The Great Turtle Race in Kansas

By Hank Thatcher and Sue Lee

"The Great Turtle Race in Kansas" is based on a true story of a 6th grade class in Caldwell, Kansas, who succeeded in their petition to make the Ornate Box turtle the Kansas state reptile. In this fun and instructional children's tale, Hank Thatcher brings to life the workings of state government.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467877190

Hank Thatcher

Hank Thatcher grew up in Dodge City, Kansas. His childhood interests were history, music, reading, and writing. As a young boy he was greatly intrigued by Dodge City's rough and rowdy past. After hearing stories from his grandmother about the Ornate Box Turtle and an adventuresome 6th grade class of Caldwell, Kansas, Hank decided to write this novel tale.

Book preview

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

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Prologue

O nce upon a time in the small village of Caldwell, Kansas, a group of children began a great campaign. Little did they know where their journey in knowledge would lead them.

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Chapter One

Planning a Celebration

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kansas became a state on January 29, 1861, and of course this is a date we should all appreciate, said Mr. Miller. People all over Kansas are planning celebrations for the state’s 125th birthday."

He was the 6th grade teacher at Caldwell Elementary. Teachers and students in the small town of Caldwell also wanted to celebrate this magnificent day in history. What could they do?

It was a beautiful fall day in mid-October, 1985. The entire elementary school decided to begin making preparations for a big program for Kansas Day. Every class in Caldwell Elementary was to do something special for our state. The sixth grade class came up with some spectacular ideas. They thought of posters, research papers, skits, poems; but it all came down to giving Kansas a unique birthday present. The sixth grade class had been doing research on the state of Kansas. Some of them looked up the state symbols.

Does Kansas have a state reptile? asked Julia.

No it doesn’t, replied Mr. Miller. "Let’s talk about the symbols that Kansas