How does it look? by Bobbie Kalman is a great resource to use when exploring the sense of sight. The book offers an overview of several areas associated with sight including: the identification of shapes and colors (pages 4-5), line types (pages 6-7), patterns (pages 8-11), spirals (pages 16-17), patterns of change (pages 18-19), and sets (pages 20-23). How does it look? also explores symmetry (pages 12-15). This book is very useful, as it introduces a concept to children and then poses several questions regarding the newly learned information. The organization and approach of this book is conducive to learning because it reviews information just learned, and fosters conversation and student involvement.
Curriculum Connections
How does it look? is appropriate for use in the kindergarten and first grade curriculums. It can be used in several ways. First, pages 4-7 can be used as students begin to identify basic properties of objects by direct observation (SOL k.1 a), as well as an investigation of the five senses (SOL k.2 a/b). Additionally, pages 20-23 can be employed at a higher level when students are asked to classify and organize objects according to attributes or properties (SOL 1.1 c), and to make predictions based on patterns of observation, rather than random guess (SOL 1.1 f; page 14 face example; page 17 toilet example; page 19 flower example).
Additional Resources
- This worksheet can be used to supplement the “Which doesn’t belong?” activity on pages 22-23.
- This bingo game can be used to reinforce students’ understanding of shapes (pages 5-6).
- This worksheet can be used to review patterns of change, discussed on pages 18-19.
Book: How does it look? (Looking at nature)
Author: Bobbie Kalman
Publisher: Crabtree Publishing Company
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 24
Grade Range: K-1
ISBN-10: 0778733351