Mini Picturebook Lesson 14: Look Up! by Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola

Notes

Synopsis	Rocket wants to become an astronaut, star-catcher and space-traveller. Can she convince her older brother to stop looking down at his phone and look up at the stars and watch a meteor shower?
Lesson access	via url-link or QR-Code
Equipment for child	tablet, phone or laptop, internet connection, perhaps headphones
Materials	dictionary (online or paper), craft materials
Language Skills	listening, vocabulary (verbs), speaking (read aloud)
Cross-curricular Links	science, art and design
Values	determination, family and sibling relationships
World Event Day	World Space Week

LET’S START

• Equipment: dictionary (online or paper), tablet or laptop & internet connection and perhaps headphones
• Materials for your Spacesuit & Flyer: coloured pens and pencils
• Time: 20-30 minutes

Step 1: Look at the Cover

Look	Who do you see on the cover?
Look	What is the girl wearing? Describe the cat.
Look	What does she see when she looks up at the sky?
Solve	What device can you hold in your hands and look down at?
Research	Which instruments can you use to look up at the sky?
Research	Find out who Mae Jemison is.
Research	What is a meteor shower?  Have you ever seen one? Would you like to see one?
Predict	What do you think the girl wants to be when she grows up?
Check	Look up the meaning of these words: orbit, space shuttle, gravity, mission, comet, atmosphere. Do you know any other space-related words in English or your own language?

Step 2 and Step 3: Listen and Watch

Part A	Listen and watch for general understanding and enjoyment.
Part B	Listen and watch again and answer the questions, pause and replay when you need to.
	What are the names of the girl and her big brother?
	What is her brother always looking down at?
	Why was the girl given her name?
	What is the girl going to be when she grows up?
	How does she prepare herself?
	What is her mission?  What does she want to see?
	What does she do when she is in the supermarket?
	What happens to her brother when they leave the supermarket?  Look at their facial expressions. How did they feel?
	Who saves the day?
	Why is Rocket so excited?
	Why do the people start to go home?
	What suddenly happens?
	How do sister and brother now feel?

STEP 4: Add your Voice

Review & Make Notes	Listen to the story again and note down five facts about meteors and space.
Research	Find out five facts about Mae Jemison. Find out what astronauts eat.
Review & Move	Watch the story again and join in the victory dance with Rocket or create your own victory dance and perform to your family members or classmates.
Create	Design and draw your own astronaut suit.
Create	Write and illustrate your own flyer to invite neighbours to see a cosmic event (or another incredible event).
Act out	Give your own press meeting to inform people about your incredible event!
Personal response	How would you describe Rocket, Jamal and their mother?
Observe	Look up into the sky at night. Describe what you see.
Think	What is the opposite of Look up? Why do you think Nathan Bryon chose Look Up! as the title?
Your opinion	Which is Nathan Bryon’s favourite page? Which is your favourite page  and illustration? Why?

Step 5: Share and Evaluate your work

Share	Send your work to your teacher or share in your virtual classroom.
Evaluate	Complete the evaluation sheet to reflect on your learning.

Teacher Notes

Want more?

1	Draw along with Dapo Adeola and learn how to draw Rocket’s cat Luna (continue viewing video).

If you enjoyed making the actions during the read aloud, why not learn some British Sign Language (BSL). Watch Leanne sign and learn how to sign: telescope, stars, astronaut, meteor and look.

THE END