Lessons 1: View From the Ground

Key points

• People cannot see everything from a ground view.
• The introduction begins with an illustration showing the front of a park.

Lesson Objectives

• Students view a specific location from a familiar perspective (at ground level). Items observed in this view will be used as reference points when the perspective changes in the next lesson.

Materials needed for this lesson

• Illustration 1, showing the side view of a park from the ground.
• Example for teachers showing a picture of a hot-air balloon.

Suggestions for teaching this lesson (25-minute lesson)

• To begin the lesson, ask the students to look at illustration 1 and make a list of what they think is in the park. The list might include:
  • a playground
  • a water fountain
  • a flag pole
  • rides
• Tell the students that you have a story about an adventure a girl has in the park and then read the tale in the story box.
• Pass out Activity sheet 1. The students should color in the balloons, put their name in the banner area and cut them out. When complete, have them post their balloons on the wall next to illustration 1. Have them predict what they think is going to happen next in the story.

Suggested subjects for discussion or writing exercises

• I think a good name for the park is ________________, because...
• A fun park should have... (a follow-up assignment might be to draw a picture of the park the students wrote about.)
• Is there a park near our school? How might a new student find their way to this park? (A new friend might lead a walk, a police officer might provide directions, or the student might use a map.)