THE BEAR HUNT STORY

adapted by Susan M. Watkins

OBJECTIVES:

Students will review the concept of circumpolar rotation and

            revolution.

            Students will locate constellations:  Big Dipper (Ursa Major), Bootes,                                   Corona Borealis; and Polaris (North Star).  

            Students will observe how the Native American cultures perceived and

                        related to their regions in different ways.

RELATION TO MISSOURI FRAMEWORKS:

SC K-4:V.B.3.  Patterns of movement of some objects in the sky are cyclic.

SC K-4:V.B.4.  The motion and positions of objects in the solar system are

                           observable phenomena that can be explained.

SC K-4:V.B.5.   Recurring predictable movements of the Earth and moon

                         can be used to measure time.

SC K-4:V.B.     Different constellations can be seen in different seasons.

SS K-4: II.E.2.  How do a cultures characteristics influence the lives and activities

                         of its children and adults? (SS5, SS6, SS7)

                     4.  How and why do people of different cultures perceive and relate

    to their regions in different ways? (SS5, SS6, SS7)     

CONTEXT:

            Grade Level:  4

            Group of 10-15 for StarLab presentation

PREREQUISITE:

            Students will have completed a science unit on Earth's rotation and                               revolution.

            Students will have experience working with the Star Chart.

            Students will be mid-way through the Native American interdisciplinary                     unit for communication arts and social studies.

MATERIALS:

            StarLab Portable Planetarium

            Urban Starfield Cylinder

            Arrow pointers

            Tape player (if taping lesson)

PROCEDURE:

            1.  Prior to entering the StarLab, go over all safety and behavior

            expectations of students.

            2.  Once seated, turn down the dome lights; slowly turn up projection

            lights to full power.

            3.  As eyes are adjusting, review with students the past several days' lessons

            on Native American cultures and the science instruction on earth's rotation

            and revolution.  Review Star Chart studies:  location of Polaris (orient

            Student’s position in lab North)

            4.  Eyes are now adjusted, begin lesson review of location of Big Dipper

            (Ursa Major), Bootes, and Corona Borealis as learned from Star Chart

            lessons.

            5.  Tie our present day science knowledge to mystery of universe for

            Native Americans.  Explain that stories and folklore were way that

            American Indians passed along their understanding of the movement

            of celestial bodies.

            6. With projector in rotation, start telling the story of the Iroquois Tribe,

            The Great Bear Hunt [text in Staal (1988)  The New Patterns in the Sky]

            7.  At close of story, tell students the follow up activity will be making

            the Great Bear Constellation Wheel to use with their parents at night.

            8.  Give extra minutes for students to observe the movement of the

            constellations around Polaris and ask questions.  Students are given

            a worksheet to answer questions on their observations and using their

            constellation wheels upon leaving the dome.

EXTENSIONS AND/OR ADAPTATIONS:

            1.  Students make the Great Bear Constellation Wheels to use in a

            parent participation activity at home.

            2.  Students complete the Great Bear Activity Sheet

CONTENT BACKGROUND:

            The rotation of the earth on its axis causes the northern sky constellations to appear to move in a counter clockwise motion around Polaris-the North Star.  This is circumpolar rotation.  Students need to understand that the Great Bear Constellation (Ursa Major--or Big Dipper as we call it today) also appears in different parts of the sky during the seasons.  This lesson should be part of an interdisciplinary study of North American native cultures.

APPENDIX:

            Star Chart;  Bear Hunt Constellation Wheel (3 pages); Worksheet 1:  Bear Hunt  Constellation Activity.

REFERENCES:

            Staal, J.D.W. (1988) The new patterns in the sky:  myths and legends of the stars.

                        Blacksburg, Virginia:  McDonald & Woodward.

            Star Chart

            The bear hunt story. Native American mythology. Astronomy and more curriculum                     guide.