I've covered a concept map on the story entitled "Trapped in a lift" with our boys. In addition, I've also instructed them to sieve out short, simple sentences and sentences incorporating prepositional phrases in the story. This will be the introductory lesson towards a series of lessons teaching our boys the various sentence patterns that effective writer use. I've included the story below for your viewing pleasure.
Please remember to bring your class library book(s) and school library book(s) tomorrow.
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Trapped in a lift
Tick, tock, tick, tock …The second hand of my watch turned as beads of perspiration trickled down my forehead. I glanced at the lift panel and counted down the digits reflected on it. Ten minutes before the start of my favourite cartoon! I was extremely eager to rush home after tuition to catch my favourite show. I would not miss it for anything in the world.
As the lift door opened, I thanked my lucky stars for being able to get home before the start of the cartoon. However, my joy was only short-lived. Little did I know what was installed for me.
I punched the button for the 15th floor. As the lift door closed, I continued to stare at the display panel in the lift. 3,4,5… The lift seemed to be usually slow today. It was practically crawling. “Strange, what’s happening?” I thought to myself. As the lift approached the 13th storey, an awful sound was heard. It sounded like the lift was scrapping against the wall. Out of the blue, the lift jerked abruptly, slamming me against the left wall in the lift.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
I paused momentarily as it dawned upon me that the lift had stalled. Tears welled up in my eyes as I had never been caught in such a situation before. “This cannot be happening to me …” I closed my eyes, praying hard that everything would soon return to normal. The stillness of the air, the killing silence proved too much to bear. I decided to take control of the situation. With shaky hands, I pressed the emergency bell. To my utter horror, I did not hear it ring.
Panic-stricken, I started pounding the door and yelling at the top of my lungs.
“Someone help me!” I cried. Soon, my throat became dry and hoarse from the shouting. Overcame by exhaustion and fear, I collapsed onto the floor. I was a total wreck. Fear crept over me and I broke down in tears. I could no longer contain the pent up fear that I had within.
As I grew accustomed to the silence and stillness in the lift, I sensed a faint crackling sound coming from a distance. At first, I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. However,as I pressed my ears hard against the lift doors, I realised that the crackling sound was growing louder.
“Don’t worry, help is on the way…” I heard a male voice echo outside the lift. My heart skipped a beat when I realised that the rescue team had arrived. Before I know it, the lift door started moving. Flashes of light could be seen outside the lift as the lift door continued to open. I could soon see the figure of a man! He was my saviour!
“Grab hold of my hand and I’ll pull you out of the lift,” the man instructed. I obeyed his instructions and was extremely relieved to be saved. Apparently, a kind resident had heard my cries for help and contacted the lift operators. The rescue team was deployed immediately. If not for the kind Samaritan’s help, I would have been still stranded in the dreadful lift.
Although I was shaken from the experience, I was glad that I had not sustained any injury. However, by the time I reached home, my favourite cartoon had already ended. Ever since then, I made doubly sure that I never travelled in the lift alone. Call it a phobia, I promised never to allow myself to be caught in a similar event again!
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