Toys in Space

Product Information

NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery. It's great for colouring or craft activities, and you can also use it to help you draw any outlines you may need. In a large, clear space, ask children to copy the postures and expressions of these toys. How do we know they’re sleeping? What do people look like when they’re asleep? My first impressions of the book, "Toys in space," by Mini Grey, include intensity of emotions of animals. Also, the story is relatable. It is a funny, light-hearted book and connects the readers to the characters. I enjoyed reading this story as it was adventurous and did a good job in engaging the reader. Literary elements include easy words and humor. Design elements include, characters only in the picture and very colorful images. Have any of them been lost? What happened, and how were things resolved? If you like, you can use role-play to extend the discussion.

Space National Aeronautics and Educators Grades 5-12 Space

It's a fun, spacey story that features toys that we left outside overnight. The narrative is fun to read aloud and the colorful illustrations, with the author's inimitable style, complement the story nicely. We loved the ending and our girls knowing the answer to "Where's cuddles?" before the characters did.

In drawing on so many time-honoured themes and storytelling devices and illustrating them in such rich detail, Mini Grey has created a multi-layered and highly satisfying reading experience. Look carefully at the pictures of the Hoctopize. In what ways does he resemble living creatures on earth? In what ways is he different? Is it easy to imagine a completely new creature? Discuss your ideas. In searching for his Cuddles, the Hoctopize kidnaps toys that don’t belong to him. What is right for the Hoctopize is wrong for everyone else, but – in common with many children – the Hoctopize finds it difficult to empathise with others and see the world from their perspective. How are the toys introduced? Note the words describing them. What kind of comments does each toy make as the story progresses? Do they have distinctive characters? Which toy would you choose as a companion in a crisis? Why? This is a three-session spelling seed for the book Toys in Space by Mini Grey. Below is the coverage from Appendix 1 of the National Curriculum 2014.

Toys in Space | BookTrust Toys in Space | BookTrust

Make sure everyone understands the idea of a ‘story within a story’, and draw their attention to the way the toys help shape the tale as it happens. What do your class think about the ending? Was the Hoctopize real, after all? 1 | Writing opportunities My view, your viewLook at the patterns on the Hoctopize’s body. Can you create your own patterns on the ‘Hand Outlines’ template below? Can you design a gadget to weigh a toy? Use junk materials and/or construction kits. Something needs to move in response to a mass being added, but there are many ways of achieving this. Ask children to pretend they are presenting a TV news report about a recently-discovered planet, with one child narrating while the others mime. Move on to individual or group writing, and video children reading their ‘news reports’. The secret life of toys Use junk materials to create models of aliens. Or you could create a family of Hoctopizes from gloves! This opportunity for connection and reflection prepares children to inhabit the emotional landscape of the book and makes the eventual reading experience richer and more relevant. Inviting a response