If I had a 1000 dollars, how would I spend it?

One day if I get the highest result for A’ Levels and get 1000 dollars, would I spend it all on toys for myself? No, and I won't spend it all too. I will do something really different from others. I will first give half of it to my parents who have worked so hard for me and I will keep the other half. Anyway it is a big amount, isn't it? I will spend a lot in helping others. I won't waste it. I will buy clothes, food and give them to the poor. I will buy presents for my sisters and brothers. I will also visit the orphanage and give them toys and sweets. Then after that I will take my family on a world tour. I will get a job in another country and work well.

My family also can stay there with me. I will use some of the money to do a service to my country.

I would love it. I would really like to be a doctor or a nature conservationist. And the rest of the money I would put in a bank and keep it for emergencies. That's a good way to spend 1000 dollars isn't it?

Parami Peiris
(9 years,)
Lyceum International School

My first visit to the zoo

One day my mother and a few of my aunties planned to go on a trip to the zoo. The day we planned was August 29. At about 3.30 pm my mother and I left from home. We had to pick one of my aunties from their house.

After that, we went to ‘Sentra’ and we bought things to eat. After that we went to another aunty's place. From there onwards we travelled by car. Again we had to go to my aunty's place. From there we went on two three-wheelers.

We had to sit on laps. From there we went to the zoo. We bought tickets and went inside. We first went to the Aquarium where we saw various types of fish like crabs, starfish, lionfish, elephant nose and other fish too.

Next we saw birds. They were very nice. But they were very noisy. The best bird I saw was the peacock. We saw tigers, leopards, lions, snakes, giraffes, hippos, horses, elephants, penguins, ponies, donkeys and other types of animals too. We saw the zebras last. Again we had to go in three three-wheelers. From there we went to one of the aunties' houses. There my cousins and I played cards. After we finished eating we came back home. This is how I spent my first visit to the zoo.

Shashindi Vithanage
Bishop's College

Lost in the Woods

There was a small wood behind my house,
Which I'd tried to explore once,
I begged my mother for permission
And my cousins too joined the excursion.

We saw a mouse at the edge of the wood,
It ran so fast we couldn't follow it
Then we saw a cobra with an open hood,
We quickly moved away and ran as fast as we could.

Then we searched for rabbit holes everywhere,
My cousins started searching for every hare,
Suddenly I looked up; none of the cousins were there,
I shouted their names but silence everywhere.

Then I saw a small path, which led to the main road
I asked for the way but nobody showed,
I felt so sad I looked for some familiar marks.
I saw my cousins playing in the park.

Arshad Salih
(10 years)
St. Peter's College

A little beggar girl

Wearing rays and tatters
In the busy street
On the dirty pavement,
Under the sun's great heat
Sat a little beggar girl,
Starving from hunger and thirst.
She was sad and lonely
And her hunger grew worst.
I felt really sorry
And gave her some bread
With strawberry jam,
Delicious and red!
She thanked me a lot
And I was pleased.
Then when she smiled,
My happiness increased!

Aranya Dewanarayana (11 years)
Gateway College, Kandy

How plants make food!

Plants make their own food. They make food in a process called ‘Photosythesis’. 'Photo' means light and 'synthesis' means putting together. The green colour on the plants is formed by chlorophyll. A plant also needs sunlight, water and minerals to make food. Water is stored in the leaves of the plant. Carbon Dioxide is also necessary for plants' food. The plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen.

Shihara Zaman Thaha
Minaret High School

My pet

My pet is a parrot. It is green in colour and has a red beak. Its name is Peththappu. When I ask "Peththappu buth kewada? It says, "kewa." It calls me by my name. I love my pet very much.

Lakith Adikaram
(6 years)
Nalanda College