Constant Constellations

1. Introduce the concept of constellations during a study of astronomy. Ask students to share their existing knowledge about the stars. Document student contributions using a classroom white board and Crayola® Dry Erase Markers.
2. Conduct a read aloud for students using such picture books as Jacqueline Minton’s “Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations.” Share the rich illustrations with your group and ask them to discuss what they see.
3. Using photographs and videos, provide the class with a closer look at what is in the night sky. Talk about how the stars are present day and night but that it is harder to see them in the daylight. Explain that to map the night sky, astronomers grouped stars into imaginary shapes called constellations. Share information about other astronomical elements such as comets, meteors, The Milky Way and planets.
4. Invite your students to go outside on a clear evening and spend time looking at the night sky. Upon returning to the classroom, distribute black construction paper and have the students draw their night skies combining observations and their imaginings using Crayola Metallic Gel FX Crayons. Add celestial highlights with Crayola Glitter Glue. Allow time for glue to dry.
5. This assignment may be repeated over a period of several weeks allowing students to record the subtle movement of the stars in the night sky.
6. Provide time in the school day for students to share their observations with classmates.

LA: Read and comprehend literature, including stories and poetry, in the grade level text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

SCI: Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.

VA: Students will investigate, plan and work through materials and ideas to make works of art and design.

VA: Students demonstrate an understanding that creative thinking skills transfer to all aspects of life.

VA: Students experience, analyze and interpret art and other aspects of the visual world.

VA: Art communicates about and helps viewers understand the natural and constructed world.

Challenge students to design some connect-the-dots worksheets with observable constellations.

Record observations of the winter sky and then observe the summer sky to see if anything is different.

With older children, discuss where the names for the constellations came from and their meaning today.

Invite a local astronomical group to set up their telescopes on the school grounds one evening for families to look at the night sky together.