Constellation Exploration

In this flex class, students will learn about the constellations in the night sky, and the stories behind them. The focus will be on animal constellations, not just from Greek mythology, but from mythology around the world!

The class is divided into five parts. Each part has a recorded presentation (from 14-18 minutes long) where I show learners the night sky, name the constellations, and tell my favorite stories about the stars. When viewing the recording, students can follow along with their homemade star wheel (very easy to make, instructions included), or just enjoy the constellations on the screen (I use a program called Stellarium to display the constellations while I talk about them).

Part 1: Winter Constellations

Part 2: Circumpolar Constellations

Part 3: Spring Constellations

Part 4: Summer Constellations

Part 5: Fall Constellations and Southern Hemisphere Constellations

Students will also be given an extension activity each week that will help them to explore the constellations in greater depth at home, and then come back to the classroom to share the results of their exploration. For instance, after viewing the recording for Week 5, students will create their own constellations with family members, complete with drawings and their own mythology, and then return to the class page to share their creations and get positive feedback from other students.