Resource Review

Children’s Book Review:

Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes by Stuart J. Murphy

This fun comic book style book takes students on an adventure through space with the main character Sam otherwise known as Captain Invincible; and his space dog Comet. After conquering the galaxies, this dynamic duo must return to earth. And must use geometrical shapes to defeat the dangerous roadblocks that lay ahead. Radar beams are reflected using the directional cube, and pyramids create a sonic beam to blast away alien ships. Cylinders, cones, and cubes are only a few shapes that help clear the path to safety. The imagination and creativity behind Sam’s adventure are great to keep kids engaged, responsive and excited to learn.

Curriculum Connections

Grade 2: Geometry

- Identify and describe various three- dimensional figures and sort and classify them by their geometric properties, using concrete materials

build a structure using three-dimensional figures, and describe the two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures in the structure

Grade 2: Visual Arts

- Creating and Presenting create two- and three-dimensional works of art that express feelings and ideas inspired by activities in their community or observation of nature.

Lesson Breakdown

This book can be used to solidify the concepts of geometrical shapes and prisms. This can be used in an activation or “minds on” phase of a math class or can consolidating approach to wrap up the lesson. In my lesson, students will be asked to find items in the classroom that are similar to the 3D shapes found in the book (which was used as a “minds on” activity). During prep time I would have set up different recycle shapes around the room, (for example, Pringles chips cardboard cylinders, cereal boxes, milk cartons, cones etc.). Students will then be asked to use the shapes to create your own rocket ship and present it and their properties to the class. This activity is fun and allows for students to be hands-on and creative while identifying the shapes.

The activity is integrated with a Visual Arts while satisfying the Geometrical Properties and Relationships subunit in the Grade 2 curriculum. The cross-curricular activity with Visual Arts allows students to satisfy both generalized expectations and the element of shape and form in design. In the assessment piece I would be looking for the students’ ability to identify the different types of geometrical shapes. I will use a checklist as an assessment tool to “checkin” on the students to see how they are doing with the labels.