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. 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. Wonderdoll invents this story to help the toys overcome their fears. Invite your class to create all sorts of different stories and provide special storytelling areas where they can tell them to an audience of toys. These areas can be just big enough for one child plus a toy, or larger to accommodate a group. Think dens – sheets draped over washing lines, enormous cardboard boxes – and decorate them with paints, cushions and bunting. 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 Look at pictures of the amazing variety of life on earth and talk about the way creatures evolve to fit the place they live. Investigate possible conditions on other planets and discuss how alien life-forms might adapt (or look at aliens in other books….)

Toys in Space by Mini Grey | Goodreads Toys in Space by Mini Grey | Goodreads

As the night progresses, everyone helps shape the story. But how will the explorers get home? And did they really meet an alien? From ever-inventive, award-winning author-illustrator Mini Grey comes a hilarious and heartfelt new adventure: a motley group of toys left outside in the garden become true friends and brave heroes - in space! Text Rationale: 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.And as evidence against the idea of consistently reading books at a particular time of year: read in February and July. Stupid human proclivity for seeing patterns, even when there aren't any.

Toys In Space - Teaching Ideas

Plan a new party to cheer up the Hoctopize. Make a list of the items that you need and find out how much they might cost. 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. There’s even a built-in moral dilemma of exactly the right sort to engage young children, and danger sits alongside zany humour as the reader becomes both spectator and participant, engaging with the action while at the same time commenting on it – just as the toys do in the garden overnight.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 view If your parachutes don’t work, try using toys with less mass ( e.g. Playmobil or Lego…)or fitting something that will slow their descent.