People have been building scarecrows for about 3000 years – all the way back to ancient Egyptian days. The Greeks, Romans, Japanese, and Native Americans all had their version of the scarecrow, too.
In England during the 1300’s children were actually used as scarecrows. No, they weren’t tied to a stick and stuck in the ground (wink). Children were given stones or clackers (two pieces of wood to clap to together) and sent off to chase the birds from the fields of grain.
In America during the 1800’s, children of the Zuni tribe would compete to see who could build the most unusual scarecrow. The Zuni tribe is a Native American Pueblo tribe of New Mexico who is still going strong today.
The scarecrow that is most recognized in America today came from European immigrants (people who moved from their original homeland to live in America). German immigrants in Pennsylvania are noted to have made human-like scarecrows called bootzamon or bogeyman. The bogeyman wore old overalls, a long-sleeved shirt, a straw hat and a red handkerchief around his neck. On the other side of the field or garden, a bootzafrau or bogeywife was sometimes staked in the ground, too.
Before the 1930’s famers used Scarecrows a lot! But then, pesticides (chemicals that are sprayed on crops to keep birds and bugs away) were made. Now, we don’t see as many scarecrows as before. But we do see them in some personal gardens, especially during the fall for decoration.
My favorite fictional scarecrow comes from the book and movie, The Wizard of Oz. Take a look at this video to see him singing one my favorite songs, If I Only Had a Brain!
And if you would like a costume for the Wizard of Oz scarecrow, show your parents this link to Amazon’s costume shop.
And for all those kids at Chestnut Hill Academy who are getting ready to build a scarecrow of their own, check out this “how to build a scarecrow” video. This goes for all my Creative Writing friends – if you want to build a scarecrow, make sure you have an adult around for help.
With this new knowledge, what kind of story could you write? Maybe these WHAT IF questions will help you get started.
WHAT IF your main character is scarecrow whose best friend is a….. CROW?
WHAT IF your main character built a scarecrow that came to life? What kind of personality would this scarecrow have, and what adventures would take place?
WHAT IF your main character was eating corn on the cob and suddenly turned into a scarecrow?
The possibilities are endless, and please leave your own what if questions in the comment section below. I’d love to see what you come up with.
So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, a pencil and a piece of paper, and let’s begin. With your imagination, we can go anywhere. I look forward to seeing where you take us.
With Imagination,
Professor Watermelon
The word of the day is “Pueblo”. Here is the definition: this is a Spanish word of village or town. When the Spanish settled the New Mexico area, they noticed that Zuni tribe lived in villages or towns, so they called them Pueblo people.
What if a scarecrow took over mars?
ReplyDeleteWhat if the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz was evil?
What if a scarecrow liked to eat crows?
What if a scarecrow was made out of bombs?
What there was a scarecrow that likes to eat cake?
These are fun, but I don't know who wrote them:(
DeleteEthan B wrote them :)
DeleteWhat if a scarecrow had magical powers?
ReplyDeleteWhat if a scarecrow had bomb in the center to scare off crows?
What if a scarecrow was invincible?
What if a scarecrow was made out of ice?
What if a scarecrow destroyed Pluto?
Yoooohooo! Who wrote these???
Deletewhat if a scarecrow worked as a state farm agent.
ReplyDeletewhat if a scarecrow got maried.
what if a scarecrow went to a justin bieber concert.
what if a scarecrow was made out of legos.
what if a scarecrow got in jail.
what if a scarecrow liked koalas.
what if a scarecrow was santa claws.
what if a scarecrow had a legend.
what if a scarecrow was related to a mummy.
what if a scarecrow had a computer.
what if a scarecrow had a broken foot.
what if a scarecrow scared its owner.
what if a scarecrow was a swamp monster.
what if a scarecrow won a spelling bee.
what if a scarecrow could talk.
what if a scarecrow had a blog.
what if a scarecrow rode a elephant.
what if a scarecrow liked video games.
what if a scarecrow wanted to go to the moon.
what if a scarecrow had homework.
what if a scarecrow was built out of brickes.
what if a scarecrow was fozen in a freezer.
what if a scarecrow was cooked in a oven.
what if a scarecrow was turned into a smoothie.
what if a scarecrow called your house.
what if a scarecrow was in your couch.
what if it was raining scarecrows.
what if a scarecrow had lazers.
what if a scarecrow blue up.
what if there was a frankenstein scarecrow.
what if a scarecrow went fising.
what if a scarecrow went to sleep in your bed.
what if a scarecrow needed a tissue.
what if a scarecrow did gymnastics.
what if a scarecrow was could light up.
what if a scarecrow goes to school.
what if a scarecrow watches tv.
what if a scarecrow got stabed.
what if a scarecrow was in a video game.
what if a scarecrow played for the seahawkes.
what if a scarecrow used the bathroom.
what if a scarecrow won the lottery.
what if a scarecrow made a garden.
what if a scarecrow maried santa.
what if a scarecrow gotturned into a werwolf.
what if a scarecrow roasted a marshmallow.
what if a scarecrow cooked brownies.
what if a scarecrow had a family.
what if a scarecrow was a monster hunter.
what if a scarecrow lost all its stuffing.
what if a scarecrow ate brains.
WOW, AUSTIN! You had an imagination EXPLOSION! Great job!
Deletewhat if a scarecrow hated a friend.
ReplyDeletewhat if a scarecrow did a discont double check.
what if a scarecrow caught on fire.
what if a scarecrow was a nurse.
what if a scarecrow sang gangnamstyle.
What if a scare crow's hat is a portal.
ReplyDeleteWhat if you move the hat on the scarecrow and you find a secret passegway.
What if the scarecrow had a dead body in it.
What if the scarecrow wanted to get revenge but it couldn't.
What if the scarecrow wanted a normal life.
What if the scarecrow's friend is a snowman.
What if the scarecrow turned real at midnight and went to its friend's house to party.
what if the scarecrow is a brain stealer?
ReplyDeleteWhat if the scarecrow is addicted to coffee?
What if the scarecrow is an astronaut and married an alien?
What if the scarecrow was a superhero?
What if the scarecrow is made out of metal?
What if the scarecrow turned into a baby and stole all of the binkys?
What if the scarecrow really was 3000 years old and saw all of the history?
What if the scarecrow knew Ben Franklin?
What if the scarecrow started a scarecrow army?
What if the scarecrow was a zombie hiding its identity?
Waht if the scarecrow was scared of crows?
What if the scarecrow was made out of cake?
What if the scarecrow was really alive?
What if the scarecrow was the president?
What if the scarecrow always wanted to go to China Town to see the dragon dancers and have potstickers?
What is the scarecrow was a mummy?
What if the scarecrow took over the world?
What if the scarecrow was allergic to straw?
What if the scarecrow is friends with Yoda?
What if the scarecrow loves snapdragons?
What if the scarecrow really wants to be a fashion designer or hip hop dancer?
What if the scarecrow hates autumn?
What if the scarecrow hates Thanksgiving?
What if the scarecrow wants to be a writer but he doesn't have any thumbs or pens or paper or anything?
From Duane
What if a Scarecrow had a real heart and brains?
ReplyDeleteWhat if a Scarecrow could walk and run?
What if a Scarecrow could see real far into space?
What if a Scarecrow could breathe fire or ice?
What if a Scarecrow could play games with scarecrows in other fields like throw a Frisbee?
What if a Scarecrow could make himself big or really small so he could also scare away insects?
What if a Scarecrow looked like a bear instead of a human?
What if a Scarecrow could read a book or paint – so he could keep himself busy during the day?
What if a Scarecrow could shout and shoo away birds?
What if a Scarecrow had a wife and children?
What if a Scarecrow needed real food – who would feed him?
What if the American Crow came up with a ScareHuman?
What if a Scarecrow could shoot guns and stuff?
What if a Scarecrow had a real heart and brains?
What if a Scarecrow could walk and run?
What if a Scarecrow could see real far into space?
What if a Scarecrow could breathe fire or ice?
What if a Scarecrow could play games with scarecrows in other fields like throw a Frisbee?
What if a Scarecrow could make himself big or really small so he could also scare away insects?
What if a Scarecrow looked like a bear instead of a human?
What if a Scarecrow could read a book or draw or paint – so he could keep himself busy during the day?
What if a Scarecrow could shout and shoo away birds?
What if a Scarecrow had a wife and children?
What if a Scarecrow needed real food – who would feed him?
What if a Scarecrow could sleep and fell asleep while guarding a field?
What if the American Crow came up with a ScareHuman?
What if a Scarecrow could shoot straws and sticks from his body?
- Amar
what if scarecrows got scared by crows?
ReplyDeletewhat if scarecrows ate crows for thanksgiving?
what if scarecrows were pirates?
what if scarecrows were scareducks?
what if scarecrows were computer maniacs?
what if scarecrows came alive and ate your brains?
what if scarecrows got married?
what if scarecrows got paid for scaring crows?
what if scarecrows loved pink fluffy unicorns?
what if scarecrows ate purple people?
what if scarecrows' favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz?
what if scarecrows went to school?
what if scarecrows had watermelon heads?
what if scarecrows were famous singers?
what if scarecrows traveled the world in 80 days?
what if scarecrows' favorite food was brussel sprouts?
what if scarecrows invented a portable house?
what if scarecrows had 16 toes?
what if scarecrows could drive?
what if scarecrows ate everyone and ruled the world?
-sally
Part 4: Sleazy loses his gang.
ReplyDeleteThe Red Dragons ruled the universe since they won the eating contest. But they knew that Sleazy and his gang of Space Grizzlies were not happy. So they put Scarecrows all over the universe to scare Sleazy and his gang. On earth they had Ryan, the super-human Scarecrow to guard our Solar System. Ryan could see anything far into space. He could breathe fire, ice, sticks, straws and bricks. He could shoot straws and sticks from his body but also had a gun so he didn’t run out of straws. He could also disguise himself and look like Sleazy if he wanted. He could walk, run and fly.
One day Sleazy and his gang attacked Jupiter which is the biggest planet in our Solar System. Ryan saw them coming since he had super-human eyes. He shot special straw and hit a couple of the space grizzlies – the straw turned them into good guys and their evil ways had ended. Then Sleazy shot fire at him but Ryan the scarecrow shot back with ice and cooled off Sleazy’s fire. He then disguised himself as Sleazy and flew into space. Many of the Space Grizzlies followed him thinking he was Sleazy – Ryan turned them into good guys. The real Sleazy got scared because his gang was disappearing. So he ran off. The Solar System was safe again – Thanks to Ryan the super-human scarecrow. The end.
- Amar
what if the scarecrow was invited to a sleepover?
ReplyDeletewhat if the scarecrow came from Jupiter?
what if the scarecrow was named crow?
what if the scarecrow was a sky for the birds?
what if the scarecrow had an e-mail ID?
what if the scarecrow was the smarted person on the world?
what if the scarecrow got paid for watching the crops?
what if the scarecrow got elected president?
what if the scarecrow broke the a Guinness World Record?
what if the scarecrow won "The Voice"?
what if the scarecrow made the best pizza?
what if the scarecrow had a heart attack?
what if the scarecrow had another scarecrow friend?
what if the scarecrow was a billionaire?
what if the scarecrow actually invented Apple co.
what if the scarecrow was alive for 3,000 years?
what if the scarecrow went to school?
what if the scarecrow went to creative writing lesson?
what if the scarecrow's favorite band was "Maroon 5"?
what if the scarecrow liked strawberries more than pumpkins?
what if the scarecrow liked the soda, Coke?
what if the scarecrow died?
what if the scarecrow had emotions?
what if the scarecrow liked the "Harry Potter" series?
what if the scarecrow hated being a scarecrow?
what if the scarecrow was a bossy and mean scarecrow?
what if the scarecrow won a scholarship for writing?
what if the scarecrow was a girl?
what if the scarecrow hated "Wizard of Oz"?
what if the scarecrow put on makeup?
what if the scarecrow had a personal journal?
what if the scarecrow worked at Microsoft?
-Shreya (6th)
what if a scarecrow could talk?
ReplyDeletewhat if a scarecrow could fly like a bird?
what if a scarecrow was a dragon?
what if a scarecrow had it's own house with beds?
what if a scarecrow was standing on the tip of a tree?
what if a scarecrow had a pet scare-dog?
what if a scarecrow had glasses?
what if a scarecrow had a wife?
what if a scarecrow put on lipstick?
what if a scarecrow had shoes?
what if a scarecrow had a laptop?
what if a scarecrow had a phone?
what if a scarecrow had a camera?
what if a scarecrow was friends with a bunny?
what if a scarecrow was friends with the crow?
what if a scarecrow had jewelry?
what if a scarecrow was friends with a person?
what if a scarecrow could jump all the way to outer space?
by Celeste
Announcement: CHA Announces Scarecrow Training
ReplyDeleteThis year CHA will be offering Scarecrow training for all Scarecrows made during the Fall Festival. Scarecrows will be divided in 2 Grades – Standard and Advanced. Advanced Scarecrows have systems that let them move their arms and legs, laser guided eyes so they can see very far, and a voicebox that lets them shoo-away birds.
All Scarecrows will be trained in the basics – 7 habits, keeping your clothes clean, handling wind, rain and snow. They will be taught bird social studies and science like types of birds, eating habits, bird migration from one place to another, and bird language, culture. Scarecrow classes will also cover basic language arts and math.
Advanced Scarecrows will have additional classes on language arts and math. The language arts class will cover proper grammar and language for creatively shoo-ing birds. The math class will cover calculating how birds might attack fields. There will also be an extra-curricular activity Wed evenings from 3.30-4.30 - ‘Advanced Scarecrow Club’ on experiments related to all the systems in advanced Scarecrows.
- Amar
What if the scarecrow liked to eat popcorn?
ReplyDeleteProf. Watermelon
What if the scarecrow's best friend was a crow?
ReplyDeleteWhat if the corn in the field was his favorite food?
What if the scarecrow ate all the corn instead of the crows?
What if the scarecrow's favorite video game was fifa soccer?
What if the scarecrow's favorite movie was Wreck-it Ralph?
What if the scarecrow could dance Gangnam Style?
What if the scarecrow's favorite song was "Yellow Brick Road?"
What if the scarecrow played the tuba?
What if the scarecrow was smarter than a human?
What if the scarecrow's favorite subject was science?
What if the scarecrow wanted to be a scarecrow for Halloween?
What if the scarecrow's favorite flower was a pink rose?
What if the scarecrow had an iphone 5?
What if the scarecrow was a cubscout?
What if the scarecrow's favorite movie character was the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz?
What if the scarecrow won the lottery?
What if the scarecrow's favorite dessert is pie?
What if the scarecrow could play soccer?
What if the scarecrow went to a football game?
What if the scarecrow had a pet dog?
What if the scarecrow went to school at Bear Creek Elementary?
What if the scarecrow went to college at Gonzaga?
-Joshua L.
James- what if scarecrows eat brains, what if the scare crow was just a crow, what if the scarecrow ate planets, what if the scarecrow walked, what if the crow got killed, what if the crow came back alive, what if the crow can become human, what if the crow could survive anything, what if scarecrows ate mars, what if the scarecrow ate pie, what if scarecrows can bite, what if the scarecrow ate a gas station, what if the scarecrow can write, what if scarecrows could give writing ideas to Professor Watermelon, what if the scare crow could play music what if the scare crow could go to school, what if the scarecrow could play video games, what if the scarecrow ate humans, what if the scarecrow ate the sun, what if the scarecrow could have kids, what if the scarecrow could type what if the scarecrow could shoot someone, what if the scare crow became human, what if the scarecrow could write what if the scarecrow could talk
ReplyDelete