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Questions to ask and things to consider:

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Questions to ask and things to consider:

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What resources do I have to work with from the collection phase? What is my plan for instructional delivery? How am I choosing my instructional method? How do these resources fit into this plan? How am I supporting diverse student needs? Are there multiple access points for engagement? Are students offered choice anywhere in this lesson? How can I make sure they experience productive struggle? Where will I need to intentionally make teacher moves?

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Questions to ask and things to consider:

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What resources in my curriculum are useful here? What is missing from my curriculum resources? Where can I find resources to support the curriculum I already have? Do I need to develop this lesson using resources outside of my curriculum? Where can I make connections to other subject areas and find the resources to do so?

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Questions to ask and things to consider:

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Questions to ask and things to consider:

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What will be my focus standard or standards? What cross-curricular connections could I make here? What is the objective or what are the objectives of my lesson? What do students need before coming into this lesson?

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Focus on Week 1 reading comprehension standard (ELA.1.R.3.3- Compare and contrast two texts on the same topic. )

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SC.1.E.5.1 |  Observe and discuss that there are more stars in the sky than anyone can easily count, and that they are not scattered evenly in the sky.

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On Constellations- shapes connection

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A group of stars is called a constellation. The shape seems to form a picture. Here are four constellations. Have you seen them in the night sky? Scorpius is one of the brightest constellations in the sky. It looks like…

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Estimate the length of an object to the nearest inch. Measure the length of an object to the nearest inch or centimeter. (1.M.1.1)

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This has some good ideas, although not all applies to the stars focus science standard.

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Have you been muddling through the Next Gen Science Standards this year? I'm not going to lie: they can be a little difficult to understand...but I love a lot of the new content for first grade! My favorite addition is sun, moon and stars! This content meshes perfectly with my i ntegrated science unit on weather and has made this already popular unit an even better 6 week unit! Here's a look at some of the activities from this Sun + Moon + Stars Mini Unit.

Anchor Charts

Anchor charts are a HUGE part of learning new content for young learners. My firsties use our anchor charts all. the. time. I especially love finding ways to make each anchor chart unique by using coordinating colors or shapes so that it's easy to remember and easy to find in our room.

Each anchor chart can be printed and posted around the room...

Or you can fill it out on your Smart Board if you're short on space!

Sun Science

One of my favorite science experiments in first grade is our shadow experiment. You can read about it in detail here, but the look on my firsties' faces when they see their shadow change is priceless every single year!

Moon Science

Brand new to the weather unit this year is phases of the moon! After charting our learning about the moon, we sequence the phases of the moon using the interactive powerpoint from the mini-unit...

Then, we work at stations to sequence moon phases using the sequencing cards.

And later we work independently to sequence the cycle of the moon!

Stars Science

The last part of this mini-unit is all about stars! I love tying in some literacy by reading Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star with this study. It's a simple nursery rhyme, but perfect for deepening our discussion on stars with questions like, Why does the author say stars are like diamonds in the sky?
Then, during our science time we research facts about stars and chart our learning on stars in a can-have-are chart.

The next day, we use the slideshow from the unit (seen in the youtube video earlier) to talk about 5 famous constellations, what they look like and how they got their constellation. Then, for a STEM connection, we work in productive groups to build our own constellations with marshmallows and toothpicks. The groups name their constellations and tell the story of how it landed in the sky!

This STEM challenge can be found separately here. or with the rest of the activities and plans in this Sun + Moon + Stars Mini Unit!

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Have you been muddling through the Next Gen Science Standards this year? I'm not going to lie: they can be a little difficult to understand...but I love a lot of the new content for first grade! My favorite addition is sun, moon and stars!

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Students could measure from one marshmallow to another and estimate to the nearest inch or centimeter.

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7 Moon Activities for Kids: Phases of the Moon

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Nov 30, 2018 - Learn about the night sky with these great kids books about the stars and make marshmallow constellations -- a fun Astronomy activity for kids!

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Introduce the topic of stars in the text “Too Many Stars to Count”. Introduce the concept of constellations through pictures as a whole group. Preview the following vocabulary terms: Constellation, Distance, and Polaris

Explain they are going to read and compare two texts, “Connect the Dots” and “Shapes in the Stars”. Post these two stories on the projector for students to follow along and view the pictures.

Explain the comparison and contrasting assignment to the students. They will be working in groups to turn and talk about the similarities and differences of the two texts. The teacher may have to make a sentence stem chart to put in front of the class to help them start their comparisons.

Explain to students they are going to use their knowledge of a constellation to create their own constellations or copy one from a picture. Students will use toothpicks and marshmallows to create their constellation as a group. They will then name it and explain how it landed in the sky.

Explain to students that they can measure from one point of a constellation to the next. The students will be measuring their own constellations in their group.

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Students will partner up with a group. The students will be given the text, “Connect the Dots” and "Shapes in the Stars". Students will compare and contrast the two texts using sticky notes or a graphic organizer. The teacher will divide a piece of chart paper into halves. Place these ideas on the left side of the chart labeled, “Connect the Dots”.

With the same partners, the students will listen to the teacher read “Shapes in the Stars” and will turn and talk with their partner about what they noticed about this text. The students will share with the class their ideas. The teacher will place these ideas on the right side of the chart paper labeled “Shapes in the Stars”.

After this activity, students will get into groups of 3-4 and create their own constellations out of marshmallows and toothpicks. The group will receive 6 pictures of simple constellations that they can copy if they cannot think of one on their own. There also will be dotted paper for students who would rather draw one or use an online geoboard. The group will come up with a name and write on their “Constellation Birth Certificate” how their constellation was born.

They will then measure the points of their constellations and place the measurement on the birth certificate of their constellation. Each person in the group will get to measure one time.

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The students will come back together and share their constellation creations with the class. Each group will present their constellation and what they had named it. Students who drew a constellation can show theirs on the document camera.

The teacher will review the two texts and what the students had noticed on each story. As a class, the students will then discuss the similarities and differences of the two texts and place the sticky notes on a T-chart.

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What do I have? What is missing? How am I supporting diverse student needs? Are their multiple access points for engagement?

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What am I going to use/not use? What do I need to adjust? What is my plan for implementation with the materials? Are these materials and my instructional design meeting all students' needs?

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Access to Instruction

Students will need varying levels of support for this lesson.

The reading will be posted on the projector so all students can access the text.

Students will have access to a Venn Diagram or a T chart and sticky notes to compare their thoughts on the two texts.

Multilingual learners will receive sentence stems for comparing and contrasting the two texts.

The students will have an audio version of the text in the media center of the classroom if they need to hear it again.

The teacher will walk around and check for understanding while the students are working.

Students have been given a choice to create a constellation out of toothpicks and marshmallows, draw the constellation, or use an online geoboard.

Extreme struggling learners can use pipe cleaners and star beads to create a constellation with the help of the pictures. Teacher may have to assist.

Extreme struggling learners can be given two pictures to compare and contrast instead of the text.

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Geoboard by The Math Learning Center

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Geoboard is a tool for mathematical exploration. Stretch bands around the pegs to form line segments and polygons, and make discoveries about perimeter, area, angles, congruence, fractions, and more.

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Pictures of constellations the students can use if they need help creating one.

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Apr 22, 2020 - Share a star-gazing session with your little astronomer! This constellation chart is full of fun stories about the different groups of stars.  Print out these free constellation cards for kids and have a blast with these constellation activities.

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Materials included in stars kit: Marshmallows, toothpicks, directions, black construction paper for the night sky, and a building guide.

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Constellation Creation and Measurement for Extreme Struggling Learners

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Constellation Creation and Measurement for Extreme Struggling Learners

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Students could connect dots following the alphabet and then measure the distance between the dots.

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Calling all space lovers! Whether you enjoy star-gazing on a clear summer night or are in planning mode for an upcoming solar system unit or astronomy study, this hands-on STEM activity will help your kids learn about constellations, stars, and the patterns stars form in the night sky! Using a few simple manipulatives, your child will enjoy this fun, constellation activity - Pipe Cleaner Constellations with preschool, pre k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade science students.

Constellation Activity

After exploring about constellations for kids through books and websites, allow your kiddos to build a few popular constellations with pipe cleaners and beads! This pipe cleaner constellations STEM activity is such a simple and fun engineering and science activity the kids will love. And because it is hands-on and involves critical thinking and many other skills, I am hoping it'll help your child remember the constellations in the sky for when they are out star-gazing at night.

This is a fun, hands on science activity for preschoolers, kindergarteners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students.

Pipe Cleaner Constellations

Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler this is such a cute, clever science project that makes a perfect addition to your astronomy for kids or solar system for kids unit. Hands on learning activities are always a great way to keep kids engaged and help them retain what they've learned. This educational activity is great for science centers, summer learning, school at home, summer camps, and more.

Constellation Stem Activity

To try this fun, hands on constellation activities you only need a few simple supplies:

Start out by grabbing the constellation flashcards (click link) and scroll to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> Download <<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save the freebie and print the constellations flashcards.

Provide your child with several pipe cleaners and beads. We used some star beads found at the Dollar Store, however, regular pony beads would work, too!

Stars Activity

With the supplies and flashcards ready, build away! We found it easiest for this stars activity to string the correct number of stars onto the pipe cleaner first and then used the flashcard to help guide us in where to bend and how to shape the pipe cleaner.

Of the three, the Ursa Minor was probably the most difficult to put together because we had to add the beads and then bend and twist the pipe cleaner to create the dipper part the correct way. If you choose more difficult constellations to create, provide more pipe cleaners and possibly some scissors to help make the correct shapes.

Astronomy for Kids

This fun hands on star activity is a great for kids to begin learning about all the different constellations in our night sky. Hopefully it will spur their natural curiosity to want to look for these constellations the next time your are camping or sitting around the campfire. And maybe they will be able to tell you what you are looking at!

Plus, don't miss these fun, engaging, and FREE constellation activities for kids!

Solar System for Kids

Did you enjoy this hands-on constellation building task? You will love these other fun, creative space themed activities:

Fun Activities for Kids

If your looking for more fun kids activities that are not necessarily solar system related, try these!

Science for Kids

Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You've GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:

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Pipe Cleaner Constellations - a Hands-on Constellation Activity

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Calling all space lovers! Whether you enjoy star-gazing on a clear summer night or are in planning mode for an upcoming solar system unit or astronomy study, this hands-on STEM activity will help your kids learn about constellations, stars, and the patterns stars form in the night sky!

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Students will be grouped according to readiness. The teacher will work with the extreme struggling learners while the other students are working in their group.
Groups will have a team leader that makes sure all directions are followed and all activities are being completed.

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The teacher will let the students compare and contrast the two texts without interference or correction.
The teacher will allow the students to complete the constellations without modeling and let them use their creativity.

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Geoboard by The Math Learning Center

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Geoboard is a tool for mathematical exploration. Stretch bands around the pegs to form line segments and polygons, and make discoveries about perimeter, area, angles, congruence, fractions, and more.

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If student needs enrichment on the lesson, or is an advanced group, they will need to make an inference about the following question.
Students will be given a paper to write this on during their group time.
"If there are so many stars in the night sky that shine, why is the night sky so dark?"

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This sheet is the writing space for students who are making inferences about the question, "If there are so many stars in the night sky that shine, why is it so dark?"