Watch the Stars Come Out
(GPN #29/PBS #309)
Author: Riki Levinson
Illustrator: Diane Goode
Publisher: Dutton
Program Description: LeVar comes “face-to-face” with the Statue of Liberty as she is
undergoing repairs and experiences the magnitude of such an effort.
EPISODE #29 WATCH THE STARS COME OUT
Reading Rainbow is a production WNED-TV Buffalo, NY and Educate Media Resources, Ltd.
Math Concepts:
•
•
size
measurement
Classroom Activities
• Estimation. Have students research the origins of “inch,” “foot,” and “yard.” James
Fey’s Long, Short, High, Low, Thin, Wide (Crowell) discusses how common measurement
units were developed. Have them experiment with these early units to compare how the
results are different when children, instead of adults, are measuring and how the results
vary from person to person. Estimate, then measure objects using parts of the body as the
measuring unit. For example, how many hands is a table? How many legs is the distance
across the room? How many thumbs long is a book? Discuss the need for a “standard”
measure.
Page EPISODE #29 WATCH THE STARS COME OUT
Reading Rainbow is a production WNED-TV Buffalo, NY and Educate Media Resources, Ltd.
• Measurement. In the program, students see the size of the Statue of Liberty in relation to the size of a person. So that students can better understand the magnitude of the
dimensions, measure and outline Liberty’s head and facial features. Compare these distances with familiar objects, such as how many books long is one eye, is a second grader
shorter or taller than Liberty’s nose, or how many second graders long is Liberty’s head
from chin to top? Have students estimate before they measure and encourage them to
think of other comparisons.
Statistics of the Statue of Liberty
(from How They Built the Statue of Liberty by Mary J. Shapiro, Random House)
base of foundation to torch — 305 feet
head from ear to ear — 10 feet
base of statue to torch — 151 feet
distance across eye — 2 feet, 6 inches
`
heel to top of head — 111 feet
length of nose — 4 feet, 6 inches
height of pedestal —- 89 feet
width of mouth — 3 feet
height of foundation — 65 feet
length of hand — 16 feet, 5 inches
length of torch — 21 feet
index finger — 7 feet, 11 inches
length of right arm — 42 feet
fingernail — 13 inches x 10 inches
head from chin to top — 17 feet, 3 inches
steps in statue — 171
Do-At-Home Activity
• Determine the body shape of family members. Two measurements are needed:
standing tall, height from head to toe; and arms outstretched, the distance from fingertip
to fingertip. These measurements will yield three body shapes: tall rectangle (the distance
up and down is longer than the distance fingertip to fingertip), wide rectangle (the distance
fingertip to fingertip is longer than the distance up and down), and square (the distance
is the same both ways). Record the information on the chart on the next page. Have the
students bring their charts to school so they can use them to draw some conclusions about
how body shapes change as people get older.
Page GPN
1001 Fleet St
Baltimore, MD 21202
1-800-228-4630
Names
Shape
Tall
Rectangle
Wide
Rectangle
Square
What body shape are you?
Names of family members (starting with oldest, in order to youngest)
Directions:
To find your body shape, measure height from head to toe, standing tall, and measure the
distance from fingertip to fingertip with arms outstretched. If you are tall rectangle, the distance up
and down is longer than the distance fingertip to fingertip. If you are wide rectangle, the
distance fingertip to fingertip is longer than the distance up and down. If you are square, the distance is the same both ways. Measure each person in your family and put an X in the box that tells
his or her body shape.