!! Summer Time Hats !!

After reading the charming book Aunt Flossie's Hats, we made some hats of our own. It was great fun figuring out the construction, and finding our own look when decorating. We loved rockin' our new hat style in these fun pics, enjoy!

BUGS STILTERS: THE SEQUEL IN PICTURES

The 2nd week of the Second Summer Session was just completed with more stilt walking. This group of students, though a bit more nervous, still accepted the challenge of stilt walking with courage and tenacity.

Ranoah Johnson and De'Eric Griffin getting acclimated while Ms. Jodie gives them some tips.

Angel Burton helps Ranoah get comfortable while De'Eric steadies himself.

Aaron Duckett practices without Ms. Annie. He was the Student of the Week. It took him the 3 days to accomplish stilt walking without a spotter. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, AARON!!!

Taylor Bennett making it away from the railing.

Angel made it look so easy! She must have taken her first steps on stilts. LOL!!!
Aaron is getting closer to stilt walking without hands.
Not one to be left out, De'Eric keeps the stilt walking easy and breezy.

Love that hat, De'Eric!
Aaron made it from the railing to the table. That's not a short distance!! Ms. Annie helps him sit.

Ms. Annie tightens Aaron's stilts.
Ms. Valeska, Ms. Jodie and Ms. Annie in the Certificate ceremony.
Angel receiving her certificate and walking on much taller stilts.
Aaron made it from the railing to Ms. Annie all on his own!
Taylor grabs that certificate and quickly makes it back to the railing.
De'Eric, once again, making it look so natural.
Ranoah got her certificate after much encouragement and overcoming her fear of falling. She made it over to Ms. Annie.
Ms. Niko, Nana Projects Intern, has gotten comfortable very quickly on the stilts. Would you believe it was her very FIRST TIME on the stilts.

Group Picture!! Smile!!! Check out the videos!!

A BUGS LIFE ON STILTS

(Daquan Richardson laughs after he falls from his stilts.)

As the 2nd Summer Session of the BUGS Summer Program began, our students had the opportunity to learn stilt walking from Nana Projects, a local company of stilt walkers who teach and perform around the city. Annie Howe, along with Ms. Valeska, Ms. Kisling and Ms. Niko, came to the Living Classrooms campus to teach our students about stilt walking.

(Ms. Annie helps Jerrel Mack get comfortable on the stilts.)

On the 1st day, Ms. Annie and her fellow teachers taught the students how to fall. There is a correct way for stilters to fall. If you find that you'll begin to fall, it is best to fall forward, bending and landing on your knees and breaking the end of the fall with your hands. While the students were practicing on the field, it began to rain and the remainder of the session happened in the Great Room.

(Keshaun Watkins walking with only one hand with Ms. Annie.)

Once the stilts were placed on the students, each one of the teachers would be a spotter - someone who would help the student get comfortable walking on the stilts. Practicing in the Great Room was so beneficial for the students. There were pillars that they could walk to.
This gave them a real and tangible distance for them to find attainable. They walked from pillar to pillar to the chairs or scaled along the wall to get comfortable. By the end of the 1st day, some of the boys were walking on their own.

(Ms. Annie ties stilts onto KeShaun.)

(Daquan making it look easy.)

On the 2nd day, we all ventured outside. The stilts were tied on. The boys with a spotter walked to the railing. They had a longer distance and a wider space to walk in the stilts. After some coaxing and ease, they began to venture around on the ground. They fell, got back up, fell again and got back up. They tried and reached their goal.
(Jailen Johnson scaling the rail.)

(Mr. Al wearing taller stilters and a carnival hat.)
(Allen Wright charging ahead.)
(Mr. Al braving the taller stilts.)

It was the final day of stilt walking with the boys. Ms. Annie was able to bring hats and sequenced vests for us to wear. We had a marching parade around the field and on the walkway. We were like avatars with our long legs prancing about.

(Mr. Al with Jerrel, Jerwon Mack, KeShaun and Daquan marching onward.)

On the last day, we wore our hats and vests and took a group picture. Ms. Annie and her crew gave each one of the boys a Certificate of Completion. The certificate stated that each of them were officially stilt walkers. What a great experience for them!

(Mr. Al with all the boys - Jerwon, Jailen, KeShaun, Daquan, Allen, Jerrel, Harry Santos and DeAndre Berry.)

Another Successful Farmers Market in Hamilton!