March 18, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Build a better trap: Rhinelander elementary students try to catch leprechauns
Build a better trap: Rhinelander elementary students try to catch leprechauns
By Kayla Thomason-
"As a first-grade team we do monthly family projects and they are optional to the families to do them or not," said Jessica Denis, teacher at Crescent Elementary.
Students had two weeks to work on the traps. There were no guidelines - families could be as creative as they'd like.
"Their creativity was their focus," Denis said. "I think (the traps) turned out amazing. I think that we caught the leprechaun."
Students who did not make a trap at home got to make one with the supplies in the classroom.
"We've been doing this for awhile now and the kids love it," said Martha Knudtson, principal at Pelican Elemantary School. "It's a great way for them to work together with their families on a project."
Oceana Patulski and her mother created a trap using a design that was found online. Their trap was covered in gold wrapping paper and adorned with cut-out clovers. A door, which had a clover on it, was poised to close on any leprechaun who tried to take the chocolates.
Mya Swanson and her sister created a silver trap.
"I had my sister help me," Mya said. "My sister came up with (the idea) and I just helped."
Their box was covered in silver wrapping paper, had an entrance in the back and a big window in the front so they could see the leprechaun. Inside, little gold trophies and other items were laid about to lure the little man.
Mya said her favorite part of their trap was the gold.
Marissa Richter and her father created a trap together with assistance from Marissa's mother, little brother and older sister.
It had green pillars and a flat roof with little bags of Lucky Charms hanging around it. On top was a green, round tip-up with a gold line and an earring for bait. Inside the trap was gold and moss, giving it a forest-like feel.
"My dad helped with that," Marissa said.
She thought the trap turned out well and she likes everything about it.
McLean Mahner and Nicholas Farb, classmates, created a trap together.
"McLean and I filled up a bucket full of gold and McLean grabbed some books to hold it up," Nicholas said. "I used a ruler as a slide and I used a little bit of dominos as stairs."
Lena Winter created a trap in class, but it proved to be no match for the leprechaun.
"My trap looked kind of like when you dig a hole and put leaves over it and put green paper and gold on it and he would fall in there and get trapped," Winter said. "I would hope he would come but it just ended up he messed the whole place up."
The school has had the child-family projects for about two years now, according to Denis.
Knutson said the traps are a unique way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
"I've never seen anything like this in another district before. I think it's a great way for our kids to get creative and have some fun," she said.
River News reporter Marcus Nesemann contributed to this report.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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