From left: Bianca Ruppel Tedeschi, Aleksandra Cirovic, Tess Underhill and Amy McMullen take part in a mirroring activity during a summer reading program last week at the Hartland Public Library in Hartland, Vt. (Valley News — Liz Sauchelli)
From left: Bianca Ruppel Tedeschi, Aleksandra Cirovic, Tess Underhill and Amy McMullen take part in a mirroring activity during a summer reading program last week at the Hartland Public Library in Hartland, Vt. (Valley News — Liz Sauchelli) Credit: —Courtesy photograph

Hartland — They stretched. They jumped. They danced. They shook about. They made up moves and stood frozen in place.

More than anything, in the hourlong program at the Hartland Public Library, the five kids participating moved around.

And kept moving.

“I only have one big rule,” said Ashley Hensel-Browning, a teaching artist focused on dance, “and that’s try your best.”

The group of five, and children’s librarian, Amy McMullen, complied.

The activity was part of the summer reading program, “Build a Better World,” in which numerous libraries in the Upper Valley participate through the national Collaborative Summer Library Program.

“There are all different ways you can take that,” McMullen said. “How better to build a better world than to be healthy?”

During one activity, a take on follow-the-leader, the six were divided into two groups and instructed to do more than just walk about the room.

There was skipping.

There was rolling around on the floor.

There was a lot of laughter.

“Wow,” Hensel-Browning exclaimed. “Are we awake?”

But after all that movement came a challenge that required staying still. The kids were told to form statues with their bodies, moving as little as possible.

When polled toward the end of the class, the favorite activity was the “tableaus.” Broken into groups of three again, the participants had to answer the question, ‘What do you do that makes the world a better place?’ Then they had to come up with a statue that illustrated their answer.

Their answers included teaching gymnastics, dancing and singing. Despite the similar responses, all the statues were different.

“You guys are so good at working with each other,” Hensel-Browning told the group.

The theme continued with a mirroring activity in which the participants paired up, faced each other and mimicked each other’s movements.

“I think this is a really good activity for practicing listening,” Hensel-Browning said, which “helps to make the world a better place.”

Editor’s note: Upcoming summer reading programs at the Hartland Public Library include a nature walk on July 5, a Wii dancing game on July 12 and a hula hoop activity on July 19. All programs are free, begin at 1 p.m., and are held at the Hartland Public Library, 153 Route 5. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact McMullen at kids@hartlandlibraryvt.org or 802-436-2473. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.