The Mysteries of 
Harris Burdick
by Chris Van Allsburg
as written by Room 20
Mr. Moe's 4th Grade Class
Lafayette School, Lafayette, California
When Chris Van Allsburg was invited to the home of Peter Wenders, he discovered fourteen drawings
that were, like pieces of a picture puzzle, clues to larger pictures. But the puzzles, the mysteries,
presented by these drawings, are not what we are used to. They are not solved for us, as in the final
pages of a book or a film's last reel. The solutions to these mysteries lie in a place at once closer at hand,
yet far more remote. They lie in our imagination.

For those who have thought of themselves as unimaginative, this book will prove the opposite. Even the
most reluctant imagination, when confronted by these drawings, will not be able to resist solving the
mysteries of Harris Burdick.
 

These are our solutions to the mysteries.
(some links intentionally dead, awaiting permission)

"A Strange Day in July"
by Alana
"Mr. Linden's Library"
by Anne
"Captain Tory"
by Becky
"Oscar And Alphonse"
by Brianne
"Missing in Venice"
by Carmel

"Uninvited Guests"
by Chase
"The House on Maple St."
by Chyatana
"The Seven Chairs"
by Connor
"The Third Floor Bedroom"
by Daniel
"Oscar and Alphonse"
by David

"The Seven Chairs"
by Dennis
"Under the Rug"
by Lizzy
"Under The Rug"
by Jake
"Under The Rug"
by Jason
"Missing in Venice"
by Julianne

"Missing in Venice"
by Justin
"The Third Floor Bedroom"
by Keegan
"Under The Rug"
by Laura
"Mr.Linden's Library"
by Maddie
"A Strange Day in July"
by Sam

"Oscar and Alphonse"
by Sidney
"Archie Smith Boy Wonder"
by Spencer
"Uninvited Guests"
by Tiffany
"Under the Rug"
by Trentyn
"Mr. Linden's Library"
by Mr. Moe
About the Project
Each student chose one of the Harris Burdick illustrations to write a story.  Each illustration had only title and a caption from Burdick's original story.  Each student had to use that caption somewhere in their story.  They then made a story map which included characters, setting, problem and solution.  Students wrote a first draft using these elements.  Next each student self-edited, then peer-edited the story.  The final draft was typed on AlphaSmarts (thanks LASF!) and finally downloaded into Appleworks for formatting.  The web site was designed by Mr. Moe and is now here for your viewing pleasure.  Thanks for checking us out!

For further information on Chris Van Allsburg please click here: Houghton Mifflin Company's The World of Chris Van Allsburg
 


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