Banner of Stars
Create inspirational star banners to motivate creative poetry, invention, and songwriting like that of others inspired by the starry skies.
1. Share poems, songs, and quotes about stars and the night skies. Read stories about stars. Look at artwork inspired by stargazing, such as van Gogh's The Starry Night. Talk about experiences watching the stars and why star-gazing can inspire creative new ideas.
2. Create a star banner to inspire your creative thinking. Draw a few large stars on poster board with Crayola® Metallic FX Crayons. Cut them out with Crayola Scissors.
3. Trace each star onto black paper with a Crayola Gel Marker. Color stars with metallic crayons. Press hard for a stand-out effect. For cosmic clouds, tape several metallic crayons together and swirl them through the skies.
4. Add rays to your stars by making dots extending away from each point using Crayola Glitter Glue. Dry.
5. Post banners around the classroom. Write poetry and songs in metallic colors. Think of ways to harness the power of shooting stars.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.
Glitter Glue—
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
- Research "The Star-Spangled Banner." What motivated Francis Scott Key to compose the song that became the U.S. national anthem? Research the composer's life, The War of 1812, how the song became the U.S. national anthem on March 3, 1931, and why the American flag has stars on it. Design a metallic star-spangled banner on which to display your research.
- Read a variety of folk tales and theories about the origins of the constellations. Compare and contrast explanations. Organize ideas. Write your own folk tales. Illustrate them with metallic crayons and colored pencils.
- Find all the flags of nations that include stars. What different star colors and shapes appear? Make replicas of these flags, and learn about each of the countries represented. Research the origins of the flags. What are their similarities and differences?
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