Star Walk Stargazing

Katie Risolo

Professor Moroney

Course: EDU 521

Date: April 2015

Grade: 3rd Grade

Topic: Stars and Constellations

Content Area: Science

Lesson Objectives
After exploring the e-textbook for Space, students will gain a better understanding of stars,
constellations, planets and other spacial objects through the Star Walk Application in groups of
two or three with at least 5 discoveries.
Following a mini-group activity, students will answer response questions pertaining to the
Stargazing activity on a worksheet.
At the end of the mini-group activity, the class will come together to share their discoveries and
any findings.
CCLS/+NYS Standards and Indicators
Science (NYS): Interconnectedness: Common ThemesMagnitude and Scale (E.C3.2):
Recognize that almost anything has limits on how big or small it can be.
Indicator:
This will be evident when the students discover objects in the sky at various magnitudes.
Science (NYS): Analysis, Inquiry, and DesignScientific Inquiry (E.S3.2):
Interpret organized observations and measurements, recognizing simple patterns, sequences, and
relationships. a) State, orally and in writing, any inferences or generalizations indicated by the
data collected.
Indicator:
This will be evident when the students discover objects in the sky and take note on any
observations they have, measurements indicated and any facts provided that will be noted
on the accompanying worksheet, then presented to the class.
English Language Arts (CCLS) Reading: Informational Text (RI.3.7):
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to
demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
Indicator:

Star Walk Stargazing

This will be evident when the students successfully find a star, constellation, planet or
any other object identified using the Star Walk App and accurately take notes on what it is
and facts pertaining to it.

English Language Arts (CCLS) Speaking and Listening (SL.3.4):

Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and
relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.
Indicator:
This will be evident when the student present their findings along with their group to the
class effectively and on task for the presentation.
English Language Arts (CCLS) Writing (W.3.8):
Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take
brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
Indicator:
This will be evident when the students take a screen shot of all of their findings and
evaluate the source once, both on the iPad and in print form.
ISTE NETS for Students

Creativity and Innovation

Communication and Collaboration
Research and Information Fluency
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Technology Operations and Concepts
Motivation

The teacher will begin with a Bill Nye the Science Guy episode (Season 1, Episode 19) entitled
Outer Space played on the Smart Board to start the lesson. Students will take brief notes on the
episode. After the video, the teacher will ask the students to share one word that they remember.
Then, the teacher will write the terms on the Smart Board. The teacher will discuss those most
significant to the lesson before going over the Star Walk Stargazing activity.
Materials

One handout for each student

iPads (with at least iOS 8 software)
Apple USB cords
Star Walk Application
Smart Board

Star Walk Stargazing

Computer
Printer
Markers
Construction paper
Internet
Google Earth
Learning Strategies

Teacher Demonstration: Before the activity, the teacher will demonstrate how to use the Star
Walk Application for this specific lesson.
Cooperative Learning groups: This will be evident when the students work together to discover
and analyze any findings on the Star Walk App.
Group Discussion: This will be evident when the whole class participates in a discussion
regarding each groups discoveries.
Adaptations

The student with a significant grapho-motor disability will use a voice-to-text application
for writing assignments.
The student with visual impairments will be provided with enhance images and/or
informative commentary pertaining to the activity with the Star Walk App. to meet their
specific needs.
The student who is an English language learner will be provided with content specific
vocabulary words, definitions and visual aids prior to the lesson.
The student who is an English language learner will be provided with locations of stars,
constellations, planets or any other objects in the sky.
Differentiation of Instruction

Tier 1: Students will complete the Star Walk Stargazing activity with groups no more than 3
people. Each student will be given locations of stars, constellations, planets or any other objects
in the sky for them to find and then transcribe their findings onto the given worksheet.
Tier 2 and 3: Students will complete the Star Walk Stargazing activity with groups no more than
2 people. Each student will take turns discovering stars, constellations, planets or any other
objects in the sky. They are to provide locations of their findings and then transcribe them onto
the given worksheet.
Developmental Procedures

Star Walk Stargazing

Students will participate in a whole class discussion after watching the Bill Nye the
Science Guy episode (Season 1, Episode 19) entitled Outer Space played on the Smart
Board.
(What words or phrases were important to the episode? How are these words important
in our Astronomy unit? Do any of these key vocabulary words help define another?)
Students will be broken up into groups pertaining to their tier level and go over the
handout together.
(What are some strategies you can use during the activity to ensure the group
successfully works together? Will you be able to use any information from the Bill Nye
video while conducting this activity?)
Students will go outside together as a whole class and divide into their groups. Students
will aim iPads towards the sky and explore.
(Remember to take a screen shot of your findings! Is there any part of the sky that
appears to have more stars, constellations, planets or spacial objects than another? Are
there similarities between any of your findings? What are the names of your discoveries?
Have you seen these before?)
Students will return to the classroom and upload their screen shots from the iPad to the
computer, then print them out.
(Which student will upload the screenshots? Is there any type of format best for printing
this information out?)
Students will fill out the questions on their handout to the best of their ability.
(Questions on the sheet include: What kinds of discoveries have you found using the Star
Walk App? Which facts did you find most interesting? What new information did you
learn because of this activity?)
Students will present their findings to the class.
(Are there any commonalities between any of the groups? Which constellations and stars
interested you the most? Were any of the names and words featured in the Bill Nye video
featured in the Star Walk Stargazing?)
Students will return to their desks to participate in a group discussion and to go over any
questions, comments, or concerns regarding the activity, vocabulary words and any
definitions.
(How might this activity differ at a different time of the day, the week, the month, the
year? What can this application teach us about Stars, Galaxies, the Solar System and
Space? Are there any words that need to be explained more? If so, is there anyone in the
class who can help us?)
Assessment

Students will discover and identify any stars, constellations, planets and other spacial objects
they come across using the Star Walk Application.
Students will participate in a group discussion of their findings and their significance.
Students will complete a worksheet where they will answer response questions and transcribe
their discoveries.

Star Walk Stargazing

5
Independent Practice

Following the Star Walk Stargazing activity, the students will use iPads and/or computers to
uncover the space view of their findings. The students will also explore The Attractive Spots of
the Universe and write down 3 of their favorites and a corresponding fact.
Students will be encouraged to draw their findings on construction paper using markers.
Follow-up: Direct Teacher Intervention and Academic Enrichment
Direct Teacher Intervention:

The teacher will work independently with the student who needs any technological and
academic support with the Star Walk Application.
The teacher will use Google Earth on an iPad and/or computer to supplement the Star
Walk Application with the student to help the student reinforce constellation, star, planet
and any other spacial object locations and images.
The teacher and student will, together, complete the corresponding Star Walk Stargazing
worksheet.

Academic Enrichment:

The student will draw 5 pictures of any of their findings (constellations, stars, planets and
any other spacial object) as they look on the Star Walk Application and in the sky to the
naked eye.
The student will bring their drawings to class the following day and present them to the
class, along with one fact about each discovery.

Star Walk Stargazing

Teacher References