Constellation Connections
Our Beliefs and Values Reflected in the Stars
What do you see?
The lesson will begin by students "stargazing" under their tables.
Each table will have a night sky image taped to the bottom of the table. Students will be asked to spend a few minutes gazing at the stars and imaging how they could connect them to create a figure.
Students will gather as a whole group on the carpet to share what they saw. Answers will be recorded by the teacher on a large paper and set aside for further discussion later in the lesson.
What did they see?
Explain that over the years, people all over the world were curious of the night sky. They told stories to each other and even named some combinations of stars. These are called constellations.
Read the story The Biggest Pumpkin: A Tale from Africa. Before reading, remind students that the pumpkin was an important food for the people of Africa.
Questions:
Why do you think ancient people told stories about the stars?
Why were people curious about the stars?
Does anyone know why the _______ would value ________?
How did their perspective on the world affect their stories and values?
Why did they see it?
Discuss the first four examples of the Pleiades constellation, asking the probing questions below.
Break into pairs and pass out the constellation matching cards. Stress finding the main idea. Check as a whole class when complete. Constellation Matching Cards: https://docs.google.com/a/isa.nl/document/d/1LO5gHQXg1qGjc5GVXUPjOO4kCucrxygjynzRzHr5s7k/edit?usp=sharing
Complete the 3-2-1 as a reflection with a partner: 3 differences, 2 similarities, 1 word
Share ideas as a whole group.
Questions:
Does anyone know why the _______ would value ________?
TURN AND TALK: Why didn't everyone in the world have the same story?
Is any culture correct? Is any culture incorrect?
What clue helped you know?
Why did YOU see it?
Project all the values from the homework heart map. Revisit the things they saw while stargazing. Make connections between their values.
Dismiss students to their seats to imbed the photo into educreations. They will record how they connected the stars and what they saw. Students may select the original thing that they saw or another object that is very important to them and reflects their values.
As students finish they will return to their desks to begin writing a legend about how the constellation came to be or why it is so important to be placed in the stars.
Questions:
Why are our perspectives different from ancient people's?
How does your constellation display your beliefs and values?
What affects your perspective?
Conclusion
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