Creekside Elementary School students are home on the range this week as media specialist Kim Richardson parlays her Lone Star State experience into square dancing fun.

Richardson, who was born in Chesapeake but lived in Texas for 35 years after college, said she organized Creekside’s Square Dance Spectacular as a way to get city kids up and moving while teaching about America’s rich western heritage.

“I want to get them to learn something new and read about something different,” she said. “There are a lot of books about cowboys, cowgirls, ranch life, animals, and how to take care of livestock” in Creekside’s library.

During the week, she said, all 1,000-odd students will get up and do-si-do, promenade, allemande and more.

On Monday, teacher Angela Hicks’ fourth-graders showed everybody how it’s done. With many of the students in western wear, they danced up a storm in the library, which was decorated with saddles on hay bales, and even a stock whip Richardson said was from Texas.

Before returning to Hampton Roads, the Creekside media specialist lived in Houston, where rodeos were held every February, she said.

“I wanted to bring a little of that into our library,” she said.

Students spent a week practicing the moves, the hardest ones being any requiring hand holding.

“It was amazing how quickly they picked it up,” said Richardson, who, with library media aide Cheryl Hendricks, is joining students in dressing up.

“They love the fun of it and the music itself. They clap and stamp their feet, and they get a picture taken with a saddle.”