LOCAL NEWS

Elementary students get in-person experience with a reindeer

Dec 18, 2023, 6:08 PM | Updated: 6:35 pm

SANDY — Students at one elementary school had an unexpected guest Monday.

One of Santa’s four-legged friends traded snow for asphalt for the day, making it a special day for the kindergartners at Sprucewood Elementary.

“As part of their unit, they got to learn about different animals in habitats,” said Christina Van Dan, instructional coach for the elementary. “And what characteristics make up a living animal and a nonliving animal.”

Reindeer were part of a recent curriculum. As such, the kindergartners not only learned fun facts about Santa’s helper, but they got to touch and feel its coat and antlers. The children even got to whisper their holiday wishes.

This allows the students to put real-life experiences to paper.

“This is their first big informational piece of writing that they have done in kindergarten where they wrote three separate sentences about reindeer,” said Annalisa Krystof, a Sprucewood Elementary kindergarten teacher. “Being able to tell what reindeer can do, what they have and what they are.”

Experience not to be forgotten anytime soon

It’s a lesson the students will likely remember for years to come.

“They were like ‘Oh, I remember learning about the click sound they make’ or ‘I remember learning about the antlers that they shed’ and those are experiences that they may not have remembered or even had an understanding without this experience,” Van Dan said.

The experience also has the teachers excited.

“Getting to see this at the end after learning about them so much and writing about them is just a really neat experience for them to get to see,” Krystof said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

FILE: Layton police vehicle. (KSL TV)...

Mark Jones

Layton police seeking help in locating missing teen

The Layton Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old boy.

26 seconds ago

Audience members begin exiting after the Sunday afternoon session of the 194th Semiannual General C...

Daniel Woodruff

Latter-day Saints react after 17 new temples announced

It was a big finale to General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as President Russell M. Nelson announced 17 new temples. 

2 hours ago

A pair of Mexican baseball teams brought baseball back to Smith's Ballpark on Oct. 5-6, 2024.  (KSL...

Brianna Chavez

Mexican baseball teams face off at Smith’s Ballpark during Hispanic Heritage month

A pair of Mexican baseball teams brought baseball back to Smith's Ballpark for the weekend.

3 hours ago

(FILE) -  Box Elder County Sheriff's Office. (KSL TV)...

Michael Houck

Man arrested for breaking into 4 cars belonging to teens, urinating in victims cars, police say

A Tremonton city worker was arrested for allegedly targeting four teen girls by breaking into their vehicles and urinating in them, police say.

4 hours ago

The new Deseret Peak Utah Temple in Tooele is pictured on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Laura Seitz, Des...

Mark Jones

Church announces 17 new temples, including one in central Utah

President Russell M. Nelson announced 17 new temples during the Sunday afternoon session of the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

5 hours ago

Red rock walls...

Michael Houck

Rappeler dies after falling nearly 200 feet in Zion National Park

A 40-year-old man was killed while rappelling near the Upper Emerald Pools in Zion National Park.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

Elementary students get in-person experience with a reindeer