Challenge Taken in Maryland

Thanks to all the great work that Prof. Patricia Dean at Salisbury University has doing to promote the Challenge, entries have been pouring in from Maryland. This from a third grader --

"I think the kid should leave the ant alone because ants are like people too, except they are tiny, red or black, they have antennas, and they are insects, but it doesn't matter. Ants our just like us, they have homes, nature, water, air, friends, trees, and more. Anyway the kid shouldn't squish the ant just because his friends tell him to, besides ants are people meant to live like we are meant to live."

Challenge Taken in Virginia

This great second grader answered the challenge with:

"Hey little ant, The kid says, ""I didn't see you there!"" He cups his hands and the ant climbs in. The kid lowers the ant by the nearest anthill. Soon his friend asks him why didn't you squish it? Well, if you were a ant would you want to be squished? ""Wow, you're right"", his friend said, as they walked home from the park."

Challenge Taken in Florida

This advice came in from a third grader in Florida today--

"The ant should bite the boy and run away. He is a little tiny ant and he can run faster than the boy. Then he would alert his friends."

Challenge Taken in O, Canada!

The Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge went international today with the submission of amazing essays from a third grade classroom in Alberta.

"I will not harm you little ant. I will let you go back to your family and your little town too. I will not do what the other kids think. I will not hurt you so you can go help the baby ants. If you were me and I was you, I would not want you to harm me. The other kids are wrong and you are right. I should not pick on small animals like you. Even though you are small you are just like me so I will ""NOT"" hurt you." -Third Grader, Alberta, Canada

Challenge Taken in Indiana

This fabulous drawing came in from a 1st Grader in Indiana today. Below the illustration were written the words,

"The boy did not squish the ant. The ant was happy."

If you cannot read the ant's speech bubble, it says, "I'm happy."

Well, so are we. Thanks, Indiana.

Challenge Taken in Ohio

My, oh, my we have another raft of entries. This time from the mighty state of Ohio. This came in from a third grader who picked up the rhyme beautifully!!

KID: I understand how you feel!
Remember though- you have been known to steal my meal.
And my friends are telling me
That I should squish any insect-an ANT or a Bee!

ANT: It doesn't matter what your friends tell you.
There is only one answer and the answer is TRUE.
Listen to your heart
and STOP what your shoe is about to start!

KID: Maybe you are right.
Maybe we should not have started this fight!
What do my friends really know?
Perhaps you are not my foe!
I will leave you alone!
And I will even share my ice cream cone!

Challenge Taken in Texas

A third grader in the Lone Star State had this to say,

"I think that the Kid should spare the Ant's life because the Ant is an innocent food collector. The Kid doesn't have to do what his friends want him to do. It's just like if you were a character kid and you were hanging out with a kid who doesn't have a lot of character, then you'd have to find a new friend. If you are friends with someone who is making bad choices, then maybe you might make bad choices too. But you don't want to do that and let bad choices get into your mind.

The Kid should become friends with the Ant and be nice to Ants. The Kid has a tree house where the Ant and his family can be with him. The Kid and the Ant could play games like Checkers or Hide and Seek. The Ant would probably really be good at that game. When they got done playing, the Kid could make a picnic for the Ant so that it wouldn't have to steal the food and the Ant could take the food for his city."