How high is the sky

HOW HIGH IS THE SKY?
- Milbourne, A. (2009). How high is the sky? London: Usborne Publishing Ltd.
- Illustrated by Serena Riglietti, Designed by Laura Wood
- ISBN: 978074609584-3

- The book called “How High is the Sky” is a story about Pipkin the penguin who is curious about everything in the world. One day, he was wondering how high the sky is. He went on the adventure to find out the answer. On his adventure, an albatross, a gorilla the air balloonist, and rabbit the astronaut helped him to explore the world. Finally, he found out that the sky goes on forever, and his mom replied “there are a lot more to find out in the world.”

- I choose this book because most of children are curious about the world like Pipkin the penguin in the book. Especially at the age three to five, children’s desire of curiosity is vigorous. Children love to explore new things and always ask tons of questions. Thus, this book can give children a lesson; when there are curiosities in your mind, don’t hesitate to question. There is no right or wrong answer, and you can even get the answer by exploring the world by yourself. Also, this book helps children to learn the actual concept of the height through an extra information page in an envelope at the very back of the book. It is a folded piece of paper, which becomes very long when unfolded, to give children a sense of how high the sky is. This rather complicated information is explained with illustrations and simplification of the author.

- Illustrations are done by water color, and very delicately. Also, illustrator used various colors, so it looks very gentle and soft. Thus children will love it!
Provocation
- I would like to build the background knowledge of this book through showing them three different types of skies: light blue sky with some white clouds, dark blue sky with some clouds and complete black sky with lots of stars. So, first day, I will put picture of light blue sky with clouds on the ceiling all day. Next day, there will be second picture which is dark blue sky with some white clouds on the ceiling. Third day, picture of black sky with lots of stars will be on the ceiling, and last day, I’ll read a book to children. Through this provocation, children can picture in their mind that how the sky looks like when it goes up and up.

Four ways of presenting
- 1) I will prepare five pieces of thick paper and cover them with felt. Then, I will connect them with rings, which will allow them to fold together. Each paper will represent each height Pipkin has travelled. All the characters and backgrounds in each scene are made up of felt. As the story goes on, I will unfold, and by the end of the story, children will be able to see how long the paper is, which is relevant to how high the sky is.

- 2) This is a popular method used in Korea: I will use corrugated cardboard to make animal models for children to play with. I got all different colors of corrugated cardboard from Korea. Even though corrugated cardboard is a paper product, when I roll it to make a model, it gets harder, and I will use hard glue, so it won’t fall apart.
- 3) I will prepare all different types of miniature models in the story basket, so that children can do free play. For example, prepare 12inches Styrofoam ball and cut it in half, then it will become an igloo. Left-over felt can be snow on the ground, and so on.

- 4) I will make a crown with a laminated main character on it. A crown is made up of felt. Children can put on a crown and perform a role play.

Extension
- 1) I will ask the question to children: “What would you do and where would you go if you were Pipkin?” and get the children to answer by drawing. Through this activity, children can let their imagination run free. I will provide children different types of art supplies such as; pencil crayons, markers, water color paints and so on.
- 2) I will introduce the sequent books to children, How Deep is the Sea, or How Big is a Million? This will provoke children’s curiosity even further, while teaching them a sense of measurement and numbers.

- 3) I will ask the question to children: “What else could be in the sky?” Then children will mention all different kinds of products. Gathering up all the answers, we as a whole class can make our own sky. I will provide children a large piece of paper as a background, and other art supplies and materials such as; pencil crayons, markers, recyclable cups and lids, cotton balls, tape, glue, and so on to draw and make whatever children want to. Through this activity, children can express their thoughts freely and widely.