How the Program works
First Connection (45 minutes to 1 hour)
Trifon, the Arabian stallion visits the school.
Students touch the live horse and are immediately handed their very own book, to keep.
Time for reading and learning in the classroom.
The teacher has the opportunity to design and implement a cross-curricular study that uses the initial horse visit as a catalyst for learning.
Students are challenged to practice reading to the large colour poster in preparation for a visit to the farm. (4 ft high posters are supplied to each participating class).
Teachers are supplied with a Teacher Instruction Manual, loaded with ideas and curriculum links to language arts, science, social studies, math and art.
Second Connection (2 hours)
Students visit the farm.
In small groups the students participate in organized activity centres.
At the conclusion of each activity, the students read to the horse, one at a time ... It is pure magic! ... the horses seem to be listening attentively to every word.
The day ends with all the horses being turned loose in the indoor arena where students observe the natural interaction of the horses as they play, roll and chase each other.
After the feeding of the carrots to the horses, the students are back on the bus.
Horses are outstanding teachers! The 'kids' are motivated to want to read. The horses provide a powerful spark ... they are non-judgemental and accept each child for who they are.
This program provides an opportunity for students to escape their classroom and travel to a fascinating place where they will discover the joys of reading and learning through the magic of contact with live horses.
"We have many funny stories to remember about the horse nuzzling, sneezing and reading ... and I hear them over and over" - Heather Ferguson, grade four teacher, Pinestreet Elementary School, Sherwood Park.
"We got to use all the grooming tools on Misty. We used the "small places" brush, the grooming brush, the finishing brush, the rubber curry comb, and a comb to get the knots out of her mane. Misty looked great after we finished using all the different grooming tools!" Colchester School.
"I've never been this close to a horse before. Mysty was getting right into the book. It seemed like she really enjoyed it." Amber Crickmore, student, Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped, Sherwood Park.
"Our first activity we did was riding a horse, or the next best thing. A few bales of hay with a saddle! There was a stick under the saddle and someone would move it. To make the horse walk you would have to make sort of a clicking noise. We did the same thing for a trot except with more energy. For cantering you need to make a kissing noise." Colchester School.
Parts of the horse - stickies right onto the horse, Mysty.
Download
Program Information: Overview and Contact Information.
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
It is important to teach children to read, but we haven't achieved anything if children know how to read ... but do not!
