OBJECTIVES:
Introducing and locating three constellations in the sky:
Big Dipper, Cepheus, Draco
RELATION TO ILLINOIS FRAMEWORKS:
12.F.1b Identify daily, seasonal and annual patterns related
to
the Earth’s rotation and revolution.(Science)
3.C.1a Write for a variety of purposes including description,
information, explanation, persuasion and narration.(Language
Arts)
CONTEXT:
Grade Level : 1-3
Group of 15-25 for StarLab presentation.
PREREQUISITE:
No special prior knowledge is required.
MATERIALS:
2 copies of reproducible Mystery Constellation
I copy each of reproducible Cephus, Big Dipper, and Draco
StarLab Portable Planetarium
Constellation Cylinder
Urban Starfield Cylinder
Arrow pointers
PROCEDURE:
1. Introduce the activity by asking students questions such as
:
Have you ever observed clouds and tried to pick different
figures or shapes created by the cloud formation?
Do the cloud figures look exactly like what you think they
represent?
Have you ever stared at the stars and done the same thing?
2.Distribute one copy of Mystery Constellation to each student.
Instruct students to join the stars with lines,
as in dot to dot
pictures, to create any shape or figure that they
might see.
One very simple shape, a box , is shown at the top
of the sheet.
(There are no right or wrong solutions.)
3.When students have finished have them name their figure.
4.Explain to the class that throughout history, people have
looked at the stars and used their imaginations
to form pictures-
much as the students has just done. Ask if anyone
knows what
name is given to a grouping of stars that creates
pictures.
(constellation)
5. Tell the class that you would like them to try and locate some
real constellations. Then distribute
to each student one copy
of the reproducibles; Cephus, Big Dipper,
and Draco.
6. On each star sheet, the constellation is shown in a small box
at the top of the page. Students should try
to locate that con-
stellation among the stars in the larger box.
7. When students have finished, review the correct solutions.
8. Now announce that that they will be entering the StarLab
and review all the rules and procedures.
9. Turn on the constellation cylinder after all the students are
seated.
10. Explain that you will be using a red pointer to direct their
attention to where to they need to focus their eyes. Use the
pointer to show the directions, north, south, east and west,
noting that north is always directly behind the presenter.
11. Ask the students if they can quietly locate the Big Dipper.
After a few moments point at the Big Dipper. Ask if this is correct.
Use the pointer to locate the star Polaris and show how it is directly
in line with the two stars in the bucket of the Big Dipper. At this
time also point out that Polaris begins the handle of the Little Dipper.
Point out the Little Dipper.
12. Move the pointer to the tail of Draco and up to the four stars of his head stopping at the brightest one at his snout.
13. Move the pointer and focus his or her attention to Cepheus and ask if anyone remembers the name of this constellation. At this time mention that he is a king and wears a pointed hat, showing the points that make his hat.
14. Now rotate the cylinder so students may observe how the constellations change positions around Polaris while the Earth rotates.
15. Change the StarLab cylinder to Urban Starfield and ask students to locate the previous constellations. Allow students to observe this cylinder rotating.
16. Ask the students to discuss or share what they have learned and ask them what makes the stars appear to be moving.
17. Turn up the side lamps and have students carefully exit the planetarium.
EXTENSIONS AND/OR ADAPTIONS
Students may write a sentence or paragraph using the words constellation,
Cepheus, Draco, and Big Dipper.
CONTENT BACKGROUND
Five thousand years ago simple shepherds were familiar with the heavens.
They knew the stars and constellations. These pictures are still in the
sky and can be found today. One of the most familiar is the Big Dipper.
It is a group of seven stars. It looks like a dipper with a bowl and a
handle. Around the Big Dipper is a group of stars known as the Great Bear.
The Big Dipper looks like a saddle of the bear. The Big Dipper is part
of the constellation Great Bear.The Big Dipper helps us find Polaris, the
Pole Star or North Star because it is always north. It can
help you is you lose your way at night. It may be used as a compass. Polaris
is easy to find . It is in a direct line from the bowl end of the Big Dipper.
It is Very bright and never appears to move. The two stars in the
bowl of the Big Dipper, which point to Polaris, are called the pointers.Cepheus
was an ancient king and Cassiopeia’s husband. He is wearing a pointed hat.Draco
the dragon has a long tail and a four star head. His snout is a 2nd-mag.
Star but his other stars are very dim. His tail begins between the pointer
stars and Polaris. As the earth rotates these constellations appear to
revolve around Polaris, whose position never changes because it is over
the North Pole.
APPENDIX:
Four Star Picture Worksheets
RESOURCES:
Earth Science Activities, Level 2-3,(KSAM), Curriculum Associates,
Inc.,1997,North Billerica, MA 01862
Find the Constellations by H. A. Rey, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston,
The Riverside Press,1954,1962,1966 , Library of Congress Catalogue Card
Number 54-9051