Melissa Exler

Greenbrook Elementary School

Tuesday, February 21, 2017/ Science 12:30-1:00
Grade: 3rd

Subject/ Topic/ Activity: Students will be introduced to the concept of stars and
constellations by designing their own.

1. Standards:
5.1.4.A.3 Use scientific facts, measurements, observations, and patterns in nature to
build and critique scientific arguments

2. Objectives:
Students will design their own star constellations, which will be used later in the
week.

3. Materials:
Black paper
White chalk
Computer/ projector (PowerPoint)

4. Procedures:

Introduction:
Students will be shown a picture of the sun the sun to begin. They will be asked
what this is and what are its characteristics (huge ball of gas, makes their own
light, shine in the sky-- both in day and night etc). They will then be told that the
sun is our largest and closest star in our solar system. Teacher will show students
the size of the sun in relation to Earth but will tell students that the Earth is not
actually this close but the size is accurate.

Body:
Teacher will then ask students if they noticed anything besides the moon during
moon observations (stars). Teacher will explain that their are thousands of stars
in the sky and over thousands of years, people have noticed patterns of their
position in the sky. Teacher will show that a group of stars in a fixed formation
(meaning they do not change spots) is called a constellation and that we have
hundreds of them. People have grouped and named these star constellations.
Teacher will then show a couple of pictures of different constellations we have in
the night sky. Teacher will tell a short story of the Orion constellation and why it
was named that.
Closing:
Students will return to their desks and make their own constellations using black
paper and chalk. They may draw as many or as little amount of stars in their
constellation that they would like. Students will then be instructed to put their
names on the back of their constellation.
If students finish their constellation early, they will be instructed to write a story
about their constellation. They will be asked: why did you draw it that way, what
does it represent, and what is its story

5. Assessment:
Students will create their own constellation using black paper and chalk. All students
will complete their assignment as it will used sometime in the week.

6. Management Issues, Transitions, and Differentiation:

Students will start the lesson off by sitting on the rug. Teacher will show students a
PowerPoint of pictures and words to help introduce stars and constellations. Students
will then be given black paper and white chalk and go back to their desks and design
their own constellation after they have been shown a couple of examples of what they
might look at it. Students will also be instructed to write a story about their constellation
if they finish early.