Language Arts Activities

"My Manduca" Stories

by

Susan Rodriquez, a teacher at Pueblo Gardens Elementary School.

Allow your students take their Manduca home for the weekend and write about the experience. This can be done from several points of view, including the student, a family member, or the Manduca itself. This is a wonderful vehicle for encouraging student writing, and can involve the entire family. The following "My Manduca " story was wri en by Susan Rodriquez, a teacher at Pueblo Gardens Elementary School.

Manduca Rodriguez

The Manduca came home with me on Friday, May 24, 1996. He met Jesse when I picked up Jesse at daycare; Jesse wasn' t sure what it was until we got home. I opened the lid and showed Jesse, who looked at it and said, "What is it Mama?" I told him it was a Manduca and all he kept repeating was "duca, duca ".

Friday evening - We fed the Manduca and Jesse insisted we put the Manduca on the table while we ate dinner. We gave the Manduca some food. Jesse said, "Is he going to sleep?" and I said, "After he eats ".

Friday night - Jesse wanted to sleep with the Manduca and I said, "No!" We put him on top of the dresser, and Jesse said, "Goodnight duca ".

Saturday morning - Jesse woke up and stood on top of his chair to look at the Manduca. He picked up the cup and said, "Mama, look at the Manduca. So we took the Manduca outside while Jesse rode his bike. I worried because it was so hot outside, so we brought the Manduca inside.

Saturday evening - After being left at peace all afternoon, we went to check on the Manduca and Jesse said, "Mama, can I touch him?" So I opened up the lid to let Jesse touch the Manduca . He smiled. At 7:30 Jesse wanted the Manduca on the sink while he took a bath. At this point I was wondering about taking care of this Manduca

Sunday morning - We woke up late today, but Jesse had the Manduca with the cup on my bed when I woke up this morning. He was reading a book when I opened my eyes. I looked, and sure enough, they were both on my bed. Ha! We fed the Manduca while I cleaned the cup, Jesse was touching the Manduca. He wanted to give the Manduca cereal, but we gave him his food while Jesse ate his cereal.

Sunday afternoon - After going shopping it was time for Jesse to take a nap. He wanted the Manduca to sleep with him. After he was asleep I put the Manduca on top of the dresser; he looked a little pale, but I' m not sure whether it was the heat or what. I wrapped him up in a container that was long, and in 15 minutes he was out of it and I couldn't find him. He was on top of the dresser stuck to the doily and he wouldn' t come off! I panicked, and carefully unstuck him from the doily. I put him in a shoebox and he was on the side of the box chewing the cardboard; I could not believe this!

Sunday night - I put the Manduca in a napkin again and put him in the closet. I felt so sorry for this Manduca he was probably thinking that we were not cut out to take care of him.

Monday morning - We checked on the Manduca and he looked very pale.He had chewed up the napkin and was in the corner, uncovered. All I could think of was I couldn' t wait to go back to work so I could show Patricia what had happened, and I didn' t want to bother her on Memorial Day. The rest of the day we spent time with family and cooking, and I kept thinking I could not wait for Tuesday.

Tuesday morning - We were leaving for school, and Jesse insisted he wanted to carry the Manduca to school. As we were going out the door, he dropped the whole shoebox outside on the sidewalk. I picked up the box and looked inside and he wasn' t there! I panicked again „I couldn' t find him! He was stuck on top of the box to the corner.

This Manduca either did not want to be with us because we did not know his needs, or we just cannot babysit Manducas

Note:ñManduca Rodriguez î came through his Memorial Day Weekend just fine. When last seen, he was a very handsome pupa!

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