Skip to Main Content

Star Gazer

Students will use the KWL method while studying the stars and illustrating their knowledge.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Recycled Cardboard Tube
  • Tape

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students form groups to create a KWL (what you KNOW, what you WANT to know, and what you LEARNED) chart about stars. Have them talk about what they already know. Next have them discuss what they want to learn and then research the areas they came up with. Topics might include: What is the closest star to Earth? Is the sun a star? What are stars made up of? How do stars form? What is a supernova?

  • Step 2

    Ask students groups to create a telescope on which to display some of the information they learned about stars. Each person in the group can cut a strip of construction paper that will get wrapped around a recycled cardboard tube such as a paper towel tube. Have them write some star facts on each strip, then apply glue or tape to the back and wrap it around the tube. They can embellish the end of the telescope tube to make it look more realistic.

  • Step 3

    Have each group present their telescopes and discuss how the KWL method helped them explore the stars.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models. 

SCI: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information based on evidence.  

Adaptations

Possible classroom resources include: A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations--and How You Can Find Them in the Sky by Michael Driscoll; The Everything Kids' Astronomy Book by Kathi Wagner; Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations by Jacqueline Mitton

Organize a field trip to a local planetarium. Encourage students to bring their Star Gazer telescopes for the trip. Prior to the trip, students brainstorm what learning they are interested in focusing on during the visit. After the trip, students post learning to a class blog.

Students work in small groups to generate a list of facts about stars that they have learned during this lesson. Students cut star shapes, fill each with a fact about stars. These stars can fill the hallway, sharing new learning with schoolmates.

Students can collaborate to track the path of stars across the sky for several months. Students sketch major constellations in the night sky once a month from the same location and facing in the same direction. Students compare each month's sketches. Discuss changes they are seeing through their sketches.

Add a 4th column to the class K-W-L chart. Entitle the new column "What I Still Want to Know." Individually, students identify what else they would like to know about the universe, constellations, the Earth's place in the solar system, etc. Independently, students research on personal goals for desired knowledge. An electronic presentation of new knowledge can be prepared for sharing new learning with classmates.