First in Space by Jim Vining . Portland OR: Oni Press Inc. 2007
ISBN: 1-932664-64-5
ISBN13: 978-1-932664-64-5
Based on a true story about Ham a chimpanzee trained for space flight in the 1960’s. Animals were used in testing the biological viability of spaceflight, often with tragic results.
Media: Pen and ink drawings.
4Q/4P
Curriculum Connection
6th - 8th. U.S. History-Ethics Science/Space exploration
Theme The theme of the book which is really complex is, at what price do we sacrifice sentient creatures to a science experiment and whether that sacrifice is necessary. Will it help the survival of the human race? The theme is told throughout the story by seeing what experiments are done on the chimpanzees and whether they were necessary and we get a glimpse of how the chimps might have felt through dream sequences. A white bird is always watching in the story and he represents freedom and the chimp’s lack of it. We find a conspiracy plot that asks was the space race was just part of the hysteria to reach the moon or a planet just became we thought the Russian might first. We were in the period of communist paranoia and the Cold War and progress of the Russians was thought to be a threat to our security. The final scene wish I found heartrending was that the chimps were sent to zoos and although they might have been content the artist shows that Hals end was not glorious or that humane and his sacrifice might not have been necessary.
- use of symbol through the text and/or through the illustrations.
A white bird appears in the illustrations repeatedly in dream sequences, and whenever Ham is being confined. I think it symbolizes his longing for freedom. First In Space by Jim Vining
D. Guhl Summer 2009
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APA Citation
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Vining, J. (2007). First in space. Portland, OR: Oni Press.
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ISBN
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978-1-932664-64-5
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Rating
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5Q/5P
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Top 10
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Yes
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Media
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Pencil, ink, computer
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Grades/Subject
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4+; science, history, ethics
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Annotation
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The story of the first primate in space, revealing the close relationships between the chimps and the keepers, and the uses of animal experimentation in early US space exploration.
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Element Illustration
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Repetition
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The repeated use of the bird ties together the parts of the book, accentuating parts of flight, fancy and hope.
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Artwork
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The sharp lines and heavy shading that Vining uses are evocative of the retro-1950/60’s style, such as can be seen in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, representative of the nature of the space program. Oddly, even though the chimps and the NASA employees almost all look exactly alike (perhaps a commentary in itself), Vining is able to offer slight distinguishing features that allow each character to have an independent identity.
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sk 4.27.08
Lesson Plan (sk 5.4.08)
Subject: English
Grade Level: 5+
Time Duration: semester
Objective: reflection, self-expression, health expression of emotion
Overview: Maintain a journal for the entire semester.
Lesson Design
Anticipatory Set (focus) – As is seen in books such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf, Autobiography of My Dead Brother and many, many other examples, maintaining a journal can be an easy way to express yourself, keep a record of your every day life, and sort out problems.
Presentation – You’re only assignment is to maintain a journal for the whole semester. I will not read the journal so much as glance through it. You must have at least one entry per week, but you may write as much or as little as you like. If you prefer, you may use other modes of expression than writing in your journal, such as photography, collage, drawing, or music. Feel free to be as expressive and creative as you like, since this is your journal. Once a week, we will bring the journals into class for in-class exercises, such as warm-fuzzies (where each student must write an “I” compliment to the journal’s owner).
Practice – Start off with a round of warm-fuzzies, then have the students write about their plans for the upcoming weekend. No other practice.
Closure – At the end of the semester, the students will hand in their full journals. The entries will be counted: a minimum of two entries per week (one for class, one for home) in order to receive full credit.
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