Sky High Stretches Teacher Guide
Sky High Stretches
Teacher Facilitation Guide • Pre-K Height Exploration
Objective
Students will use their bodies to explore height concepts kinesthetically and use vocabulary like "taller" and "shorter."
Materials Needed
- Presentation Slides & Video
- "Shortest & Tallest" Worksheets
- Tablet/Camera (for photos)
- Full-length mirror (optional)
Key Vocabulary
Height Taller Shorter Compare
1
Warm-Up: Tall Tree, Small Seed (5 min)
This kinesthetic game introduces the extremes of height.
- "Tree!": Students stand on tiptoes, reaching arms to the sky. (Ask: "Are you taller or shorter now?")
- "Seed!": Students curl into a tiny ball on the floor. (Ask: "Are you tall or short like a little seed?")
- Teacher Tip: Mix up the pace to keep them engaged!
2
Video Viewing & Interactive Pauses (5 min)
Use the slides to watch "Comparing Heights." Crucial Pauses:
0:16 - Back-to-Back
Ask: "Why are they back-to-back? Does it help us see who is taller?" Have students try this with a partner.
1:05 - The Giraffes
Before the narrator speaks, ask: "Is the baby shorter or taller than the mommy?" Encourage using the full sentence.
3
Main Activity: Line Up! (15 min)
Divide students into groups of 3–4. Their mission: Line up from Shortest to Tallest.
The Photo Op: Once a group is lined up, take a photo. If you have a mirror, let them see their "staircase" of heights.
Guided Discussion: "Who is the 'Baby Giraffe' (shortest) in your group? Who is the 'Tall Tree' (tallest)?"
4
Closure: Height Parade (5 min)
Project the photos taken during the activity. For each photo, have the class point to the tallest and shortest students. End with a big group stretch to the sky!
Teacher Tips & Troubleshooting
Common Misconceptions
Uneven Ground: Pre-K students often forget to stand "flat" on the floor. Remind them: "Feet flat like pancakes!"
Hair/Hats: Children might measure to the top of a ponytail or a hat. Clarify that height is to the top of the head.
Differentiation
Support: Have students compare only 2 classmates at a time before adding a 3rd.
Challenge: Ask students to find objects around the room that are shorter than their knee or taller than their head.
Sky High Stretches Slides
Sky High Stretches
A Safari Adventure in Height
Warm-Up Game
Tall Tree!
Stand on your tiptoes and reach for the clouds!
Small Seed!
Curl into a tiny ball on the floor!
Comparing Heights
Watch & Act It Out!
Embedded media
Who is taller?
"Stand back-to-back like Dominic and Chelsea."
Is it Dominic?
Is it Chelsea?
"Look, Giraffes!"
Which giraffe is SHORTER?
Stretch your necks like the tall mommy giraffe!
Activity: Line Up!
1
Find your team of 3 or 4 friends.
2
Stand in a line from SHORTEST to TALLEST.
3
Say cheese for the height photo!
Who is the baby giraffe?
Who is the tall tree?
Great Job, Explorers!
You used your bodies to measure the world!
Big Tall Stretch!
