The task is simple: walk or die.

Big Bird is the host of a new talk show, Big Bird's Numbers Show (a parody of The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson). Count von Count is his announcer, and he is scheduled to count the Honkers' honks.

It's the middle of summer at Baltimore's Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School, and Theresa Iwancio's classroom is full of first-graders huddled around a big yellow mixing bowl. "What do you ...