Map the Constellations

Susan Smith, a teacher at Pat Henry Elementary School in Lawton, Oklahoma, submitted this week's lesson plan. It explains how to make a constellation guide from an empty soft drink can.

Brief Description

Students learn about stars and constellations and make guides to help them locate stars and constellations in the night sky.

Objectives

Students will be able to locate and identify major constellations in the night sky.

Keywords

constellations, stars

Materials Needed

Individual Star Charts; straight pins; a clean, empty soft drink can for each student; some kind of hole punch, such as an awl or a nail

Lesson Plan

• Provide each student with a star chart and discuss the constellations.
• Have students use straight pins to make holes in charts at each major star in the constellations. Then have them turn their charts over and connect the dots to form the shape of each constellation. The constellations will be backward.
• Using the holes in a star chart as a guide, punch holes in the bottom of empty soft drink cans.
• Students can look through the cans -- with flashlights, if necessary -- to locate the constellations in the sky. When viewed through the cans, the constellations are correctly placed. The students learn that spotting stars is easier when they have a reference to use.

Activity Time

One hour or two 45-minute periods

Assessment

Students are able to locate and identify the major constellations.