It was a gray Thursday morning at the end of November when the classroom door opened, and Ms. Larsen walked in with something hidden under her arm. The students noticed the sparkle in her eyes immediately — that rare “something special” look teachers get when a surprise is coming. She placed a large brown envelope on her desk, sealed with red wax and tied with a piece of string. In neat writing, it said: “The December Project.”
The class quieted down. Emma, sitting in the front row, raised her hand. “Is it homework?” she asked, half-worried, half-curious. Ms. Larsen smiled. “Not quite. It’s a project that will take us all the way to Christmas. Something a bit different this year. Inside are instructions — but we won’t open it until tomorrow.” A collective groan filled the room, mixed with laughter and whispers about what it could be.
During lunch, the students speculated wildly. Some guessed it was a secret play. Others thought it might be a competition. Lukas suggested it might even involve cooking. Whatever it was, one thing became clear: the air in 7B felt different — alive, hopeful, and full of curiosity. And though no one said it out loud, every single student walked home that afternoon thinking about the same question: What is the December Project?