My class teacher's name is Miss. Aruni De Alwis. She teaches us Religion, ENV, Maths and Sinhala. She wears beautiful sarees to school.

She lives in Negombo. Her hair is straight and long. She comes to school by van. She is very kind to children. She is very nice. I love my teacher.

My trip to Trincomalee

By Dayan Samarasinghe (7 years), S. Thomas' College. Mt. Lavinia

We left Colombo early in the morning one day in December. On our way we went to Athugala, a small temple on a rock which has the shape of an elephant. Then we came to Trinco in the evening.

We went to see the Navy camp first. We stayed at the Nilaveli Beach Hotel for two days. We also went to bathe in the Nilaveli beach and the Marble beach. I collected a lot of seashells and some corals. I also went on a boat trip to Pigeon Island, to see the seven hot wells and also to Serawavila.

On our way back we stayed at Hotel Sigiriya. I climbed the rock with my father. I also visited a park with elephants. I saw a lot of peacocks too. We stayed at Sigirya for two days and then returned home. I enjoyed my trip very much.

The end of the dinosaurs

By Dilrukshi Gunasekaran (Grade 8), Kingston College International, Mutwal

All dinosaurs on earth died out about 65 billion years ago. There are dinosaur fossils up to this time but none there after. What happened to wipe out some of the biggest, most numerous and successful animals that the world has ever seen?

There are many ideas. It could have been one disaster or a combination of several. The dinosaurs may have been killed by a giant lump of rock or meteorite. This may have come from outer space and smashed into the earth. It threw up vast clouds of water, rock, ash and dust that blotted out the sun for many years. Plants could not grow and so plant-eating dinosaurs died out. Then meat-eating dinosaurs also had no food and so they died as well.

Many volcanoes around the world could have erupted all at the same time. This would have thrown out red-hot rocks, ash, and clouds of poisonous gases. The dinosaurs would have choked in the gloom.

Then dinosaurs could also have been killed by a disease. This could have gradually spread among all the dinosaurs and killed them off. It also might be that dinosaur eggs were eaten by other animals or destroyed by a plague. Small shrew-like mammals were around at that time and they may have eaten the eggs at night as the dinosaurs slept.

My father

By Rizna Fareed (Grade 5), St Joseph's Vidyalaya, Grandpass

My father's name is Rahuman Fareed. He is a businessman. He works in Doha, Qatar. He works very hard. He never gets angry.

My father gives me everything that I want. On my birthday he presented me with an encyclopaedia and a dictionary. I liked those books. Last year we went to Leisure World. My father is tall and he is beautiful. I always thank God for giving me such a good father. I love my father and my father loves me too.

Book Week

By Rashvin Senanayake (6 years), British School in Colombo

It was Book Week at my school from November 3 – 6, 2009. We read one book called ‘The Enormous Turnip.’ We also went to the library. We had fun. On the last day of Book Week we dressed up as our favourite character from a book. I was dressed as Aladdin. My best friend Meth was dressed as a football player and Shania was a ballerina.

My school trip

By Ahamed Ahzin, Amal International School

It was a Wednesday, I went on a trip with my classmates and teachers. We started the journey early in the morning. Our plan was to go to Tiyari Orphanage and to Alli company. First we went to the Tiyari Orphanage.

We reached there at about 12. On the way some children danced and some children sang songs, while others were waiting quietly. We went in two buses.Next we went to Alli Company. We saw many food items, such as noodles and cordials. Some children brought items. Later we stopped and had lunch. After lunch, one of our buses got a tyre puncture. So we waited for some time.

We reached our school around 8 p.m.Later my father came and picked me up. I was tired that day. After I reached my home I fell asleep. That was a wonderful day. Next year I hope that I can go to a different place.

My friend

By Harini Senasekera (6 years), Nugegoda

My friend's name is Raiyn. She is nine years old. She has longer hair than me. She is from South Africa. She is in Grade 5B. Sometimes she gets mad with me. Once she was in a really bad mood. She is good in Karate. She was born in Doha. She has 19 best friends. She loves cats.

My mother

By Hasanga De Silva (Grade 2), St. Paul's B.V., Milagiriya

My mother's name is Indrani De Silva. She is 39 years old. She is very kind to me. She prepares my meals everyday. She helps me in my studies.

My mother has long hair and wears sari. My mother and I go to the temple on every Poya day.

The girl next door

By Changa Malawige (Grade 3), Visakha Vidyalaya

There is a little girl
Living next door
Her name is Nashali
And she is so small

She is cute
And she is good
She says always
Go… Go…Go…

She is fair
With long hair
We share the same cat
As our pet

I am eight
And she is two
She loves me
And I love her too…

The dog

By Amanda Wickramarachchi (11 years), Ferguson High School, Ratnapura

The dog is a domestic animal. It likes to eat meat. There are many dogs in the world. They like to play with us. But some dogs are angry with us. Rotweiler and Boxer are some of them. Dogs can run fast.

Value of trees

By Sanduni Ranasinghe (10 years), Sacred Heart Convent, Galle

We get medicine, food, wood and shelter from trees. Trees preserve moisture. We get much needed rain because of trees. Trees have a great influence upon climate. Trees stop soil erosion and prevent destructive earthslips.

September is the month for planting trees. Trees purify the air by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen. Some people do not know the value of trees. They cut down trees for their needs. If we cut a tree, we must plant another tree in that place.

We should realize the value of trees and try to preserve them.

A place I visited during the vacation

By Hasithi Jayabhagya (11 years), Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara

During the last school vacation, we went to the zoo. We saw animals, birds, snakes, amphibians and fish there. There were lions, bears and tigers. They were kept in strong cages. Then we saw camels, horses, giraffes and zebras too. We gave food to some animals.

There was a separate section for the birds. There we saw various kinds of birds like parrots, mynahs, peacocks, love birds and ostriches. They were very beautiful. They were kept in cages. We enjoyed
looking at the beautiful birds.

After that we saw various kinds of snakes like cobras and black snakes. They were kept in glass cages. There were snakes of different sizes, colours and shapes. Some of them were venomous, while others were non-poisonous.

In the evening we were able to see the elephant dance. We enjoyed the trip very much.

My grandfather

By Onesha Liyanage (12 years), U.K.

My wondrous grandfather, what can I say?
Your kind and gentle nature, no words can explain.
Your inspiring way of thinking,
You determined state of mind,
Are only aspects which make your personality fine!
Your eyes which dance like birds.

I remember when I was little, a small and shy little girl,
I copied your every move, how to walk, how to talk, how to learn.
My tiny hands in yours, forever there it shall remain,
For even if the whole world changes,
One thing will stay the same and that is,
My love for you.
It grows stronger everyday.

My wondrous grandfather, what can I say?
My never ending love for you, no words can explain.

My best friend

By Salma Faiz (10 years) Gampola International School

My best friend is Shazra Rizvi. She is 10 years old. Her birthday is on April 21. She is studying at Gampola International School. She is in Unambuwa. She has one sister and three brothers. At her home, she is fourth. Her favourite colour is pink.

I like my best friend very much. She also likes me.

Remembrance of the tsunami

By Bhagya Mallawaarachchie (13 years), Lexicon International School, Kandy

Can you remember something terrible happened on a day like yesterday? Yes, it was terrible, that's the
tsunami. It happened on December 26, 2004. It was an Unduvap Poya day too.

Children got up early in the morning, they cleaned themselves and wore half saris and the boys wore shirts and sarongs. They got ready to go to the temple with oil, flowers, joss sticks and wicks, but they didn't think something bad would happen. They were religious and very pleasant.

At about 8.10 a.m., there was an earth shake and also there was a sudden rise in the sea level. People were shouting as this was something ridiculous. They said "muhuda goda galanawa." The priests of the temple advised them to go to a higher place.

As the people moved faster, some couldn't escape. The waves travelled faster. The buildings were destroyed. People were killed, nearly 174,662. And for yesterday (Dec. 27) it was five years. So let's commemorate the date of this disaster.

Wonderful plants

By Vibhath Senanayake (Grade 7), Anuradhapura Central College

Wonderful plants mean the plants that exhibit wonderful characteristics. There are many plants that exhibit wonderful characteristics. They are the Redwood tree, Baobab tree, Pitcher plant etc.

Redwood tree is the largest individual organism which cannot be damaged by insects. Baobab tree is the only tree that can store more than 10, 000 litres in its trunk to make use of in the dry season.

The Pitcher plant has the ability to catch insects like bees, flies, etc. Its shape is like a vessel which is like a well. It has a liquid. When insects go inside the pot, the insect can't come out. Then the insect is digested by the plant. So these are some of the wonders of plants in our environment.

Smiling boy

By Nethaka Amarakoon (5 years) Australia

Smiling boy is me
Smile to me
I like to give
A friendly smile
They will smile back to me
Oh how happy all will be.
Smile, smile, smile.

My class teacher

By Mohammed Hisham (Grade 2), Uva College, Badulla

My teacher's name is Karuna Jagoda. She is very kind. She is very neat too. She wears Kandyan saris. She helps us in our education. I love my teacher very much.