Sparkle Schoolhouse

FIFTY Study Page: North Dakota — "Snow Dancing"

FIFTY: North Dakota— "Snow Dancing"

Each story in the FIFTY collection focuses on a remarkable American from a different state. Below are some recommended topics to inspire further investigation of the history and geography of the state, as well as themes that can support our children's growth and development.

Olav Nelson hates winter — at least compared to summer. As far as he is concerned, there is nothing to do in North Dakota in the winter other than sit in the sod house and wait for the thaw. But then Sondre Norheim, an old Norwegian from across the river, visits. He shows the Nelsons why he loves winter and looks forward to it all year long — because of a sport and form of travel that requires the cold and snow. And it’s called “skiing.”

Note: Though this is historical fiction and the characters have been developed to accommodate a story, their attributes and development may be useful as reference points and inspirations.

North Dakota History

• History of Immigration to North Dakota - in particular the Norwegian Community
• Biography of Sondre Norheim
• History of skiing

North Dakota Geography - Map of North Dakota as it relates to the Dakota Territory - World map connecting Norway and North Dakota

“Snow Dancing” Study Topics - Climate and Topographical comparison of Norway and North Dakota and conversation about why that community decided to move there.

Topics for Reflection

From a Child Development Perspective:

In this story, your child might learn that:

• Real work is meaningful work. There is true purpose in the tasks that simply must be done no matter the season and no matter whether we like them or not. Resiliency is built when we do the work just because there is work to be done without imposing whether we like the work or not on the task. For Olav and his family, "There was work to be done every day—regardless if the snow and cold was inspiring or discouraging.”

• It can be hard to practice gratitude even when we want to. But still, it’s important to practice! Sometimes we take for granted our good fortune, and sometimes life is hard enough that we just plain don’t feel grateful. But somehow Gratitude always wins. It reminds us that in life very often it's a matter of where we put our attention and not necessarily our circumstances that determine how thankful we can feel. For Olav, it was much easier to feel grateful in the summer than in the winter, but his father reminded him repeatedly to practice Gratitude, anyway.

• When we have closed minds and fixed attitudes, we can miss out on experiencing life to its fullest! Olav had decided that he was not interested in hearing how wonderful winter was in spite of how many of the Norheims had visited in the winter. And not being interested in hearing about their experience of winter, Olav missed hearing their stories, and a life without stories is a life without Sparkle!

• As long as we are not hurting another with our insensitive tone or unkind words, being honest and open is the best way to communicate. Olav was preparing to be disingenuous about his opinion about winter, but then his sister Anna told the truth by saying, "He hates winter." There was silence because it was uncomfortable, but without the honesty, a genuine conversation with Sondre never would've happened. And Olav would never have discovered that he was not the only one who didn't like winter! Although Anna was only four, and couldn't do anything but be honest, her authenticity was refreshing.

• Sometimes we are learning new skills, we will stumble and bumble and fall and even fail, but if we get up and try again we may eventually become quite skilled and have fun at the same. Sondre told Olav how many obstacles he had to overcome when skiing for the Queen, and then Wooosh! He won AND discovered ski-dancing, or slalom, all at once!

• Transformation takes place in the magical, invisible space. There was a magical transformation that took place when Sondre added skiing plus dancing to equal slalom. Like a chemical reaction! You can put flour and sugar and eggs into a pan, but until you add heat when you bake it, it's just flour sugar and eggs. The magical ingredient is heat, and like the caterpillar to the butterfly, the change takes place in the magical space.

• Personal transformation is much the same, in that if we are closed and we don’t make room for the magic space, we will not change and grow. When we allow ourselves to have new life experiences and we are open to change, there is magic and we transform. We learn new things, we become stronger and more resilient. The magic for Olav was his transformation from not liking winter to now being able to slalom, and in that "he has found a new love—skiing! And winter - in one moment - completely transformed. Hours ago he hated winter - and now he could feel … that it was about to become his favorite season of all.”

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