Astronomy

Constellations

Objective:

To introduce the concept of constellations

Activities:

• Class or group discussion about what a constellation is
• Showing drawings of a few constellations
• Having each child complete a dot-to-dot paper of two constellations

Materials:

For each student:

• worksheets (one copy of each included in this packet)
• Dot-to-dot worksheet
• Make Your Own Constellation worksheet
• pencil, crayon or marker

For lesson:

• pictures of constellations 

Procedure:

1. Explain that constellations are groups of stars that can be seen in the night sky. People draw imaginary lines between the stars to make pictures of animals, people or things. Each picture is a constellation. Some of the more famous constellations are The Big Dipper and Orion, the Hunter (or name the constellations you have pictures of). Show the children pictures or drawings of constellations.

2. You can continue by saying that there are many constellations in the sky, but you can't see all of them at once. Which constellations you will see depends on the time of year, time of night and where you are on the Earth.

3. The students can complete the dot-to-dot worksheet of The Little Dipper and Draco the Dragon, two constellations that can be found in our sky.

4. The students can complete the Make Your Own Constellation worksheet.