Space Awareness
Make a Star Lantern
Go star-gazing with young learners! They study the history, origins, and patterns of constellations in an activity that explores the starry night sky.
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Sky Quest: Exploring the Constellations
Students examine constellations and planets through completing various activities. Students work individually and in groups to create drawings based on stars, compare and contrast the night sky with and without a telescope and learn...
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Mapping Constellations
Students become familiar with constellations. In this space science instructional activity, the teacher introduces constellations by showing students the star patterns and reading myths. Students, observe the stars nightly, then choose...
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Name the Constellation
Students read stories about constellations. They create constellations by filling in the letters of their names on a test bubble sheet and tracing the design onto white paper. They make up stories about their name constellations.
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Dot to Dot: Patterns in the Night Sky
Sixth graders are introduced to several major constellations and locate them in the night sky. They graph the constellations on grid paper and work in groups to research common myths and stories associated with specific constellations.
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Illustrate the Constellations
Students explore space science by participating in a star identification activity. In this astronomy lesson, students identify different star patterns and discuss the movement of stars across the sky as the seasons change. Students...
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Stars and Constellations
Ninth graders investigate how ancient cultures viewed their world in terms of astronomy. They read and discuss an informational handout, construct an astrolabe, and locate stars and constellations using star charts.
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Introduction to Constellations
Students examine constellations. In this astronomy lesson plan, students study various constellations and identify five major constellations. They will construct a model of one of the constellations.
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Constellations
Students examine present constellation patterns by reading The Glow-In-The-Dark Planetarium Book by Annie Ingle. They copy a few of the constellations and then create their own, using sticky stars and black paper.
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Constellation Companions
Students research the star composition for a constellation after a brainstorming session suggesting why humans have organized the night sky into constellation patterns. They use the research to create their own constellation and myth...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “Dead Stars” by Ada Limón
Pay attention! A lesson featuring Ada Limon's poem "Dead Stars" is designed to help learners develop their noticing skills. Class members first study the constellation Orion's image and list what they notice and how the image makes them...
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Space Science: Zodiac Track
Young scholars create posters of the constellations using glow-in-the-dark glue and black paper. They hang their posters around the room starting with Aries and moving through all the signs. Students create a jingle or acronym to help...
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Space Jeopardy Game
Students explore space. In this space instructional activity, students analyze the sky and what causes its changes. Students describe the moon patterns and use a model to show changes in its shape. Students also describe the first trip...
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Exploring the Constellations, a WebQuest Activity
Young scholars explore space science by participating in a class WebQuest. In this constellation identification lesson, students view star charts based on the four seasons and identify the changes our sky goes through in the course of 12...
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Big Dipper Story Wheel
Learners research a Canadian Indian Tale. In this constellation instructional activity, students hear the story "Never-Ending Bear Hunt" which describes the constellations from the Native American perspective. They create their own...
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Young scholars identify patterns in the stars. In this constellation lesson, students simulate constellations using black canisters and patterns. Young scholars discuss the points on the constellations and how to draw imaginary lines to...
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Galaxy Mapping
Students research the constellations and discuss their findings. Then they construct their own maps of the galaxy using paper, black paint, aluminum foil, etc. They make a 3-D map of their chosen constellation.
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Starquest
Students study the history and cultural interpretation of a celestial body or constellation. They create technology based presentations of the information.
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Constellations
Students explore constellations. They read trade books about constellations and write notes including their locations, origins, and names. They research and report on one constellation in the Northern Hemisphere and share their report...
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Constellation Projections
Students draw constellations. In this astronomy lesson, students create constellations from star groupings projected on a chalk board. Students connect the "stars" to create a pattern on the board. Student can create new groupings of...
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Identify and Construct a Constellation
Third graders identify and construct constellations. For this constellation lesson, 3rd graders choose a method to create a picture of a constellation, either using a shoe box, paper cup, or transparent paper.
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Star Patterns
Third graders create constellation maps and record their own legends of how constellations came into existence. After observing the sky at night, 3rd graders discuss star maps, read previously recorded legends on the origin of stars. ...
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Three D Constellations
Students are introduced to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder. They convert spherical coordinates to Cartesian coordinates to construct a three dimensional model of a constellation...