The Paper Skyscraper (Grades K-5)
Realization series
by David Drew illustrated by Terry Denton
If you find it in needles, but not in thread, and it conducts heat, it rusts, and it is magnetic, then what can it be?
This simple introduction to the technology of materials helps children to compare and evaluate the uses of wood, paper, steel, concrete, gold, rubber, glass and other materials when building and making the world around us.
Grade level K-5
Visual literacy
Diagrams: to provide clues to solve a guessing game
Lists: to organize and compare information
Visual jokes: to stimulate investigation and inquiry
Paper flaps: to conceal and reveal the answers.
Subject areas
English/Language Arts
- Reading and writing science puzzles
- Comparing visual and written information
- Use of contents page, index, glossary
- Procedural text (pages 3 and 17)
Science/Technology
- How materials differ in strength, hardness, and flexibility
- A context for studying magnets, conducting heat and electricity, floating and sinking, transparency and opacity, and many other early science concepts
Mathematics
- Temperature measurement
- Use of a compass
- Use of a tape measure
Social Studies
- Shelter, transportation, clothing, jobs in our community
- Evaluating and inventing appropriate technologies
- Comparing technologies for cost, practicality, ease of use
Art/craft
- Using the information they have collected about a material they have researched, children make a craft item in that material.
Learning strategies
Problem solving
Brainstorming and evaluating solutions
Cooperative learning
Inventing new uses for familiar materials
Applying science knowledge to a craft activity
A sample from the book
In the book, the paper flap (then it must be ...) can be raised to reveal the answer.
Roll your computer mouse over the page to see the answer.
Ideas to get you started
Start with the Big Book version and work with the whole class. Demonstrate how we make notes when we read information books: place a flip chart next to the book and write down the children's suggested answers as you read the clues. Review the answers with the children as more clues are added, demonstrating that we need to sort and evaluate information in order to arrive at the best answer.
Use the "But what if...?" pages to involve children in finding new uses for familiar materials. Children can use diagrams, cross sections and storyboards to explain their inventions.
How to write your own book (page 17): children work in small groups to research a material not in the book, in order to write their own puzzle.
Groups take turns in presenting their puzzles for the class to guess.
Contents of The Paper Skyscraper
How to use this book
If you find it in pencils ... (wood)
If you find it in cans ... (aluminum)
If you find it in shoes ... (rubber)
If you find it in needles ... (steel)
If you find it in cameras ... (glass)
If you find it in buildings ... (concrete)
If you find it in computers ... (gold)
But what if ...
Glossary
Index
How to write your own book
Companion book
by David Drew illustrated by Robert Roennfeldt
The book Misbuildings introduces the idea of functional design in the form of a game of "Find and fix the mistakes" in the pictures on each page. This activity relates to designing and making in technology courses for K-8.
Here's an example from the book, which includes at least 12 mistakes that need to be fixed:
Ask the students to draw cross sections, cutaway diagrams and plans (maps) of the house to show how this house design could be improved.
Misbuildings is two-books-in-one. When you turn it upside-down and start from the back it becomes another book called Untransport:
Answers to "Find and fix the mistakes" can be found in the teacher's guide on the inside front cover of the Big Book edition of Misbuildings/Untransport.
These books are now out of print
Second-hand copies can sometimes be bought from
