence Checker
Sentence time over! Click to move on.
Can I find and discuss Writer’s Knowledge 5-8 in the Example Text?
Let's take a quick look at how the Example Text is presented and the features it has.
The Example Text has...
Paragraphs
Title
Adjectives
Third person
Verbs
Features
Text structure
The Abandoned Playground
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Paragraph
Third person
Verbs
Title
Adjectives
Click on / Click off
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Let's work in:
Stations
Pairs
Groups
Speech punctuation
Let me show you
Let's add the missing speech punctuation.
Looks worse than yesterday she murmured
Today is the day she told herself
It whispered I'm here I'm here
We aren't supposed to be here they pleaded.
Reveal
Speech punctuation
Let's find and discuss
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Reveal
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Imagine
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Speech punctuation
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Words and phrases for feelings
Let me show you
Drag the words and phrases that best describe how planting the seeds made the little girl feel.
smile that starts from the inside
every handful of soil
heart filled with hope
the seedlings' leaves grew
sun twinkling over her garden
her heart lifted
Reveal
Words and phrases for feelings
Let's find and discuss
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Reveal
Imagine
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Words and phrases for feelings
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Personification
Let me show you
Match each phrase to its meaning.
tiny, green seedling... waving at her
The swings were old and creaky.
The seedling's leaves blew in the wind.
sun began its climb
sad, whimpering swings
The sun rose in the sky.
Reveal
Personification
Let's find and discuss
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Imagine
Reveal
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Personification
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Writer's Knowledge
Personification
Speech punctuation
Words and phrases for feelings
Similes
Similes
Let me show you
Match the simile to the image it is describing.
empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes
heart like a tightly pulled knot
as brown as fluffy cocoa powder
Reveal
Similes
Let's find and discuss
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
Replace?
Remove?
Feel
Imagine
Reveal
Your Turn: Which paragraphs will you look at?
Similes
Imagine Feel Replace? Remove?
Reveal
Question Quiz Time
Secret Selector
Team Competition
How will we answer our questions today?
Vote
ThumbsUp
ThinkPair Share
Bob Up
Which One's Right?
Which one shows speech punctuation used correctly?
A "Today is the day, she told herself."
B "Today is the day," she told herself.
C "Today is the day", she told herself.
D Today is the day, "she told herself."
Picture Me
Which image best shows this phrase?'a smile that starts from the inside'
Odd One Out
Which of these is not a phrase to make an object sound human?
A trailed its golden fingers
B sad, whimpering swings
C the enormous playground
D empty spaces that glared
True or False?
Similies can help the reader to imagine something.
False
True
Can I find and discuss Writer’s Knowledge 5-8 in the Example Text?
CEW
Handwriting
Writing Effects
Spelling
Ideas
Other...
Feedback: Who did what well?
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes
heart like a tightly pulled knot
as brown as fluffy cocoa powder
"Looks worse than yesterday," she murmured.
"Today is the day," she told herself.
It whispered, "I'm here, I'm here."
We aren't supposed to be here they pleaded.
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
seeds were starting to sprout.
The place seemed sad
although
____________
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
As spring arrived, the playground had begun to buzz. It was alive with the sound of bees’ wings humming and birds’ wings flapping. Each day, the little girl tended to her plants, carefully nurturing the young trees. The once grey wash of concrete was now a living, breathing field. As she looked around, the girl felt a warm smile spread. It was the sort of smile that starts from the inside. She watched the sun twinkling over her garden while her heart filled with hope once more.
Each day before school, she made her way there and picked up litter that had flittered down onto its cracked surface. “Today is the day,” she told herself. She could no longer face the sad, whimpering swings or the vast, empty space of the playground. Inside her backpack, she carried a bag of soil and a packet of fruit tree seeds. With great care, she slowly emptied the soil onto a patch of playground, then scattered the seeds. She quickly glanced around to check if she was alone, then headed off to school.
Every morning, she scattered more soil and seeds. With every handful of soil, her heart lifted. With every pocketful of tree seeds, her heart warmed. After three weeks, it was looking less like a playground and more like a wild field in the countryside. It was then that she noticed it flickering in the gentle breeze by the fence. A tiny, green seedling was standing tall, waving at her frantically. It whispered, “I’m here, I’m here.”
were sprouting leaves.
Tiny, delicate seedlings from the soil
_____________________________________________
Across the ground, more and more of the green seedlings began to sprout up through the soil. It wasn’t long before the seedlings’ leaves grew fuller and wider. They were opening up for the sun to find them. The little girl kept on bringing soil. She filled the empty spaces that glared upwards like cold, grey eyes. Soon, everything was covered with a soft layer of earth. It was as brown as fluffy cocoa powder.
smile that starts from the inside
heart filled with hope
her heart lifted
An echoing wind whistled through the streets’ sprawling buildings. As the sun began its climb, it fought to reach out against grey clouds. It trailed its golden fingers over the dull, grey path and across the small girl’s backpack. She was trudging to the old, abandoned playground near the town centre. The light warmed her face, however it could not warm her grey expression. She looked out at the playground with a heart like a tightly pulled knot. “Looks worse than yesterday,” she murmured under her breath. Derelict and broken, it had long been forgotten by everyone except her.