Goals:

1. The students will be able to recognize and label stars and constellations properly.

2. The students will be able to tell their directions based on stars or constellations.

Materials:

1. A map of the stars.

2. Poster paper.

3. Markers.

4. Glow in the Dark Stars

Time:

The entire lesson should take between 2 and 1/2 hours and 3 and 1/2 hours. (Steps 1-2 should take 5 to 10 minutes. Steps 3-4 should take 20 to 40 minutes. Step 5 should take 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Step 6-7 should take about 1 hour.)

Procedure:

1. Ask the students if they know how to tell directions with the stars.

2. Ask the students to list all the constellations that they know. Write these on a chalkboard.

3. Explain how stars can help with direction. (Each star stays on its line of latitude and depending on where you are, the angle to that star will tell you which direction you are from it.)

4. Explain why some constellations can only be seen during certain seasons.

5. Assign a constellation to small groups. Have the groups research the constellation to find the names of the stars in the constellation, what line of latitude the stars are over, and what direction the stars are at different times.

6. Have the students draw the constellation on poster-paper (possibly use glow in the dark stars) paper and place it in the room where it is in the sky at a given time.

7. The students will give a report to the class about what they learned about their constellation.

Assessment:

1. The students will be graded on the accuracy of their report to the class. (Criteria for Success: they must name five accurate facts about their constellation.)

2. The students will be graded on the accurate placement of their poster. They should know the directions in the room by having access to the use of a compass. (Criteria for success: the student will properly place their poster.)

Curricular Strands & Major Concepts:

1. Math - angles, directions with a unit circle.

2. Social Studies - constellations, orienteering.

3. Science - stars and their names, precise sketches.

4. Language Arts - presentation to the class.

5. Art - drawing or creation of constellations.

Possible Extension:

1. Mythology with the constellations.

2. Types of stars.

3. Space exploration.

4. Trip to a Planetarium.

5. Constellations Internet cite: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html

Sailing into the 19th Century - developed by Angela Hamerlind, Renee Kust, & Kevin Feyen