Top Hogs wow second grade
By Celeste McNeil; courtesy photos
Second grade teachers Kelli Chastain, Natalie Brubaker and Dana Sedersten
Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) second graders recently hosted some special four-legged guests, Top Hogs. These performing pigs helped the students round out their recent literature unit.
The second grade team read Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, the classic story of Wilbur the pig, and his barnyard friends, especially the spider, Charlotte. The book was chosen “for its rich vocabulary, character development, and to apply the practice of asking and answering questions while we read,” stated BRE teacher Natalie Brubaker.
After reading the book together as a class, students practiced comparison skills as they evaluated the difference and sameness between the novel and the different movie versions. As a fun surprise for the kids, teachers arranged a visit from Top Hogs.
“The book does such a beautiful job bringing Wilbur to life, it is a fun extension for the students to see the connection to life like hogs,” Brubaker said of the visiting animals.
Top Hogs visited the BRE second grade classes, delighting the students with entertaining tricks.
BRE’s second grade was delighted with the in-house field trip. The performing swine captivated the students with a variety of stunts and acts.
“I liked how they were doing amazing tricks like putting their toys away in a toy box, and I liked how he was pushing a student on a skateboard,” said Zoey M. “The show was amazing.”
The pigs are natural performers. They are good problem solvers, affectionate and smart. They enjoy their reward for a job well done and attention from the crowd.
“I liked how we got to pet the pigs,” said Zoey. “Their skin was kind of rough, but I like soft skin better.”
Top Hogs is a family friendly set of animal performers, including pigs, horses, cats, dogs and birds. They are located on a 25-acre ranch in Franktown. Many of the animals have been rescued from abuse or abandonment. They perform at schools, state fairs and in movies and television, including multiple late-night shows and America’s Got Talent.
