K-6 Activities - Dudley Observatory

Objective
Star Groupings, Activity 4-6
The student should be able to demonstrate the concept that constellations are merely
imaginary star groupings that are not connected in any physical way.
Procedure 1
• As the students sit in the planetarium ask them to observe the starfield and see if
they can connect the stars to make any shapes. Have them work in pairs. Share
their findings. Pass around arrow pointers, if available.
• Put on the Constellation Cylinder and introduce the word “constellation.” Point
out a couple of the common constellations (Big Dipper, Cepheus). Ask students to
suggest ways they think these constellations got their names.
• Turn up the planetarium side lights. Divide the students into 4 or 5 groups. Ask
each group to put a series of dots on their sheet of white paper which has been
provided (do not connect yet), using the felt tip markers. Give each group a
number. That number should be put on their sheet. The group should make up a
name for their constellation. The number will serve to identify the group’s work.
• Have each group display their constellation. Have each student or group decide
what each constellation might be. Share the ideas. Discuss the variety of answers
and emphasize the concept that constellations are arbitrary configurations made
up by man.
Procedure 2
• Have the students connect the stars in any pattern to form a figure of some type.
This will be their “self-discovered” constellation.
• Have the students name their constellations. You may want them to compose a
mythical story to go with the figure.
• As a class you may want to develop an entire sky map, putting each student’s
constellation in the sky, and use a bulletin board as your universe.
Materials
• STARLAB Portable Planetarium
• Projector
• Constellation Cylinder
• Starfield Cylinder
• white paper
• markers
• arrow pointers
• clipboards (optional)
• B–61 • K–6 Activities