Topic:

4th

Lesson #

Physical Attributes of Stars

15

Date:__________

Standard:
S4E1. Students will compare and contrast the physical attributes of stars, star patterns, and planets.
a. Recognize the physical attributes of stars in the night sky such as number, size, color and patterns.

Essential Question:
How can I describe stars? How can I create a code to make a constellation?
Vocabulary:
Stars

color

Materials:
size

number

Constellations

--Night Sky Images PPT

--Star Vocabulary Organizer
--Orion Constellation Model Instructions
--Orion Star Distances Graph Instructions
--basketball and ball
--printed Orion and Graph pages from instruction files

Instruction:
1. Begin by playing the song, Im a Star. After playing the song read the beginning of Glow in the Dark Constellations.
Now pass out the vocabulary organizer for STARS! Be sure to address the fact that our sun is a star and that what students
see in the night sky at home is just a fraction of the number of stars out there!
2. Now tell students that they are going to use Star Chart to explore outer space. Show them how it works on the Smart
Board and tell them that they may use this to help complete their vocabulary organizer. Students will explore using the
app.
3. Show students a picture of the Big Dipper constellation. Explain to students that today they will begin coding a
Constellation! Students will be given large poster papers that have pre-drawn constellations. Students will then learn how
to use the turning feature to make their Sprk+ turn to each star in the constellation.
4. Students will then begin creating their own codes. Students will need to record what Ipad they used because they most
likely wont have time to complete the challenge today. Students will record what Ipad they used on Lino or an index card.
Day 2:
1. Students will continue building their constellation code. Once students have proven that their code can go to each
star students will PAINT Constellations.
2. Let students dip their Sprk+ into paint and then place it on a blank sheet of paper. Students will then turn their
code on and to draw the constellation they coded!

Summarizer/Assessment:
Share their push-pin constellations
with one another (trade them).

Lab Safety Precautions:

Be aware of student allergies before taking classes outside. Students should
exercise extreme caution when using pushpins to create holes in cardstock.
Classroom Teacher Connections:
If you dont have time for all of the activities above, pass them on to the
classroom teacher!
Teacher Notes:
Star chart thats zoom-able:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Star_Chart.jpg Orion
Activities from: http://mrscienceut.net/2010ConstellationWorkbook.pdf

Science Lab Lesson Plan