O

Learning to Find Your Own Star

O’s Story

The night sky is changing. O’s story gives a simple description of why and begins a conversation about urban growth, light pollution, and the night. The particular focus is on constellations which allows us to go off in any creative direction we like.

Keywords
Night, Sky, Stars, Observatory, Constellation, Look up, Make up a story, Tell a story

Lesson Ideas

Creative Writing, Reading

Every constellation tells a story. Most of the constellations that English speaking people know tell stories from Greek and Roman mythology. This would be a great time to read and teach some of those myths, and a great time to create some modern myths of our own.

First draw a constellation, the stars and dotted lines connecting them. Write the meaning of that constellation. I would choose the Big Dipper, Orion, or the Seven Sisters because I can find them in the sky if anybody asks.

Next, go out at night and look to see what stars are visible around you. Map them out on a piece of paper (activity below). Think of a new name and story for your new constellation.

Activity Sheet

Are you a creative person? I just have rough drafts for most of my activity sheets, maybe you can help me think of better designs for these.

The night sky really is changing. Many constellations we learned about in school are too difficult to see. This activity gets people outside looking at the stars. Drawing in the stars they can see- just the moon or even a cloudy sky are fine. Then we use the drawing to tell a story. What is the name of the new constellation in the sky? What does it symbolize?

If a student can only see the moon at night, they might call this new constellation ‘The Light at the End of the Tunnel’. Perhaps making a hopeful message out of it and not a train wreck. 😉