6 OUR SOLAR SYSTEM IS A VERY SMALL PART OF ONE OF BILLIONS OF GALAXIES IN THE UNIVERSE

Task 1: Drawing of a constellation

Level: Primary (1.–5. Graders)

Subject: Art

Recommended age of pupils: 6–11 years old or older

Time allocated: 1-2 lessons

List of equipment needed for pairs of pupils:

Drawings of constellations (for example the Ursa Minor, the Cygnus, the Aquila, the Delphinus).
A sheet of paper with the brightest stars marked
A pencil

Description – a brief summary:

The goal of the activity is to acquaint pupils with different constellation patterns and their similarities with known shapes.

	Work content	Time	Material and equipment needed	Teacher’s activity	Pupils’ activity
Introduction to topic – motivation	What is a constellation?	10 minutes	A notebook for recording the findings, a pencil	Describes constellations, their significance for orientation in the sky. He/she manages and assesses pupils’ activities.	In the form of group work, pupils estimate the significance of the constellations
Pre-laboratory preparation	Dividing pupils into groups, motivation, formulation of the target, assessment, a worksheet.	10 minutes	A notebook for recording the findings, a pencil	Divides pupils into groups, motivation, formulates the target, introduces the assessment criteria to pupils, distributes the worksheets, and supervises pupils when working.	Presentation of constellations, they complete the worksheet with tasks, they cooperate within the group, and ask the teacher questions.
Practical (research) activity	Drawing of the constellation pattern.	20 minutes	A notebook for recording the findings, a pencil	Pays attention to pupils.	Pupils make a constellation model according to the pattern of a constellation and distances of individual stars.
Evaluation of lessons	Summary, advantages and disadvantages of constellations, presentations	5 minutes	None	Controlled discussion with pupils.	Disadvantages of orientation in the sky with the help of constellations

Description of the activity

Brief information on constellations. (10 minutes)
Equipment: a notebook, a pencil
The teacher informs pupils about constellations.
Presentation of constellations (the Great Bear – the part of the Big Dipper will suffice, Orion, Cassiopeia). (10 minutes)
Equipment: pictures of constellations, distances to the stars (for example the Great Bear, or the Big Dipper will suffice, Orion, Cassiopeia)
Making of the constellation model (65 minutes)
Pupils make a pad from polystyrene (or Plasticine) and according to a table they stick the skewers with beads into the polystyrene in the correct places (the beads are fixed to the skewers with, for example, Plasticine). Pupils then observe the constellation model from different angles. It is possible to make even bigger model, for example in the school garden
Discussion with pupils about the constellation’s model. (5 minutes)