It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw
This is one of our very favorite books. We especially like it on summer days when huge fluffy clouds are abundant. Sometimes we read the book and head out to observe clouds, sometimes we read and play the game, sometimes we read and do the art project, no matter what follows we enjoy the book and the conversations it brings each time we read it! We hope you enjoy reading and cloud watching sometime soon.
1. Set the Stage: Tell your kids you'll be playing a game today to help them practice seeing. Listen to them tell you they see just fine or wonder why you want to do that. Then tell them they'll be learning to see things differently today.
"Seeing With New Eyes"
You'll need:
something interesting to look at (a globe, a fun vase, a favorite doll something fairly good sized with detail in or on it)
sunglasses (1 pair regular, 1 pair with the lenses painted a fun color-you can buy cheap ones in the party favor section of most stores so you don't ruin nice ones)
a magnifying glass (any size or shape will work)
a latex balloon in a fun color (different than the color of your painted glasses)
a latex balloon with writing on the pattern (happy birthday, it's a girl, etc....)
To Play:
Show your kids the object. Let them each look at it for 10 sec.
After everyone has looked at it talk a bit about it, think about the details of how it looked.
Then go through the above list one at a time.
First let the kids look with the sunglasses. Then talk about how it looked. What was the same about the object, what was different.
Repeat this with all of the supplies. Be sure every kids gets a chance with every kind of "new eye" and be sure to talk about the differences and similarities.
When you're done ask the kids what the point was, what did they learn from this game. Tell them that how you see something is called your perspective. Remind them that we all have different perspectives and that stopping to think about someone else's perspective can help them learn new things and can teach them to see things they might have never seen before.
Now tell them you'll be reading a story to help them think more about this.
2. Enjoy the book: Read It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles Shaw out loud to your kids. Stop to look at the pictures. Let them share what they think the picture looked like.
Questions to go deeper: (As you read ask these questions)
I wonder who thought it looked like a tree? Maybe someone who likes to be outside? Maybe someone who likes learning about nature?
I wonder what the person who saw an icecream cone's favorite flavor is? Maybe they were hungry when they were looking?
Why are most of the things food or animals?
Have you ever looked at clouds? What did you see? Do you wonder why you see those things and not something else?
3. Experience the Book:
You'll Need:
A dark colored piece of paper for each child (I usually use blue like the book)
white paint (enough to make a blob on each paper-I like the crayola brand as it's thick enough not to leak and it cleans up really well)
Paper towels or wet wipes
Pen or marker
A Copy of the words "Sometimes it looked like_________ but it wasn't a ____________" for each child. I usually write them on the top of the paper or have the kids copy them.
The experience: Before you begin, show the kids a finished project so they know what you're talking about and so you can point out the specific directions as you explain them.
Give each child a piece of paper.
Then explain that you'll put a blob of paint on each piece of paper (only use a little so you don't have a huge mess). Their job is to fold the paper in half and then to slowly open it.(remind them to handle the paper carefully)
After they fold the blob, they need to "look with their eyes" and decide on what they think it looks like. If they struggle, remind them to think of food, animals, things they like, letters...
Once they decide on something, they need to write that word on both of the blanks in their sentence, or you can write it for them.
If you all make one you can put them together (don't forget to let them dry!) and read them like a book. You can even come up with a fun new title for your story.
Happy Reading and Happy Cloud Watching!
