Mamie Martin Reading Fair 2012

On Thursday, Ellie turned in her reading fair project at school.  This year, she chose The Ballad of Valentine, a whimsical children's book (to the tune of My Darlin' Clementine) about a romantic admirer trying to get a lady named Valentine to be his valentine.
Ellie worked so hard on this project.  We went to Hobby Lobby and she selected all her supplies and props. She spent a great deal of time writing all the information by hand in pencil and going back over it in sharpie, painting her mailbox, and putting the storyboard together.  We are so proud of her perseverance and creativity! 

Little valentines for Valentine in a mailbox painted like the one in the book.

At the end, Valentine becomes his valentine!  Ellie used her dollhouse people to portray the characters.

Ellie's story summary.
She also had to include the theme, tone, publisher, author, main characters, setting and conflict/resolution somewhere on the storyboard. 

We set it up just outside her classroom Thursday morning.  During the morning, the judges came around to each classroom for judging.  They called the students out of class to be interviewed.  Ellie said they asked her the title, author, publisher and publication date.

SHE WON FIRST PLACE for second grade!!!  Hooray for Ellie!  (see the blue ribbon! and the very proud smile! this is the photo the school took for their website)

Ellie told us all about it after school.  She said they announced the winners over the loudspeaker.  Her category was the last announced -- overall winner for Second Grade, Individual Project.  She said when they called her name, her whole class jumped up and started cheering and hopping around.  Ellie was speechless with excitement!
When she got in the car at parent pick-up, she handed me a note that said "Dear Mommy, Love Ellie.  I got FIRST PLACE in the reading fair!!" -- she was so excited she couldn't even say the words! 

Later that evening, family members were invited to view all the entries.  All the children did such a great job on their storyboards.  Very impressive work!

FIRST PLACE RIBBON!!!  Hooray Ellie!

Her storyboard is still at school waiting for the District Judging  next week.