Staff and students at Eric Langton Elementary School in Maple Ridge have been deciding what kind of house they would like to live in.

But not in the real world 害羞草研究所� in a hobbit world that an educational assistant at the school created in order to decorate the front display case in honour of Earth Day.

Most want to live in the house high on a branch with a pink door and miniature stick bridge. Others like the teapot house with the blue door tucked away in the corner that has a tiny chess game set out on a small log table. But there are others, eight in total, along with a stick bridge over a pond, a log staircase, a table set for two for tea, and purple tissue paper wisteria hanging from the top.

The hobbit land was created by Paula Gross who was inspired by story workshops at the school 害羞草研究所� when students collect trinkets from bins to spark their creative juices to write a story.

She thought wouldn害羞草研究所檛 it be wonderful to create your own little world. Then she looked at the empty display case and decided to create a special world for the students.

Gross described the project as a labour of love.

害羞草研究所淚 created it because I thought people could enjoy it,害羞草研究所� said the humble artist.

So, for the past two weeks she started collecting things like broken pots and plates, broken bottles, branches, moss, rocks, broken glass, and sticks.

She only had to purchase a couple of items from the store. However, the bill for the whole display was only about $5.

害羞草研究所淚 also wanted to showcase that you don害羞草研究所檛 need to be rich to create because it害羞草研究所檚 all things you find in nature,害羞草研究所� noted Gross.

Gross worked at home, an hour here and there, putting the houses together, and then assembled the display case in about five hours after school earlier this week for Earth Day.

Gross admits she is artistically inclined and comes from an artistic family. She also paints, but has never displayed her work aside from the walls of her house. However, she was astonished herself when the whole project came together.

She has even included an 害羞草研究所淚 Spy害羞草研究所� element to the display with a list of items to find posted on the side of the case for students to look for 害羞草研究所� and the objects are not easy to find.

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Gross says it helps students calm down as they search for the different items.

害羞草研究所淭hen we go back to class and they are ready to learn again,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e had no idea she had this talent,害羞草研究所� said Jennifer Simon, principal of Eric Langton elementary. 害羞草研究所淧eople were just wowed.害羞草研究所�

Simon is going to keep the miniature village on display longer than Earth Day. Gross says they can decorate it for different occasions, like with snow at Christmas time and little lanterns for the Chinese New Year.

The display case beneath it remains empty which has Gross thinking about extending the village underground.

Just seeing how much joy the village has brought to people, has made Gross害羞草研究所� efforts worthwhile.

害羞草研究所淚 would do it all again,害羞草研究所� said Gross. 害羞草研究所淚 would totally put in every effort because people appreciated it and that害羞草研究所檚 what you hope for.害羞草研究所�