Place a picture of a constellation on the bulletin board erased,
Label it "Mystery Constellation" . Leave it up for a couple
of days to create interest. (Use constellations that are in the night
sky at the time of the year, fall, winter, etc.)
After you feel enough interest has been generated, explain what your
intentions are. (Two a month, map them etc.)
Review what they know about constellations. Add anything you feel is necessary.
Have children guess the name of the constellation. Write the names on
the board as they are given.
Tell a story about the constellation you have chosen.
Ask again if children know what it is. Give more facts if necessary.
(Name major stars...)
Tell or read the story, "How the Stars Came To Be."
Review North star, its location, why is is important, other names for it.
Extension
Have children locate the "Mystery Constellation" on a star
map or illustrate it with black construction paper and star stickers.
*Science Center
Stardust
To make star dust: fill 3/4 of a baby food jar with corn syrup; add
water and food coloring to bring the liquid to the top; add star
shaped sequins or bits of foil; and glue the lid on top; or use
masking tape to keep the lid on. Makes a wonderful addition to your
science table.
Have the children cut the bread into star shapes. You can toast the
bread first. Have the children spread jam on their stars. They can
choose strawberry jam for a cool star, orange maramalade for an
average stars, or grape jelly for the hottest star.
Information on the colors: Tasty Stars: Explain to the children that
stars are buring hot. Scientists can tell how hot a star is by its
color. The coolest starts are red. Orange,yellow and greenish stars
are hotter. White starts are even hotter, and blue stars are the hottest.
*Other Sites
Need to find the constellations for your area. The University of
Michigan site has list of the constellations for the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres . This list is furthered divided into
circumpolar and seasonal constellations. Some constellations never
rise nor set, and they are called circumpolar. All the rest are
divided into seasonal constellations. Which constellations will be
circumpolar and which seasonal depends on your latitude.
The
Solar System Mobile is composed of the 9 planets plus the sun.
Print out and assemble the mobile diagram.
*Downloads
Space Calendar
Need: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Print a calendar page for each month of this New Millennium Calendar.
There are special days that include suggested experiments, crafts and
recipes, and links for different science facts and activities.
Print, color, and assemble a complete ALIEN
Village: 8 aliens houses, a space port, a transporter, 2 weird
space plants, 6 aliens and 3 robots. Plus you can make 5 different 3D
space ships.
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