Teacher Crochets Mini Dolls of Students as Viral End

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Sara Shabir crocheted 30 dolls, one for each of her Year Three students, as a special keepsake

She revealed the surprise at the end of the school year, with students thrilled to see mini versions of themselves

The heartwarming project went viral on social media, bringing praise from parents, educators and strangers alike

When 30 children walked into their classroom at the end of the school year, they had no idea a surprise was waiting that would soon capture the internet’s heart. Inside a box, their teacher had tucked away handmade dolls — each one a tiny crochet version of themselves.

“I just thought it would be something they could keep forever, something unique to them,” Sara Shabir tells PEOPLE. “And it was a bit of a challenge for me as well, which I kind of like.”