Star Stories

Introducing Dr. Will

Learn how Dr. Will's early exposure to science fiction lead to questions and curiosity about space, and ultimately to a career in astronomy and education.

Bring Constellations Into Your Class

Follow along with Dr. Will and bring constellations into your classroom. Then, explore the relationship between distance and brightness of stars, including our own.

Develop and Use Models 5E

Engage

Play the video Constellations: Connect the Dots in the Sky! In the video, emphasize the following:

Images in the stars are created when we play an imaginary game of connect the dots with stars.

We have evidence that humans have looked up at the night's sky and identified images in the stars going back thousands of years.
Different cultures interpreted these images in different ways.
Constellations, the name given to these images, are not the only pictures you can find in the night's sky. Constellations are simply the most popular.

Educator Note:

What is a Constellation? by NASA Space Place

A constellation is a group of stars that looks like a particular shape in the sky and has been given a name. These stars are far away from Earth. They are not connected to each other at all. Some stars in a constellation might be close while others are very far away. But, if you were to draw lines in the sky between the stars like a dot-to-dot puzzle – and use lots of imagination – the picture would look like an object, animal, or person.

Explore

Students create their own star map using the Star Map guide and materials to the right. Once students develop their star map, each student will name their star map and write a story, which will mimic the names of and stories behind the constellations.

Sentence frames for this writing activity include:

My star map is called _________.
The story of my star map is ______.
The reason why I thought of this story is because _____________.
My star map is similar to a constellation because ___________ and it is different than a constellation because __________.

Educator Note:

Sentence frames are helpful for all students, particularly English Language Learners. Learn more about the use of sentence frames:

Why You Should Be Supporting Your English Language Learners with Sentence Frames by Edmentum (external link)

Explain

Students turn and talk (external link) to a neighbor about their star map. Ask students to identify the following:

How is your star map similar to a constellation? How is it different?
What made you choose this image and this story?

Extension: Assign constellation stories to students to read and share with their classmates. Students can share their story through a drawing, dramatic reading, or by acting out the details. Note: Educators should read selected stories in advance to ensure grade appropriateness.

Reading: Constellation Legends by Norm McCarter (external link)

Elaborate

In this step, students explore the question What is the relationship between distance, size, and brightness of stars?

Follow the Properties of Light guide to the right for this section.

By the end of this Elaborate step, students will be ready to demonstrate their learning by updating their star map with their new understandings.

Evaluate

Students return to their star map and add details to three stars.

Students will label one star as bright by coloring in the entire circle white.
Students will label one star as dim by coloring in a small portion of a circle white.
Students choose what they want to do with the third star.
Students describe the relationship between distance, size, and brightness for each of the three stars they labeled.

Educator Note:

Stars that appear bright to us on Earth can be small stars that are close or big stars that are further away. Big stars that are close are very bright and small stars that are far away are dim. These two examples represent extremes, and in between are stars of various sizes and brightness.

Meet Lisa Will

For thousands of years here on Earth, explorers have ventured into unknown lands on foot, in wagons, and by ship. So much of our knowledge of our world comes from physically visiting new locations and gaining first-hand experience.

Lisa Will, an astronomer in San Diego, knows humankind will not visit distant stars any time soon. Despite the vast distances and inaccessible nature of the stars in our galaxy, the astronomy community has amassed a tremendous knowledge of star compositions, locations, size, and movement. Astronomers complete their research light years away from the stars that they study.

Dr. Will uses the scientific understandings we have of Earth and applies those understandings to observations made of distant planets and stars. Her extensive research in her field now permits Dr. Will to spend much of her time sharing her knowledge with students at the college level and with the general public at a local San Diego planetarium.

In this activity, students will create a star map, which will mimic constellations in the night's sky. Students will then explore basic properties of light and add their new understandings to their star map.

Star Map

Materials

Dry uncooked rice (or similar material like lentils, beads, orzo pasta, beans).
Black construction paper.
White crayon or white colored pencil.

Build

Students drop a pinch of rice (approximately 20 pieces of rice) onto the black construction paper.
Students use a white crayon to circle half of the rice on the construction paper.
Students connect the circles with white lines and then give their image a name and a story through the use of their imagination.

Properties of Light

What is the relationship between distance, size, and brightness?

Material

Choose one:
- Two flashlights with similar intensities
- Two plug-in lamps with shades removed and an extension cord.
A darkened room or hallway.

Use

Ask two students to hold one flashlight each. Position the students at the front of the classroom so all students can see the flashlights

- Note: Instruct students to not shine the flashlight in the eyes of their classmates

Ask the observing students to write down their observations.

- Describe how the two lights look to you.

Ask one of the students holding the flashlight to take five steps forward (actual steps will vary depending on size of the classroom or hallway).

Ask the observing students to write down their observations.

- How did the appearance of the light change?
- Why did the appearance change?

Change the distance of the flashlights several more times to provide students multiple and varied opportunities to make observations and record their findings.

Facilitate a discussion around the relationship between distance, size and brightness of stars.

Large bright stars can appear dim if the star is far away from Earth.
Smaller dimmer stars can appear bright if the star is close to Earth.

Students will apply these concepts to their star map in the Evaluate stage.

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