Stars and Galaxies
Activities
- It's Still Polaris (4th–8th grades)
Students observe the changing night sky over the course of an evening and record the positions of the stars as they circle Polaris. - A Leap of Space (3rd–7th grades)
Investigate how smaller systems exist within larger systems by building a collage of our place in space! - Star Scramble (8th grade – high school)
Through a fast-paced game of matching and sequencing, players discover fascinating facts about and reinforce their understanding of star life cycles. - Star Spirals (3rd–7th grades)
Create a double spiral mobile showing the stages in the lives of small- and large-mass stars. - Star Master Viewer (3rd–7th grades)
Create a StarMaster Viewer and StarCards to explore the constellations. - Star Darts (3rd–7th grades)
By creating and naming their own constellations using “StarDarts,” students learn how constellations were named and how stars can appear so close together, yet be light years apart. - Zodiac Track (3rd–9th grades)
Illustrate the constellations of the zodiac and Polaris and re-create the band of zodiac signs to reinforce understanding that Earth’s rotation and axial inclination causes the apparent progression of stars across the night sky. Explore why we see certain signs of the zodiac at certain times of the year. - Celestial Circles (3rd–9th grades)
Model Earth’s axial tilt and movement around our Sun to reinforce knowledge about the “fixed” North Star and the apparent movement of the zodiac and stars through the year. This activity is an extension to Zodiac Track.
Information
- Background on Polaris (educator)
For teachers and informal educators, this information would also be appropriate for students grades 7 and up. - Background on Galaxies (educator)
Information on our own Milky Way Galaxy and other galaxies, their structure, and origins. For teachers and informal educators, this information would also be appropriate for students grades 7 and up. - Background on Stars (educator)
For teachers and informal educators, this information would also be appropriate for students grades 7 and up. - Background on Constellations (educator)
For teachers and informal educators, this information would also be appropriate for students grades 7 and up.
Other Resources
- SkyTellers dvd and resource guide (K–8th grade)
LPI set comes with a dvd containing ten traditional Native American stories, each coupled with a science story. It also comes with a resource guide. - Books on Stars (PK–adult)
Recommended books on Polaris and other stars, with legends, information, and activities for a variety of ages. - Audio-Visual resources on Polaris
Two recommended videos on the use of Polaris by those on the underground railroad escaping slavery. - Web sites on Polaris (7th grade and up)
Recommended astronomy sites, primarily geared for teenagers and adults. - Audio-Visual resources on Galaxies (7th grade and up)
Recommended videos for teenagers and adults on galaxies and our Milky Way. - Books on Galaxies (PK–adult)
Recommended books with legends about the Milky Way and useful information about galaxies, for a broad range of ages. - Web site resources on Galaxies (7th grade and up)
Recommended sites on astronomy and galaxies, primarily geared for teenagers and adults. - Products on Galaxies and Stars (7th grade and up)
Recommended planispheres, posters, and software for studying stars and galaxies, for teenagers and adults. - Astronomy Images Web sites
Links to many different sites with beautiful astronomy images. - Dr. Walter Kiefer’s Planetary Science Web sites (all ages)
Useful Web sites about NASA and planetary science, and links to selected websites concerned with human space flight, astronomy, and science education. - More Books on Stars (PK–adult)
Additional recommended books on stars, constellations, and galaxies, with legends, information, and activities for a variety of ages. - Audio-Visual resources on Stars (K–adult)
Recommended videos on the use types and life cycles of stars. - Web sites on Stars (K–adult)
Recommended astronomy sites on stars, geared for a variety of ages. - Audio-Visual resources on Constellations (K–adult)
Recommended videos and cassettes for a variety of ages on stars and constellations. - Books on Constellations (PK–adult)
Recommended books with legends, information, and activities about stars and constellations, for a broad range of ages. - Web sites on Constellations (K–adult)
Recommended astronomy sites on stars and constellations, primarily geared for middle school up to adult audiences. - Stars and Galaxies Powerpoint (Educators)
A powerpoint developed for use in teacher workshops.
