Gather the family for a fun night camping in your home and learning about the night sky.
Gather the family for a fun night camping in your home and learning about the night sky.
Embedded Files
Activities
Activities
North Star Constellation Cards
North Star Constellation Cards
Learn how the stars were used by travelers on the Underground Railroad to navigate to freedom while creating a beautiful card. For the card instructions, both written and video, and more information on using the north star for navigation, use the buttons below.
Flashlight Constellations
Flashlight Constellations
Create light constellations with a flashlight. Download the constellations with the button below.
Star Wheel
Star Wheel
Use the Star Wheel to help identify the constellations in the night sky. Find the star wheel and instructions below. For more information on night sky viewing see the fun facts below.
Wint-O-Green Lifesaver Science
Wint-O-Green Lifesaver Science
Discover how to make lightning in your mouth or triboluminescence, making light with friction. In a dark room or outside at night chew the Wint-O-Green lifesaver with your mouth open while holding a mirror up to your face so you can see your mouth and see the sparks you are creating while you chew. For more detailed instructions and the science behind this experiment, click on the button below.
Starry Night Mug Cake
Starry Night Mug Cake
Enjoy this quick, delicious chocolate or vanilla mug cake. For the recipe, click the button below.
Blanket Fort or Tent
Blanket Fort or Tent
Build a fort or tent with blankets and pillows! Make it as simple or elaborate as you want. Read a book, watch a movie, or just let your imagination run wild in your new fort. For ideas to get you started, click the button below.
Read-Aloud Astronaut Annie
Read-Aloud Astronaut Annie
Read along with Astronaut Anne McClain as she reads Astronaut Annie by Suzanne Slade in space.
Materials Needed
Materials Needed
Do not be afraid to improvise materials if you do not have the exact thing!
North Star Card- Half a sheet of white 12x12 scrapbook paper, 4.5x4.5 inch square of gold paper (wrapping paper works well), 4x4 inch square of blue paper, gold star, needle, gold thread, glue, tape, scissors, gel pen, 4 foam dots (optional)
Flashlight constellations -fashlight constellation card, flashlight, tape (optional)
Star Wheel - star chart (2 pieces); scissors, tape
Wint-O-Green Lifesaver Science - Wint-O-Green Lifesaver and mirror
Starry Night Mug Cake snack - mug or glass jar, microwave or oven, flour, sugar, vanilla, milk or water, oil, cocoa powder or sprinkles (optional)
Fun Facts
Fun Facts
Get some tips on how to reduce light pollution and watch a short documentary about the effects of light pollution from the International Dark-Sky Association!
Contribute to some citizen science or take a virtual tour of the night sky with the International Dark_Sky Association!
Learn more about the night sky with these activities from the National Park Service!
Try some activities about the sun, moon, and other parts of the night sky with these activities from PBS!
Night Sky Videos
Night Sky Videos
Illinois State Museum Geology Space Collection
Illinois State Museum Geology Space Collection
Join Geology Curator Melissa Pardi for an up-close look at some of the objects in the Museum's Geology Space Collection.
Ask an Astronomer Program
Ask an Astronomer Program
Join John Martin Professor of Astronomy at the University of Illinois-Springfield as we learn about the night sky.
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