I read the book “The Man Who Walked Between Towers” by Mordicai Gerstein to my kindergarten class. It is the story of Philippe Petit, a tight rope walker, who walked between the Twin Towers in 1974. I read the story first. (Warning, I tear-up at the end every time. . .)
Then I showed the children video of Philippe actually walking a tightrope. They totally gasped with awe! Today they asked if we could write a letter to Philippe and inquire about how he walked on a rope between two skyscrapers. We talked about people who trained to do this kind of work -that it took Philippe years upon years of hard daily practice to do it.
Skyscapers and the Astonishing Philippe Petit
Have you found any current information or news on Phillipe?
Yes! The children immediately wanted to know if he was still alive! We researched it and found out he is still around. He shares his knowledge and insights as an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. He also continues to train for several hours each day at his home near Woodstock, New York. I found a few videos of him online (2009).
I love this idea, thanks for sharing!
I wonder who will be next to his success in walking in a tight rope.
I think this book is fabulous and what a great idea to tie it in with your skyscrapers! I am teaching about areas of community next week and will shop your ideas for my 2nd grade classroom!
what a cool idea! I’ve never heard of it and it sounds like a lot of fun!!! I tagged you in a post on my site, come check it out! I was showing your site to some friends at a teacher meeting today and they LOVED it. My website is
misskristinaskindergarten.blogspot.com
And you can read Mirette on the Highwire and get in some Text to Text talk!
Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee
Oooo, never read Mirette on the Highwire! I am doing it! Thank you!