At the conference, they had a section where people posted the work they were doing in their classrooms. Usually it was a poster or something like that. This one lady from Arizona had a little house tacked to the presenters wall. She told me the house belonged to an elf named Knotty and the house was usually in their classroom. Next to his little house (though he was never seen), there was a mailbox. The kids at their school wrote to him and he wrote back. I thought it would be such a fun experience for our school too!
Then, amazingly, on December 1st an elf appeared in the Outdoor Classroom! His name was Dale and he looked remarkably similar to an elf on the shelf.
He also occasionally appears with a little chair swing, or rope and other equipment that reminds me of the Elves at Play kit. It’s obvious he uses this gear so he can remain up high (from rafters or trees) in a variety of ways.
I made sure there was a writing table with papers and a box to put in letters or pictures the kids would write to Dale.
Every morning he keeps appearing in a new location. He even had pajamas on when the preschool was having its pajama day!
He occasionally leaves a little handwritten letter that reminds me of a handwritten font in size 8, cut down into a little rectangle.
Each morning when I found the note, I’d clip it up high so any adult could read it for the kids.
Every day I ask the kids if they have found Dale yet. Groups will run off and search for him until they find him, and then excitedly tell their friends. Then they’d get to work on drawing him a picture.
I’m so glad Dale is visiting us this December! Even after he’s gone, I’m sure a mailbox will appear and the kids will be able to continue to write letters and draw pictures for him. Maybe he will even send back photos of other adventures he goes on when it’s not Christmas!
= )