OBJECTIVES:

• Exploring myths about the constellations.
• Comparing ancient and modern uses of constellations.

VOCABULARY:

• constellation
• myth

MATERIALS:

• The Bear and the Baby  by J. R. Blueford
• Constellation Placemat
• worksheet

Students write a paragraph on a constellation.

BACKGROUND:

Constellations are groupings of stars and galaxies that we see from Earth. Constellations are apparent associations of celestial objects that can be  many light years away from Earth. Many of these objects themselves are very far from each other.

In many cultures the stories of the star arrangements vary.  Myths developed as people tried to determine what these points of light represent.  As communication between cultures increases, some of the myths are retold. some stories can be used to race its origin by the animals they 

Many are familiar with constellation of the zodiac. The zodiac is an imaginary belt in the heavens, usually between 18 degrees of the celestial equator, that encompasses the apparent paths of the principal planets of the Solar System, except for Pluto. Within this belt there are 12 constellations that are referred to as the Constellations of the Zodiac. They are used when we talk about the astrological sign we were born under. For example, if you are born at the end of January to mid February, your sign is Aquarius, the water bearer.  But there are many more constellations than just the zodiac constellations. 

Today astronomers use 88 constellations to divide the heavens into units which help us locate other objects. It also tells something of the ancient peoples who looked up into the night time sky.  The stories behind the constellations were created by "story tellers" within tribes of people.

LIST OF THE 88 CONSTELLATIONS

 

PROCEDURE:

1. Remind students that constellations are groups of stars that form a pattern.  Children see the sky as a flat object, like a ceiling.  The three dimensional concept of different distances in space needs to be explained to students.   
   
   Show students the Constellation Placemat and go over some of the arrangements that you might see in the night sky.  Students already would have seen the celestial model and the celestial globe, so this is another representation of the night sky.  
   
   
2. Early people would look into the night sky and wonder what was in "outer space." They developed stories on the groups of stars. Astronomers today use 88 constellations to divide up the heavens.  These areas contain the traditional constellation for which it is named.
   
   
3. Read "The Bear and the Baby" an animated version of the Roman myth on how Ursa Major and Ursa Minor got into the heavens.
    
4. Explain to students that the Big Dipper is part of the Ursa Major constellation.  However, the Big Dipper is not a constellation.  It is referred to as an asterism, or an arrangement within a constellation. 
   
    
5. You may use the worksheet to have the students place the star pattern on the bear on the worksheet.  Then ask students to write a short paragraph on how they think the bear got into the night time sky.

    

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