Hey all, it’s time for another awesome writing contest by the inspiring Susanna Hill: The 8th Annual Holiday Contest!
This time, writers are to tell a story of a holiday hero in 250 words or less. The target audience is children ages 12 and under, but I hope this tale will be enjoyable for all!
NO ICE
by Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
Every winter, the pond was the place to be. People came from all over to ice skate.
But this winter, the pond didn’t freeze, so no one came.
Annie stood on her tippy toes and peered out the kitchen window: still, no ice. She sighed and reached to turn off the TV, but what she heard stopped her.
Could it be?
She remembered the town hall meeting when the mayor said, “Global warming isn’t true. I won’t believe it, neither should you.”
Annie looked at her pond. I have to show them!
The newscaster explained a machine that can undo air pollution.
She asked her dad to help. Soon, their machine was filtering air and condensing the pollution into a solid, coal-like substance.
Annie fashioned a fake snowman, put on the pollution buttons, and carried it to the town hall meeting.
“Our pond didn’t freeze because pollution like this is warming the earth.”
The townspeople said, “Global warming is true? Oh no, Annie, what can we do?”
They made plans to recycle, plant trees, carpool, and more.
That night, Annie wrote a letter.
“Dear Santa,
Can you cool the earth so our pond will freeze? That’s the only present I really need.”
On Christmas Eve, Santa appeared and magically froze the pond!
“Annie, you’ve been good this year.
Enjoy this little Christmas cheer!”
The townspeople quickly strapped on their skates, knowing it would not last.
But Annie and her Christmas miracle showed them they were on the right track.
I hope you enjoyed this little tale. If you’re curious about Annie’s machine, it was inspired by a TED Talk I saw last year. Here are some links about the machine:
Smog jewelry and the TED Talk
And of course, math is definitely everywhere here: the amount of pollution we can eliminate from the air, the number of lives that cleaning up our air can save, the number of jewelry pieces that can be produced, not to mention, the math calculations that go into creating the machines. Even if you can’t create an air purifying tower, small steps like carpooling and recycling can really make an impact in our world.
Happy holidays and if you want to read more holiday hero stories, hop over to Susanna Hill’s contest page.
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez 
Cute entry, Kaitlyn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes you think. Nice work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, that means so much to me, thank you
LikeLike
It is time that stories address global warming. This is an interesting story and you have written it superbly. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😊 that means so much to me
LikeLike
So cool that a TED talk figured into your solution. If only Santa could solve this problem … but this one is up to us to solve together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed! Hopefully it will inspire 😊
LikeLike
I have not heard of this pollution-eating machine! So cool, Kaitlyn! I hope you’re working this into a full manuscript because I definitely want to read more. The fact that you have back matter and that you address important environmental issues in so few words is AWESOME. You’re my hero!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! My CPs are encouraging a full Ms too, sounds like I have a new ma on my hands, thanks to another awesome competition 😊😊😊
LikeLike
Nice STEM/STEAM tie-in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 😊
LikeLike
Nice to know that other writers are environmentalists like me. Congrats Kaitlyn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and ditto!
LikeLike
I am so glad you wrote this story about an environmentalist, Kaitlyn. Annie is indeed on the right track and I hope her story will become a STEM picture book! This story is needed. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww thank you! I all definitely working on making it into a PB, so happy that this competition brought it out of me😊
LikeLike
I hope more people read your story. Great message. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!!😊
LikeLike
Kaitlyn! I also loved that you had Science and Magic! Perfect Combo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! I lobe thinking of it in that way, also underscoring the magic of science 😊
LikeLike
Great story with a great message! We all have to get on track with the global weirding. And of course I love your blog title – Math IS everywhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I hope it inspires 😊
LikeLike
I’d love for you to follow my blog. I have an interview with Ruth Spiro this month 😊 a giveaway too!
LikeLike
What an original entry, Kaitlyn! So clever to combine the issue of global warming to the holiday hero story. You’ve written something that is both fun and educational, and carries the message that we can all do things to help. I like the little spots where you put in some rhyme 🙂 And I love that all Annie wanted was a frozen pond so everyone could enjoy a happy day. Thanks for joining in the Holiday fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I really can’t thank you enough for these inspiring contests. I really didn’t know the original thinking I could have, and I’m having so much fun!
LikeLike
Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike