OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to use a dipper finder
to locate the Big Dipper during any season of the year. Students
will be able to name at least one seasonal constellation for each season
and determine the location of the seasonal constellation in relation to
the Big Dipper.
RELATION TO MISSOURI FRAMEWORKS:
5-8: VB2 Earth is a moving planet that has unique features.
5-8: VB3 Earth rotates on a tilted axis as it revolves around the sun
causing sunlight to hit at different angles.
8th Grade Earth Science Curriculum:
After completing the astronomy objectives,
students will be familiar the earth’s motion through space and the cause
of the seasons. Students will then complete the KSAM Star Light,
Star Bright activity to become more familiar with common constellations
of the northern sky. The Star Lab presentation, Dip-pidy Do Da, will
be an enrichment and extension of 8th grade earth science astronomy objectives.
CONTEXT:
Grade Level: 4-8
Group of 15-25 students
PREREQUISITE:
Students should have completed (KSAM) Star Light, Star Bright and have
some prior knowledge of constellations and seasons.
MATERIALS:
StarLab Portable Planetarium
Constellation Cylinder
Urban Starfield Cylinder
Dipper Finder
Arrow pointer
PROCEDURE:
1. Before students enter the StarLab, have the students construct a
dipper finder. Students should practice orienting the dipper finder
for the first day of each of the four seasons.
2. Divide the students into four groups and assign each group one season.
3. Have each group responsible for finding the position of the Big
Dipper on the first day of their season. All dipper finders will
use 9:00 p.m. as the observation time.
4. Students are to leave the dipper finders on the outside of the StarLab
and enter at this time. Remind them to remember the position of the
Big Dipper for their season.
5. Have the Constellation cylinder preset to the Summer Solstice.
Turn on the Constellation cylinder after all students are seated and ready.
Remember to turn the side lamps down first and allow the students eyes
to adjust to the darkness.
6. Using annual motion show the Big Dipper in the evening sky on the
first day of each season.
7. Briefly explain how to use the Big Dipper as a clock in the night
sky.
8. Stop the rotator on approximately the first day of each season.
In addition to the six circumpolar constellations of the Big Dipper, Little
Dipper, Draco, Cepheus, Cygnus, Cassiopeia, (KSAM Star Light Star Bright),
point out one seasonal constellation for each date.
9. Begin with the Summer Solstice. Point out that the seasonal
constellation of Hercules can be found up and to the right of Draco’s head
at 9:00 p.m..
10. Turn the rotator on again. (Note: It takes four minutes
for one complete rotation of the cylinder. One minute between each
season.)
11. The second stop of the rotator should be on the Autumnal Equinox.
On the first day of fall the Big Dipper is right side up. A
seasonal constellation for fall is Pegasus. At 9:00 p.m., on the
first day of fall, Pegasus will be south of Cassiopeia.
12. Turn the rotator on.
13. The third stop of the rotator should be on the Winter Solstice.
A seasonal constellation for winter is Orion. Orion can be found
south of Cepheus at 9:00 p.m. on the first day of winter.
14. Turn the rotator on.
15. The fourth stop of the rotator should be on the Vernal Equinox.
A seasonal constellation for spring is Leo. At 9:00 p.m. on the first
day of spring Leo will be located south of the Big Dipper.
16. Turn the rotator on.
17. Stop the rotator where you began on the Summer Solstice.
Point out the use of the Big Dipper as a clock in the northern sky.
18. Replace the Constellation Cylinder with the Urban Starfield Cylinder.
19. Preset the cylinder on the first day of a season and see if the
students can determine the season by the position of the Big Dipper.
20. Have the students find the given seasonal constellation for that
season.
21. Turn down the projector.
22. Turn up the side lamps.
23. Have students carefully exit the StarLab.
24. Students are to keep a dipper finder for future observations.
REFERENCE:
Astronomy and More: A Comprehensive Curriculum and User’s Guide
for the STARLAB and Other Planetaria. Learning Technologies.
Jay M. Pasachoff, Contemporary Astronomy, 3rd ed. CBS College
Publishing, 1981.
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/c…tions/constellationmonth_list.html
http://www.eaglequest.com/~bondono/iconst.html
EXTENSIONS AND/OR ADAPTATIONS:
While in the StarLab, go through all the seasonal
positions of the Big Dipper again on the Urban Starfield Cylinder.
Allow students time to pick out the six circumpolar constellations along
with a seasonal constellation for a total of ten constellations.
Before exiting the StarLab, position the cylinder
to the day of instruction. As homework have students find the Big
Dipper at 9:00 p.m. in the night sky and report in the next day.
A minimum of seven constellations should have been easily found.
CONTENT BACKGROUND:
Many students have a natural love for astronomy.
Often, when great celestial viewing opportunities arise, a star chart is
not at hand. All information given is for the first day of
each season and 9:00 p.m. at night. Students can easily remember
four seasonal positions for the Big Dipper.
Beginning with the Summer Solstice (June 21),
the Big Dipper will be on its side, bowl open to the right or east.
As the earth revolves around the sun the Big Dipper will drop, down and
to the east, bowl first. On the Autumnal Equinox (September 21),
the Big Dipper is right side up. As the Big Dipper continues
to the east it will begin to rise in the sky bowl first. On
the Winter Solstice (December 21) the Big Dipper is on its side again.
This time the bowl will open to the left or west. As
the Earth continues to revolve around the sun, the Big Dipper continues
to rise bowl first, or in the direction of the bow. The Big
Dipper will move west until the constellation is up side down. On
the Vernal or Spring Equinox, the Big Dipper is up side down. As
the bowl begins to drop on its side again, the season of summer approaches.
The bowl will open to the east when June 21 and Summer Solstice returns.
APPENDIX:
Activity Sheet (dipper
finder)