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Field Trip Book of the Week: The Ultimate Spy Contest (For a Hoverboard)

We are proud to present the latest installment of our Field Trip Book of the Week series: a Storytelling & Bookmaking tale written by students from ICEF Vista Elementary Academy.

Ms. Rosenberg’s third graders spent the morning with us brainstorming, writing, editing, and publishing their very own book as a part of 826LA’s Field Trips program. The story centers on a three-tiered tournament between a clumsy robot and a literal slime ball for spy bragging rights and a coveted hoverboard! Please read on and enjoy The Ultimate Spy Contest (For a Hoverboard)!

A huge thank you to our awesome team of volunteers for making this particular Field Trip so much fun: Jordan Rawlins, Jaime Fox, Alan Lin, and Alexia Pineda.

And now, onto the story!

Once upon a time, there was a robot named Jack. He was as tall as an anaconda, and had a trail of spikes going down his round back that he would use to protect himself when he would fall. Jack was adventurous and brave, but he was also kind of clumsy, and would trip over rocks all the time.

Jack lived in a high-tech garage in a secret garden full of seaweed, colorful shells, and a large circular camera at the bottom of the ocean! His garage was full of machines, and he had several computers that he would use to find out where dangerous things were happening. He was always searching out dangerous things because he wanted to be a spy with special gadgets.

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One day, when Jack was sitting in his garage, he saw a mysterious little green blob.

“YOU!” Jack yelled. Jack knew that blob. His name was Smike, and they had gotten in a big fight over a computer game called “Fire Boy/Water Girl” because they both wanted to play the same character.

“How did he find my secret garden!?” Jack thought to himself. Jack had forgotten that Smike lived in the ocean too.

Smike declared, “Last time we fought over a game, but this time I challange you to a tournament of book-making, soccer, and  a chocolate-eating contest! The loser has to buy the other a brand new spy hoverboard.”

Jack confidently replied, “It’s a deal!” Jack had always wanted that hoverboard. It was invisible and made of diamond. If he got that hoverboard, his dream of becoming a spy would finally come true.

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For the first part of the tournament, Jack and Smike travelled by submarine to reach a beach-side typewriter shop. Outside, the shop looked old and rundown, but inside were tons of typewriters.

They both began making books as fast as they could. Jack used his sneaky eraser gadget to erase all of the writing Smike would do without Smike noticing. Jack was the first to make 200 books and won the first round.

Smike was upset that he lost the first round, but he was excited for the second round of soccer. He had a plan. Smike used slimy blob body to get around Jack. Jack was so clumsy that every time he tried to kick the ball he would trip and fall! Smike won the second round by a landslide.

After the first two rounds of the tournament, Jack and Smike returned to the ocean and headed to the underwater candy factory, which was made completely out of candy.

As they walked down the chocolate hall, they both wished each other luck, saying, “Break a leg!”

Just as they sat down to begin the contest, Jack suddenly remembered that he didn’t like eating chocolate!

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What a cliffhanger! Students took over from there and wrote their own endings.

Sergio’s version ends in a humorous draw:
But Smike remembered that he was not hunger so they both lost.

Jose not only introduces a dues ex gadgeta to solve Jack’s dilemma, but brings the story to a happy conclusion for all characters involved:
But Jack went to his lab to get a special gadget that makes him eat everything in the world really fast. So Jack had an advantage to beat Smike. Smike said, “No you can’t beat me!” Jack used the gadget and beat Smike. Smike ran home and slept. Jack won the hoverboard but Jack was sad so they both used the hoverboard and they became friends.

A surprise guest judge appears at the end of Stephanie’s story to help Jack accomplish his dream:
Then Jack and Smike found out who the judge was. It was Julie the princess monster fairy. Jack told Julie his problem. “That’s why I’m sad,” said Jack. Julie did understand. So Julie used her magic wand and made Jack love chocolate now. Then when Julie said “GO!” Jack ate it all up. Jack won the contest. Jack was proud. Jack was a spy.

How would you end this story?

If you are a prospective volunteer and you would like to join in on the fun we have here in the 826LA writing lab, please read about our volunteering opportunities here.

If you are already one of our wonderful volunteers and would like to see what Field Trips are all about, email Kenny (Echo Park) or email Mike(Mar Vista) and read more about our Field Trips here.

Students participate in Field Trips like these up to four times a week at both of our centers in Los Angeles, and carry the experience of being a published author with them for ages to come. If you are a LAUSD teacher and would like to bring your students in for a Field Trip and an unforgettable writing experience like this, you can find more information here.

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