North Street School 5th Graders Embrace Nature with “Happy Hut Village”

North Street School 5th graders have embraced nature to fabricate an entire “village”  in the school’s back field using nothing but branches, twigs and random found items.

The students assembled a series of huts, each with a purpose ranging from town hall to insurance company, and from hotel to courtroom.

The project started with one modest hut assembled from smaller branches.

“They walk all along the perimeter of the field and gather pinecones and sticks,” said North Street School principal Jill Flood.

Over time, the students built an entire society featuring a currency made of pinecones, and even coped with the aftermath of a mysterious weekend pinecone larceny.

Parents and staff have been pleased to see the children entertain themselves their imaginations and immerse themselves in nature.

Fifth grade teachers Nick Celestino and Maryann Jagodzinski said the project unfolded during recess.

“It started from a small hut topped with a stray tennis ball into a whole village,” Jagodzinski said. “At first there were three students. The next day more kids came out. Then it turned into this amazing village.”

“The only guidance we gave them was the suggestion to use the branches on the ground but not break a branch or pull from the trees,” Mr. Celestino said. “We’re teaching them to respect nature.”

Principal Flood said she was especially impressed with the way the students cooperated with each other and their teamwork.

Highlights of the village include “Teddy’s Happy Hut,” which the students also call “the sand lot,” because it is adorned with baseballs they found on school grounds.

“Max’s hut,” had a setback when it was damaged during recent heavy rains and wind, requiring it to be moved and repaired.

Nearby two huts that are connected the middle with an area the students said served town hall.

Another hut houses the government’s store of pinecones.

Nearby, “Leo’s house” or “the nature man store” sells sticks in exchange for pinecones.

There is also a hut adorned with a found American flag, and made aromatically pleasing with shredded bits of Sassafras.

Everett Ryan said there was also a hut that housed an insurance agency and AirBnb office.

“That hut has bountiful pinecones,” he said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is to follow economics to run a society.”

Everett said James, Max and Teddy were the presidents of the Happy Hut Village, which he said also include a military force and supreme court, with Drew Reisfeld named judge.

“Drew is head of supreme court and the judge because he’s fair to everyone in society and gives everyone equal rights,” Everett said, adding that Drew was tasked with trying to figure out who was responsible for the pinecone larceny.

“There were 450 pinecones on Friday and by Monday we were down to about 40,” Everett said.