At+Home+In+Our+Community+&+The+World

=AT HOME in Our Community and the World=

Cold Weather Idioms https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e2/7a/85/e27a85d25fe5d804d54c7714ab755b3c.jpg

** RiverWorld: Fostering Multicultural Community Understanding of our Changing Climate ** Climate change is an important area of study that is impacting everyone globally. However, the current research suggests that although people in North America are aware of the climate change phenomenon, their understanding on the causes and awareness on how to mitigate its effects is quite unclear and limiting. It is very important to build public awareness on climate change and global warming issues so that people can understand, be motivated and take informed actions to mitigate climate change at the local level. It is equally imperative to inform, educate and involve newcomers and diverse groups in climate change initiatives as they are a big part of Canadian demographics. Credit Valley Conservation with the support of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation aims at working with the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) schools in building awareness of climate change and taking steps in the crucial process of mitigating its impacts.
 * Topic ** : Understanding Climate Change
 * LINC Level ** : Intermediate and Above (Levels 4, 5, 6 and 7)
 * LINC Curriculum Connections: **
 * “**Global Warming**: Endangered regions and species; long- and short-term consequences, natural disasters and changes in weather patterns
 * ** Environmental Protection ** : Organizations and political parties, Kyoto Accord; national and provincial legislation, municipal bylaws (e.g., pesticide ban); protected areas and species in Canada and Ontario; alternative sources of energy
 * ** Recycling and Waste Management ** : Municipal programs and regulations on reducing waste recycling; reducing, reusing, recycling at home; living “green”: using public transit or low emission vehicles; using organic products.”
 * Learning Goals: **
 * Students will learn and explore the concepts of climate change and global warming.
 * Students will learn the vocabulary associated with the climate change.
 * Students will explore the predominant environmental trends that highlight the concern for climate change.
 * Students will understand the causes and effects of climate change.
 * Students will learn ways that they can help mitigate the effects of climate change.


 * Climate Change Vocabulary: **
 * ** Algae Bloom ** || Algae Bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae (blue –green plants) in a water system. ||
 * ** Atmosphere ** || A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases that surrounds the Earth. The atmosphere is critical to supporting life on Earth. ||
 * ** Adaptation ** || Taking actions to avoid and benefit from or deal with current and future climate change. ||
 * ** Biodiversity ** || The variety of plants and animals found in an area. ||
 * ** Carbon Dioxide ** || A colorless, odorless greenhouse gas. It is produced naturally when dead animals or plants decay, and it is used by plants during photosynthesis. People are adding carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, mostly by burning fossil fuels such as coal. It is the main cause of climate change. ||
 * ** Carbon Footprint ** || The amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year by a person, family, building, organization or company. ||
 * ** Climate ** || The weather conditions generally present in an area or over a long period. ||
 * ** Climate Change ** || Major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer. ||
 * ** Community ** || The people who live in the same area. ||
 * ** Conserving ** || The act of preserving and protecting from loss, destruction or waste. ||
 * ** Deforestation ** || It is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. ||
 * ** Drought ** || A period of unusually dry weather lasting long enough to cause serious shortages of water for ecosystems and human use (such as drinking water and agriculture) in the affected area. ||
 * ** Ecosystem ** || A natural community of plants, animals, and other living organisms and the physical environment in which they live and interact. ||
 * ** Emissions ** || The release of a gas (such as carbon dioxide) or other substance into the air. ||
 * ** Energy ** || The ability to do work. Energy comes in many forms, such as heat, light, motion, and electricity. Most of the world's energy comes from burning fossil fuels to produce heat, which can then be converted into other forms of energy, such as motion (for example, driving a car) or electricity. ||
 * ** Energy Conservation ** || The process of conserving or saving energy. ||
 * ** Environment ** || The air, water and land in or on which people, animals and plants live. ||
 * ** Evaporation ** || The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor. ||
 * ** Extinction ** || The complete disappearance of an entire biological species. ||
 * ** Extreme Weather ** || Extreme weather includes unusual, severe or unseasonal weather; weather at the extremes of the historical distribution – the range that has been seen in the past. ||
 * ** Floods ** || A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry. ||
 * ** Forest ** || An area of land that is covered with trees. ||
 * ** Fossil Fuel ** || A type of fuel that forms deep within the Earth. Examples of fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. All fossil fuels contain carbon, and when people burn these fuels to produce energy, they create carbon dioxide. ||
 * ** Garbage ** || Waste material such as plastic. ||
 * ** Global Warming ** || An increase in temperature near the surface of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural causes. However, the term is most often used to refer to recent and ongoing warming caused by people’s activities. ||
 * ** Greenhouse Gases ** || Also sometimes known as “heat trapping gases,” greenhouse gases are natural or manmade gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc. ||
 * ** Greenhouse Effect ** || The effect created by the band of greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth. The greenhouse effect keeps the Earth’s surface within a temperature range that makes life on Earth possible. ||
 * ** Habitat ** || The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally lives and grows ||
 * ** Heat Wave ** || A long period of abnormally hot weather, typically lasting for several days. ||
 * ** Hydrologic Cycle ** || The process of evaporation, vertical and horizontal transport of vapor, condensation, precipitation, and the flow of water from continents to oceans. It is a major factor in determining climate through its influence on surface vegetation, the clouds, snow and ice, and soil moisture. ||
 * ** Invasive Species ** || An invasive species is a plant or animal that is not native to a specific location and has a tendency to spread which is believed to cause damage to the environment, economy and human health. ||
 * ** Natural Resources ** || Things such as minerals, forests, coal, etc. which exist in a place and can used by people. ||
 * ** Pollution ** || Pollution is the introduction of chemicals into the natural environment that causes harmful changes in the environment. Some of the major types of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution. ||
 * ** Precipitation ** || Rain, hail, mist, sleet, snow or any other moisture that falls to the earth. ||
 * ** Protect ** || To keep someone or something safe from harm. ||
 * ** Radiation ** || Energy that travels in the form of a particle or a wave. There are many different types of radiation. Some types can harm people, while others are harmless and actually quite important to everyday life. Some common types are X-rays, ultraviolet and infrared radiation. ||
 * ** Recycle ** || To collect and reprocess a material so it can be used again to make a new product. An example is collecting aluminum cans, melting them, and using the aluminum to make new cans or other products. ||
 * ** Reduce ** || To make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity etc. ||
 * ** Renewable Energy ** || Energy resources that are naturally replenishing such as biomass, hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, ocean thermal, wave action, and tidal action. ||
 * ** Responsibility ** || The state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one’s power, control, or management. ||
 * ** Reuse ** || To reuse is to use an item again after it has been used. ||
 * ** Sustainable Development ** || A development that is causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time. ||
 * ** Watershed ** || The area of land that drains into a river or stream. ||
 * ** Weather ** || The condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. Some familiar characteristics of the weather include wind, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness, and precipitation. Weather can change from hour to hour, day to day, and season to season. ||
 * ** Wetland ** || An area of land that is partly covered with water, or is wet most of the time. ||
 * ** Threat ** || Someone or something that is regarded as a possible danger. ||
 * ** Urban ** || Towns and cities. ||

==

==

The 3 R's > REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE

 * Story of Stuff **

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8

Here is a 1/2 hour listening exercise on the 'story of stuff' - Kamikaze 13-10-23

Emergency Preparedness
Quick Reference 72 Hours Is your family Prepared ? Public Safety Canada

If an emergency happens, it may take some time for emergency workers to reach you. Everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours.

This involves 3 steps: 1. Knowing the risks 2. Making a plan 3. Getting a kit

This information provides basic information to help you face a variety of emergency situations. Read it, talk to family and friends about it, and keep it in a handy spot.


 * KNOW the RISKS**

Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared. By taking a few simple steps today, you can plan for specific risks.

Across Canada, we face a number of natural hazards and different provinces can face different risks. There are many situations that can lead to emergencies, such as earthquakes storms, and extended power outages.

Find out more about risks in your area at www.getprepared.ca


 * MAKE A PLAN**


 * GET A KIT**

Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. Public Safety Canada works with the provinces and territories, public and private sector to help Canadians prepare for emergencies.

Please do your part. For more information on emergency preparedness:

visit www. Get Prepared.ca Call 1 800 O-Canada Follow us on Twitter @Get_Prepared

- more to come ... Carefree 12/10/29

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY PRACTICES Earth day shouldn’t be only one day there are 365 days in a year that we have to be conscious about our planet. For example the way I help my planet at home is reducing chemicals to help my environment. I started to use vinegar and baking soda to clean everything at home. It is very helpful plus it is environmentally friendly. All the things they use to make this product are natural, so I keep my home clean and safe. It is good for my family and at the same time I am helping my planet, and saving some money. Another thing that I do is walk or take a bus to help my community to reduce the pollution. I can no save the world, but I can save the little space where I live.

Romantic, April 24, 2013

**Many things are depends on environmentally friendly mind.**

I think the most important thing in environmentally friendly behavior is a sense of proportion. I always meditate about quantity of any resource I use. How much is enough? I prefer to use most quality things for several years rather than to use one-off things. But to my regret that's not beneficial to manufacturers. Also I try to separate the waste well. I try to use less harmful chemical substance to clean my house, just soap, vinegar and soda. I try to use only natural cosmetics. So I even learned to engineer-ecologist.

By Young, April 24, 2013.

Through the seasons

We have four seasons in Canada
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each seasons brought a different set of chores for farmer.

Spring: In the spring farmer are: plowing the fields, mending fences, planting new crops, sleighs and sleds were pulled into the barn when they were stored until winter. During rainy days farmers repaired tools and split firewood inside the barn and painted their barn or white washed. A farmer often had to help with the delivery of baby animals.

Summer: during the summer most of the work place took in the fields They family worked together to cut down wheat and other grain and move then to the barn for stoge. They also mowed meadows and storage the sweet grasses and clover to feed their aminals over the winter.

AUTUMN: Fall was one of busiest times around the barn On windy days the family threshed and winnowed all the grain they harvested and stored it in the granary.After preserving enough meat for its own use, the faminy took extra livestock to market the family also gathered fruits and vegetables to dry or store in the cellar.

WINTER:During the winter the farmer spent much of his time working indoor the cows, horses,and sheep needed a lots of care in the winter.They could not go out to the snowy pastures to find food they had to be fed and given water every day He let fresh air into the barn so the animals would not get sick The farmer and his children spent much of their time each time each day tending to the animals in the barn.

Zesty and Smart Dec/9/2011.

EXTREME WEATHER & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
RED CROSS

On Wednesday, a guest speaker - Daniel came to our class.He had a presentation about Red Cross. He first talked about the types of .Natural disasters are: hurricane, flood, ice storm, blackout, tornado, forest fires. Then he talked about three steps to prepare in case of emergency, such as: 1. know the risks 2. make a plan 3. prepare an emergency kit Knowing the risks specific to our region can help us to prepare better.Being prepared and knowing what to do in advance could save our life, and lives of our family. It is important to make a plan where to meet and how to contact each other in case of emergency, because the family may not be together. Make a plan for children, pets. Then prepare a basic emergency kit for at least 72 hours. A evacuation kit icludes: a first aid kit, supplies, flashlight, radio, food, water, special needs. Basic car kit are: shovel, candles, booster cables and to keep in your vehicle. Recommanded additional items to keep in your car. He told us how to prepare at home in case of a disaster: turn off the gas, place valuables on upper floor, avoid remaining in your car, stay in an elevated area. He told us how to prepare in case of earthquake, biological disasters, other risks, types influenza and prevention disease transmission. Advice: After a disaster: stay calm and listen to the radio.

Smart, October 16, 2011

CREDIT VALLEY CONSERVATION - TERRA COTTA

On Thursday we went on picnic to Credit Valley Conservation - Terra Cotta. In Terra Cotta is a Centre for Environmental Learning. Our group had a guide who showed us the beautiful landscape and tolds interesting story about the Terra Cotta. This is the conservation area which is beautiful for walking and where the air is very fresh because there are many trees. At the begining of our walk we saw rabbit. Then we saw wetland covered with water flowers who like the lotos flowers. Most of he flowers was closed because it was wet weather. Wetland are not a lot deep. We saw the sheel of the Common snapping turtle. Then we saw the maple tree. There is a house built for the birds, and has a space that is covered where visitors make BBQ and socialize. We saw picture of this place when is opened as playground. Then we saw another wetland with small fish and frog. Then we made balls of clay, soil and flower seeds. The whole place is quietly and well for the rest and to learn how nature is important for us and our lives. After a short break at 12 o*clock we left this beautiful place.

Smart, July 31, 2011

FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD > PEN PALS
== GONG HE XIN XI == Happy Chinese New Year of the Rabbit ! Letters and best wishes amongst new friends: ** RED: ** Students, ages 8 - 12, of English as another language from China. ** GREEN: ** Wolf Cub Scouts, ages 8 - 10, 1st Sandalwood Pack A, Mississauga. ** BLUE: ** Newcomer students of English as another language, Brampton, Ontario Dear Canadian Friend, My name is Leo. I am 9 years old. I am in Grade Four. I like playing football. I like playing yo-yo. My favourite class at school is math and English. I live in the city of Beijing, China. I live in a house. There are so many cars and buses. There are so many people in Beijing… 18 million people! I like spring festival because my whole family gets together to eat dumplings. I go to my grandfather and my grandmother’s home to wish them good luck. We can see the lion dance and the dragon dance too. In the big city we can’t play with firecrackers because it is fire hazard. It is very dangerous. Have you ever seen or heard firecrackers before? Happy Chinese New Year of the Rabbit ! Your friend, Leo Dear Leo, I am Shraddha! I am 10 years old. I am in Grade Five. My favourite sports are figure skating and skiing. I like to do those things when it’s snowing here in Canada. I have a ski trip in a week ! On Canada Day, I go to a landmark called Niagara Falls with my family. There I see fireworks. When I was younger, I was really afraid of them. Happy Chinese New Year of the Rabbit !! From your Awesome Pen Pal, Shraddha Dear Leo, My name is Shiny. I’m from China too. It is my motherland. Right now, I’m living in Brampton in Canada called the flower city. Beijing is in the north of China and it is the capital of China also. I’m thinking about football and my friends and family going to the games or watching it on television. How is the sea? Do you like to swim? What do you like to do at the beach? I’m going to Cuba on the weekend. I would like to get some sun. Happy Spring Festival to you also ! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Shiny <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Harry. This year I am twelve years old. I am in Grade Six. My hobby is playing computer games with my friends, playing pingpong, and reading Harry Potter books. In the computer games, I like to talk with my friends as a team. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Jinan, China. Jinan is a beautiful city. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. In China, during the spring festival, people set off firecrackers and come together to eat at the New Year’s Eve celebration. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">What grade are you in, my friend? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Happy Spring Festival and Chinese New Year. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Harry <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Harry, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">To answer your question, I’m 10 and I’m in grade 5. My name is Erica. I live in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. I don’t play computer games or ping pong. I like to keep to myself at home so I read alot. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Guess what !? I like to read Harry Potter books too! I love dogs. I have a dog. He’s a papillon. His name is Juno. I play hockey. I’ve been playing hockey for 6 years. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I speak English and French. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Erica <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">PS. Happy Chinese New Year. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Harry, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Compliments of the season. How’s things with you? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I got your letter that says about the games you like, but for me I would have liked to play computer but I’m not too good in operating a computer, but I like reading and watching TV programs. I live in Brampton in Ontario, Canada. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I don’t like dogs but the pet I like is monkey and his names is Twist. I like it very much that I can not do without Twist for two days. The only way I can communicate with friends is through the telephone. I understand English and Edo language. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Perfect <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Happy Chinese New Year

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Jimmy. I am 8 years old. I am in grade three. My favourite class is art and I like to play PSP. My favourite sport is swimming. I am an athlete in the swim team and we compete with other swim teams. I bought a new yo-yo. It was a gift. I like the Japanese movie, Naruto. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Beijing, China. Beijing is a big city. There are many famous places in Beijing. There are many people in Beijing. I have visited the Great Wall. It is so great. I have visited Tiananmen Square. It is not very big. I have visited many museums, and I learned a lot. Welcome to Beijing. Beijing has many famous foods. Beijing Duck is very delicious. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Spring Festival is my favourite festival. On New Year’s Eve, I often light firecrackers. That is so exciting. I can get some lucky money in red envelopes from my grandparents and parents. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">What’s your name ? What classes are you in ? What’s your favourite sports, game, drink and food ? Where do you live ? What do you do on your winter holiday ? Do you like yo yo’s ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Good luck. Have a happy holiday ! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Jimmy <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Jimmy, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I really liked your letter. My name is Shubham. I’m 8 years old. I’m in grade three. I kind of like Naruto. I don’t like yo-yo’s. My favourite sport is soccer. I live in Mississauga. My favourite drink is Sprite. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">From Shubham <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">PS. You’re cool. So am I <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Jimmy and Shubham, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Helpful. I live in Brampton, Canada. I like swimming and playing soccer. I like to enjoy all the seasons in this country, each one of them are very beautiful and it has specials things to do and see. I would like to visit China but I would like you to visit Canada. I would like to be in contact with your and to know more about you. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Helpful <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Robert. I am eight years old. I am in Grade Three. My favourite class is math. My favourite food is bread. My favourite movie is “Ice Age”. My favourite is sport is running. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Dalian, China. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dalian is a city by the sea. There are many delicious seafood available. The sea is very beautiful. The sea park is very famous. There are many animals which live in the sea. They can perform for us at the festival. I saw their performance. It was very good and I liked it. Dalian is in the North East of China and people here like to do the Yangko Dance. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I want to introduce the origin of Spring Festival. Long long ago, there was a monster, “Year”. On New Year’s Eve, “Year” went to the village from the deep sea to eat people and animals. This new year’s eve, when people go to the mountain to hide, a beggar went there and said, “I will protect your village”. In the night, the beggar pastes red paper on the windows, lights candles, and sets off firecrackers. “Year” is afraid of the colour red, fire, and explosions, so he is frightened away. From then on, people paste couplets (sayings written on red paper and pasted on the door) and set off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve. Early in the Spring Festival morning, people wear new clothes to visit friends. This custom continues to this day. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Do you have lots of curiosity ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Happy Chinese New Year! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Robert <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Robert, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Shruti and I am seventeen years old. I am in Grade 12. Next year I will be going to a college. We love celebrating Chinese New Year here in Canada. I love reading about different mythologies so thank you for sharing the story with me. I love cooking, playing sports and I love watching movies. How do you celebrate Chinese New Year ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Shruti <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">PS. There is a massive snow storm coming here !! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Robert & Shruti, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I am Modern. I am from Nepal. I am a Newcomer in Canada. I am a LINC student of Keen. My favourite food is rice. Nepal is a city of temples. I was there in Kathmandu, which is the capital city of Nepal. Really our country is a beautiful country or you can say it is a country of natural beauty. In our country people observed many festivals among them “Durga Puja” is a great festival of Hindus. Today in our LINC class we celebrated Chinese Happy New Year. Really it is excited one. We took delicious snacks, tasty and healthy tea too. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">In our country we also celebrate New Year it will be after three months we also celebrate in a same way. We gathered visit to different places, giving best wishes and so on. We love to cook, play cards, and playing with children in Happy New Year. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Modern <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sam, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Hanson. I am nine years old. I am in Grade Four. I like to play yo-yo. My favourite is class is sports like basketball. I like to eat pizza with cheese. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in ShenZhen, China. The city that I live in is not very big and not very small, but it has a lot of people. Shen Zhen is near the sea. In ShenZhen, there 14 million people! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like spring festival because I can get money from my parents. I like money. I can’t go to my hometown at Spring Festival because I have a lot of homework. On Spring Festival, we will give lucky money in red and gold envelopes. Children dress up in red silk clothes. In China, red stands for happiness. The dragon stands for long life and riches. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Once upon a time, there was a monster named “Year”. It will eat people on New Year’s Eve. People were very very scared. So they used things with red colour like fire crackers to send the monster away because “Year” was afraid of red things. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Do you like Spring Festival? Will you write a letter back to me? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your mother’s friend, Hanson <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Hanson, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Kevin. I am 10 years old. I am in grade five. I like to watch T.V. I love soccer. I like pizza too, but I like pepperoni, mushroom, and cheese on it. I am Korean, but I live in Ontario, Mississauga. I also never went to my home town in Korea, Seol. I hope we can talk to each other again. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">From Kevin <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hi Hanson, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I’m Sam. I’m thirteen years old, but I’ll be fourteen in March. I’m in grade 8. Wow, ShenZhen is a really big city ! I don’t think Toronto has 14 million people (Toronto only has 2 million people!). I enjoy Spring Festival. I liked your story about “Year”. My favourite class is Drama. I like pizza too. It was a pleasure reading your letter. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Good Night, or morning, or evening, or noon. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sam <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I am coming from India, In India I was working in Industrial Training department. Working as Function and Industrial Development. I immigrated here in 2006. Now I am living with my daughter. Now we are passing a peaceful life. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">- Hopeful <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Sunny. I am ten years old. I am in Grade Five. I like to play basketball and play computer games like Pes2010. My favourite class at school is math and science. I have a big brother. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Tsinan, China. It is a small city. I live in an apartment. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Spring Festival is a holiday. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">What kind of computer games do you like to play ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Sunny <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sunny, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hi I am Cole. I am ten and in grade four. I like video games and TV. The sports I like is hockey and soccer. My favourite restaurant is The Mandarin. I hope you liked my life in Canada. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Cole <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sunny, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like to play LEGO Universe and other LEGO games. What are your favourite sports ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your cool friend, Aman <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sunny and Aman, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hi I am Super. I am from India. I have been in Canada 6 months. I am 27 years old. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like watching T.V. I like hockey and Kabbadi. I like long time to spend with my husband. Many times I and my husband went to the shopping malls. I live in a house. I love my family. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Super <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Sundy. I am nine years old. I am in Grade Four. I like to swim. I have a new dog. He is 1 year old. He is brown, white, and yellow. My Grandpa gave this dog to me for my birthday present. My Mom is helping me to think of a name for my dog. He is a clever dog. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Beijing, China. In Beijing, many people have dogs for pets. Some people have rabbits, cats, mice, fish, birds, snakes, and turtles. When I take my dog out for a walk, he gets very naughty. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">On Spring Festival, my family visits my Grandmother. We watch the New Celebration entertainment on TV. We eat together. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">What is your name ? How old are you ? Can you tell me more about Canada? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Do people have pets in Canada ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was nice to meet you and write to you. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Sundy <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sundy, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Jerry. I am 9 years old. I am in grade 4. I like to play with my little sister. She is almost 2 years old. Her height and her weight is high, like me. She only knows Chinese, but she can say a lot of words. I live in Toronto, Ontario. In Toronto, many families have a lot of people. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">From Jerry <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Jerry & Sundy, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hello! My name is Happy. I am from India. I have been in Canada for 5 months. When I came in Canada after two months I joined English Class becaue I improve English language. When my English improves I will join a nursing class. In India, I have a nursing diploma in three years. So here I also do nursing. Now I do temporary work in a factory on the afternoon shift. In Canda I live in Brampton, Ontario. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Happy <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Ethan, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Steven. I am nine years old. I am in Grade Three. I like to play snakeboard in the park. I like to read story books and Greek Myths like Posiedon, the god of the ocean. Posiedon is so cool. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I was born in Russia, but I live in Beijing, China. I live in a house inside the city. Beijing is a small city. Nanjing is a bigger city. The Tiananmin Square is in Beijing. GuGung is also in Beijing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">On the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, we all have a holiday from school. We can stay home and watch TV. We watch the parade on TV at home. We eat dumplings and we play with firecrackers. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Where is your school ? How much homework do you have? I have a lot of homework ! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Yours truly, Steven <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Steven, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Ethan. I am 8 years old. My School is in Canada. Where is yours ? I have a lot of homework. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Love, Ethan <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hello Ethan and Steven. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I am Golden. I am in the English classes. I am from India. My state is Punjab. I came to Canada 4 months ago. My English class is near Nelson and Main Street intersection. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Steven, you read story books and myths – this is good ! Both have lots of homework. You do the homework everyday. I have also lots of homework and I am done. I write on the WikiSpace. Steven, you play snakeboard this is good but Ethan, what are your grades and what do you like to play? I like to play with children. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Love, Golden <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Sapphire. I am ten years old. I am in grade five. I like drawing and painting. My favourite colour is green. I don’t like shopping or fishing, I think they are boring. My mother likes shopping and my father likes fishing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in ShenZhen, China. There some places in Shen Zhen for fishing. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Shen Zhen is a busy city. It has many tall buildings. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">We have a holiday on Spring Festival because that day is on the first day of the New Year. My family visits my grandparents. We watch the celebration on TV and the singing entertainment too. I play cards with my brothers. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">What is your favourite colour ? What’s your favourite food ? What do you do on your “Family Day” holiday. What do you like to do ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Sapphire <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sapphire, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My favourite colour is green too! My favourite food is pizza. My favourite family day is Game Night. We play Monopoly. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">From: Stephen ! <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sapphire, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hello Sapphire, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Smiley. I am from Nepal. I came here eight months ago. My home country is very beautiful and peaceful. I came to Canada eight months ago. My 1st visit to Canada. I live in Brampton. I like Canada. Also, Canada is a peaceful country. Lots of opportunity in Canada. Canada’s Education is free. I learn English. I like English class and teacher also. I want to speak properly and I want to work in Canada. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Smiley <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Thank you. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Rabbit, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Ryan. This is my lucky year of the Rabbit because I am twelve years old. I am in grade six. I like to play badminton. My favourite class at school is math. I like to play with computer games. I have two brothers and one sister. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Beijing, China. I live in a house with my Mom. Beijing is a small city and Beijing has some very famous buildings and some places of interest like the Great Wall. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Spring Festival is a big holiday for all the Chinese people. It is a happy holiday. The Spring Festival is too busy. All Chinese people like this holiday very much. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">What’s your favourite animal ? Which school do you learn in ? How many sisters and brothers do you have ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Happy Holiday, your friend Ryan <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Ryan, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Alan. My favourite animal is the dragon. It is one of China’s best animals. The school I learn in now is Barondale P.S. I have 1 brother and 0 sister. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Alan <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Alan, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Noble. I have completed B. Commerce in Gujarat University. I like to play cricket and chess. My favourite subject is economics at school. I like to play digital games. I have an older brother. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Brampton, Canada. Brampton is a small city and Brampton has some famous gardens and some places of interest like Niagara Falls and the CN Tower. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My favourite animal is a cow because it gives us milk and so many products like milk, butter, yogurt. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Noble <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Jenny. I am 10 years old. I am in Grade Four. I like to go shopping for snacks and drinks and clothes too. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen is a big city. There are a lot of cars, some department stores, hospitals, clinics, and some cinemas. There are alot of tall buildings. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like spring festival because I can go to my hometown and I can eat a big meal with my family. I can get lucky money. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Do you like to travel? Would you like to visit China? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your Friend, Jenny <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Jenny, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Have you seen “Monkey King”? Have you seen a hockey game ? I like to travel. No! because China has a lot of people. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">From Jaydev <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">PS. What is your favourite BeyBlade? Pokemon? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Jerry. I am eleven years old. I am in Grade Five. I like to buy some fireworks because Spring Festival is coming. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Beijing, China. Beijing is very beautiful. There are a lot of interesting places to visit. Places like the Palace Museum and Summer Palace and the Great Wall. The Palace Museum and the Summer Palace is in the center of Beijing. The Great Wall is very long. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like spring festival because I can play with fireworks and get a lot of lucky money. We visit our grandparents and we eat a big dinner and see the Spring Festival Gala. The Spring Festival Gala which is a kind of evening party. We watch it on T.V. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Would you like to come to Beijing? What’s the biggest most important festival in Canada? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your Friend, Jerry <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Jerry, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Andrew. I am 8 years old. I live in Mississauga, Canada. Canada is a cold country, but at summer it is warm. Yes I would like to go to Beijing. Canada Day is on July 1st and it is an important festival. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend, Andrew <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Hello Jerry and Andrew, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I want to start with a compliment for you Jerry and Andrew – you guys are so cute. I’m so happy to talk to you guys. My name is Delicious. I am from Columbia. It is a Spanish country – it is hot and beautiful, but I live in Toronto, Canada. I like the cold. I could work here in construction. I want to be a policeman. Jerry I am going to get some fireworks – I have never done it, but I will remember you when I do them and Andrew, you’re a nice boy and I promise that Canada will love you and have so many opportunities here for you. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Thank you so much. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">God bless you. Bye <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Delicious <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friends, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Sunny. I am eight years old. I am in Grade Three. I like to go travelling on trips because I can play with my parents and I can see lots of new places and sightseeing. My favourite class at school is math. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Wuhan, China. Wuhan has East Lake, Long River, and a lot of buildings. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like Spring Festival because I can eat a big dinner and get some lucky money. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Do you like pets? What kind of pets do like ? What do you like to eat ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your Friend, Sunny <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sunny, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Larisa. I love pets. I love dogs. The food I love is Mr. Noodles. I’m German. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your Cool Friend, Larisa <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">PS. Your Cool Awesome Best Friend <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Sunny, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I do like pets. The kind of pets I like are dogs, fish, and rabbits. I like to eat pizza. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend Eran <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Friend, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Felix. I am ten years old. I am in Grade Four. I like to play badminton with my father. I like swimming. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I live in Shenzhen, China. In ShenZhen, the tallest building is the DiWan Building. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">I like spring festival because I can play fireworks and travel, and eat a big dinner with my family. We usually eat pizza and noodles and fried chicken. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Where do you live in Canada? What is your favourite animal ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your Friend, Felix <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Dear Felix, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">My name is Kishauna. I am 10 years old and I am in grade 5. My favourite thing to do is to sleep. I live in Mississauga, Ontario. My favourite animal is a Cheetah. What is yours ? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt;">Your friend Kishauna

DIWALI
There was once a king who had three beautiful queens and four sons, the eldest of whom was called **Rama**.

A few miles away, lived a lovely princess called **Sita**. She would only marry the prince who could string the mighty bow given to her father by the gods. Many princes came to try their luck, but none of them could even lift the bow. Rama who had fallen in love with Sita the moment he had seen her, wanted to try his luck, and praying for strength from the gods, lifted the bow easily, pulled the string and the bow broke into pieces. So Rama and Sita were married. They went home to see Rama's father, the king, who was now becoming old and frail. The king said that Rama would become king in his place but Rama's step-mother was jealous and said that the king owed her two wishes. The first was that her own son, **//Bharat//**, was to become king and secondly that Rama should go away for fourteen years. The king, although unhappy about this, had to agree.

Rama and Sita and Rama's brother, **//Lakshman//** went to live in the forest. **//Ravana//**, the wicked demon king wanted Sita for himself and asked one of the other demons to change himself into a deer with a shimmering, golden body. When Sita saw the dazzling deer she asked Rama if she could have it as a pet. So Rama went after it telling Lakshman to protect Sita whilst he was away. When he finally came close to the deer he drew his bow and killed it but as it sank to the ground it cried out in a voice that was just like Rama's "Sita, Lakshman! Help me!" Far away, Sita heard the cry and persuaded Lakshman to go to Rama's aid. Lakshman left Sita in a magic circle to protect her and told her not to step outside the circle.

Ravana, the demon king, came and tricked Sita into stepping out of the circle and took her to **//Lanka//**, his kingdom. When Rama came back and found that she was gone, he searched everywhere for her. On the way, he met **//Hanuman//**, the monkey god who told Rama that Sita had been taken to Lanka. His monkey army helped Rama to fight Ravana and rescue Sita by building a bridge across the sea to Lanka.

Rama took Sita home. Everyone lit lamps and placed them in the windows and along the walls of their houses to guide the travellers home and this is why candles are lit at Diwali. Rama and Sita became king and queen.