spinningearth THE  LORAXspinning earth



cover of book
In The Lorax the Once-ler, a faceless, bodiless narrator, tells his story.  Long ago he came upon a  place filled with wonderful Truffula Trees, Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba- loots, and Humming-Fishes. Fascinated by the beauty of the Truffula Tree tufts, he greedily chopped them down to produce and mass-market Thneeds. ("It's a shirt. It's a sock. It's a glove. It's a hat.") As the trees swiftly disappeared and the creatures started to leave, the fuzzy yellow Lorax (who speaks for the trees "for the trees have no tongues") repeatedly warned the Once-ler, but his words of wisdom were ignored. Finally the Lorax removed himself from the scorched earth (by the seat of his own furry pants), leaving only a rock engraved "UNLESS." Luckily the  Once-ler had saved a single Truffula Tree seed. He gives the seed to a  caring child, who becomes the last chance for a clean, green future.A copy of the story is at this site, http://www.geekteacher.net/lorax.html
After we read and discussed The Lorax, the children wrote what they would do with if they were given the last truffula seed.

1
Tuff-Tuff Woods
I have the last Truffula seed.  I will make a place for the Lorax.  There will be lots of people.  In the woods, I will have a pond.  The trees will have fruit.  I will take care of the woods.  I will make juice from the fruit.  The little bears will drink it.  I will share the woods with many other people.
2
The Last Truffula Seed
On my 8th birthday, I got the last Truffula seed.  I think I will plant it in my backyard.  That is because I want the Lorax and his wonderful creatures to come back.  I will water and feed it everyday.  I think it will be fun.  In ten days I had a huge Truffula tree.  It had enough tuft to make 20 rugs.  After all that caring I got a Truffula tree.  Oh I am so glad I got that seed.  I think you would like it too.  I wish you could see.  It’s a wonderful sight to see.
4
My Truffula Seed
I’m in charge of the last Truffula seed.  What should I do?  Everyone is counting on me and this last Truffula seed.  Should I build something or make something to wear?  I am going to grow a forest with a million Truffula trees.  We will never run out, stop by you’ll see.  Truffula trees as far as the eyes can see.  We will live in them so no one can chop them down.
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6
The Last Truffula Seed
I would feel happy if I was given the last Truffula seed.  If all the trees were gone, we would die.  The animals wouldn’t have any homes.  I would help by planting the seed.  I would make sure the seed would get plenty of water.  Everyday I’d check on it.  One day, I saw new seeds from my tree!  I saw they were Truffula seeds.  I planted those seeds too.  In a year of this happening I saw an unbelievable sight: the Lorax!  The Lorax and his friends came back to his new forest.
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8
The Last Seed
The Once-ler gave me the last Truffula seed today.  I am going to plant it in my backyard.  The first thing I will do is dig a hole.  The seed will needs lots of sun.  It also needs lots of water.  I will give the seed lots of love.  When it starts to grow, I put pretty pink bows on the tree.  I will let anybody chop down my tree.  Nobody will ever touch my tree.
9
Ruler of the Seed
Once upon a time the Once-ler gave me the last Truffula seed.  The Once-ler gave me the seed to be nice.  He knew I would plant the Truffula seed.  I will plant the seed in a special spot where nobody will cut the tree.  It will be planted in my backyard.  This will remind me to take care of it.  I will give it clean water and fresh air.  Then I can grow more Truffula trees.  If I plant the trees, then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.  As ruler of the last Truffula seed I hope the Lorax will be proud of me.
10
The Last Truffula Seed
I became good friends with the once-ler so he gave me the last Truffula seed.  He gave me the last Truffula seed because he knew I had a big yard to plant it in.  I am going to plant the Truffula seed where no one can get it.  I will take care of it by watering it and pulling weeds everyday.  When it gets bigger and has more seeds I will pick them and replant more of them.  I will also sell them to other people.  Everyone was so happy to see the seeds.  There was so many seeds that they would never run out again.  The once-ler knew I would grow more seeds and that is why he gave me the last seed.
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13
Truffula Tree Park
I always wanted to be an owner of a wonderful park.  I would want my park to have beautiful shade trees and a waterslide that goes into my pond.  If the Onceler gave me the last Truffula seed I would plant it around my pond and when the Truffula tree had grown more and more seeds would fall down and then I could plant all of them around my pond.  I could make a park and children could come and play.  Hopefully the Barbaloots could come and eat Truffula tree fruit and the Swomee swans would come and play.  There would be a no cutting trees down rule, so the trees could live forever.
14
My Truffula Seed
My Truffula seed is very valuable.  I would sell it to a rich person for more seeds.  I would be able to get 112 Truffula seeds.  I would plant 112 seeds and take care of them.  They would be able to grow in my private area.  I would water them everyday with the freshest, cleanest water.  I would surround the trees with bug zappers to protect them.  I would watch them grow everyday.  When my Truffula trees make their own seeds, I would give them to everyone.
15
The Last Truffula Seed
If the Once-ler gave me the last Truffula seed I would plant it in my backyard.  I would plant it near the tree so it would be in the shade.  I don’t think it would like too much sunlight.  I would water it every Monday and Friday.  Soon a Truffula tree will start to grow.  I think more Truffula trees will grow.  The Lorax and every creature will come to live here.  I think they will be happy again.  And no one will cut down the trees again.  I hope the Once-ler gives me the last Truffula seed.
 16
The Last Truffula Seed
If I was given the last Truffula seed, this is what I would do with it. I would plant a tall forest.  I’d keep it from axes that hack.  I would do this by digging a moat around the forest.  I would also put 13 circles of fences around the moat.  In each circle of the fence there would be vicious monkeys and hunters.  This is to keep people out.  If people stay out then the Truffula trees make keeping growing.  I want to keep them growing so the Lorax and his friends may come back.
17
Tabitha Truffula Trees
Do you know where Tabithaland is?  In the forest of Tabithaland there is a large piece of land with no trees.  I would take the seed of the Truffula tree to the piece of land.  Planting best in the early spring.  I would pick April 3rd, my cousin’s birthday.  My sisters and I will dig a hole and put water in it.  In Tabithaland there is lots of light so my Truffula seed will grow tall.  I will plant the seed to help the Lorax.  The Lorax is in charge of the Truffula trees, where the Brown Bar-ba-loots play and eat.  With the help of my sisters, I will pick up the seeds from my Truffula tree and plant them all in my field.  We will name it Tabitha’s Truffula Treeland.
18
The Last Truffula Seed
If the once-ler truest me with the last seed, I would plant a Truffula forest.  I would purchase land near my house to grow the seeds.  Since it will be close to me, I can water and care for the growing trees.  I would build a brick wall around the trees to protect them from harm.  I would put a special secret door into the forest fort.  The door would have a special code to get in and out.  When the trees are larger I would trim them to keep them healthy.  I would also play special music to keep the trees happy and help them grow.  My hope would be the Lorax would come back and bring his friends to live in my forest fort.
19
If I had the Last Truffula Seed
If I had the last Truffula seed I would plant it where a tree once stood.  I would dig a small hole in the ground.  The hole will be rounder than any hole you’ll ever see.  I’ll plant it in that hole.  I’ll water it everyday and when it grows up it will make seeds.  I’ll collect the seeds.  I’ll plant each seed and make a forest.  I’ll water each seed everyday.  I’ll call back the animals.  The Lorax will come back and that land will be beautiful again.
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21
The Last Truffula Seed
If the Once-ler gave me the last Truffula seed, I would plant it in my grandma’s yard.  I will find my favorite spot by the garden.  I like to pick flowers there.  My friends will come and help.  I will plant my seed in the spring when the ground warms up.  I will dig a small hole and put my seed in it.  Then I will put the dirt back and water the seed.  Next I will do a crazy dance.  My seed will become a forest and I will play and sleep under the stars. 
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Updated 06/12/07