Discovery Station

Celebrating 25 Years!

  • Weather
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Contact Us!
  • Visit Us!
  • Exhibits
  • Events & Programs
    • Weekly Programs
    • Homeschool Programs
    • Science Fair
    • Summer Camp
  • Field Trips and Parties
    • Group Visits and Field Trips
    • Discovery Station Parties
  • Support Us
    • Join
    • Volunteer
    • Give
    • Taste of Vegas
  • Donate
  • About

Constellation Formation

https://discoverystation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/constellation.mp4

Overview:

This hands-on activity introduces children to the night sky. With this activity they might build the following skills:

  • fine motor skills (cutting, pushing toothpicks through marshmallows)
  • matching (constellations with cartoons, marshmallows with stars)
  • storytelling and vocabulary (making their own constellation and identifying how the object got into the night sky)

Supplies:

  • Marshmallow Constellation Guide
  • Scissor
  • Toothpicks
  • Marshmallows
  • Crayons
Marshmallow Constellation GuideDownload

Instructions:

  1. Have your child cut out the constellation cartoons along the lines of the rectangle. Set these four rectangles aside.
  2. Next your child will cut out the constellation diagrams along the lines of the rectangle.
  3. Review the constellation diagrams and explain that these are found in the night sky. Sometimes when people look at the night sky, they see pictures in the stars. Ask them if they can see any shapes by looking at the constellation diagrams. After this conversation, have them match the constellation cartoons with the constellation diagram and see if they can see the picture in the stars.
  4. Have your child choose a constellation to make.
  5. They will build their constellation using the marshmallows and toothpicks. The marshmallows represent the stars and the toothpicks are the ways to connect them. Have your child place the marshmallows on the stars and the toothpicks on the lines in between the stars. Note: for certain constellations the toothpicks may need to be broken.
  6. Once they’ve laid the marshmallows and toothpicks out on the paper, they can start constructing their constellation. Use the toothpicks to connect the marshmallows to one another. As the toothpicks and marshmallows are connected the constellation will take shape!
  7. Feel free to add-on other decorations for fun, like extra marshmallows around the constellation to make it look like a busy night sky
  8. Repeat the steps for all of the constellations!
  9. When you've completed this activity (and watched the video above), complete this Exit Ticket Survey so we can gauge your child's understanding of the materials! This is not required but your participation in the survey will qualify you for a free entry in a monthly giveaway contest! Winners will be notified each month if they win! Only one entry per child per survey will be accepted! 
  10. Please email info@discoverystation.org with photos of your participation in the activities

Further, extend the learning:

Reinforce the idea that constellations come about when you, "Connect the dots," between groups of stars to make patterns and shapes. By linking these dots with imaginary lines you make the mental image of people and animals. Ask your child what kind of constellations they would like to make animals or shapes out of! Using the crayons, they can draw their own constellation on the last page of the guide.

Books about space:

  • Zoom, Rocket, Zoom! By Margaret Mayo
  • Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes by Stuart Murphy
  • There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System by Tish Rabe
  • Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman

The Common Cents Community Building Initiative is made possible through the support of the following agencies:


Formando Constelaciones

Descripción General: Esta actividad manipulativa introduce al cielo nocturno. Con esta actividad los niños pueden desarrollar destrezas como:

  • Desarrollo motor fino (cortar, empujar palillos de dientes a través de malvaviscos)
  • Parear (constelaciones con dibujos y malvaviscos con estrellas))
  • Narración de cuentos y vocabulario (crear sus propias constelaciones e identificar como llegaron los objetos al cielo nocturno)

Materiales:

  • guía de constelaciones de malvaviscos
  • tijeras
  • palillos de diente
  • Malvaviscos
  • Crayones

Instrucciones:

  1. Haga que su hijo corte los dibujos de constelaciones a través de las líneas del rectángulo.
  2. Próximo, su hijo cortara los diagramas de constelaciones a través de las líneas del rectángulo.
  3. Revise los diagramas de constelaciones y explique que las constelaciones se pueden encontrar en el cielo durante la noche. A veces la gente ve las estrellas en el cielo y ven figuras en las mismas. Pregúntele si pueden ver diferentes formas viendo las constelaciones en el diagrama. Luego de esta conversación haga que pareen los dibujos de las constelaciones con los diagramas de las constelaciones.
  4. Haga que su hijo escoja una constelación para hacer.
  5. Ellos construirán su constelación utilizando los palillos de diente y los malvaviscos. Los malvaviscos representan las estrellas y los palillos de dientes es la forma en que se conectan. Nota: Puede que haya que romper palillos de diente para crear algunas constelaciones.
  6. Una vez que hayan puesto los malvaviscos y los palillos de diente en el papel pueden comenzar a construir su constelación. Use los malvaviscos y los palillos de dientes para conectar los malvaviscos unos con los otros hasta que la constelación tenga forma.
  7. Puede usar decoraciones adicionales como añadir malvaviscos alrededor de la constelación para que parezca un cielo estrellado.
  8. Repita los pasos para todas las constelaciones .

Extensión del Aprendizaje: Refuerce la idea de que las constelaciones surgen cuando se “conectan puntos” entre grupos de estrellas para hace patrones y formas. Al juntar estos puntos se puede crear una imagen mental de personas o animales. Pregúntele ¿Qué constelación te gustaría hacer? Utiliza los crayones para dibujar su propia constelación en la última página de la guía.

Libros Sobre el Espacio:

  • Zoom, Rocket, Zoom! By Margaret Mayo
  • Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes by Stuart Murphy
  • There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System by Tish Rabe
  • Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
  • Visit Us!
  • Exhibits
  • Events & Programs
  • About
  • Join
  • Give
« Eric Carle & Me
Paper Straw Rockets »

Contact Discovery Station

  • Email
    info@discoverystation.org
  • Phone
    301-790-0076
  • Address
    Discovery Station
    101 W. Washington Street
    Hagerstown, MD 21740
We’re Open From
Thursday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Search our Site

Visit

  • Contact Us!
  • Visit Us & Pricing!
  • News
  • About
  • Location and Parking
  • Group Visits and Field Trips
  • Discovery Station Parties
  • Explorer Cafe
  • Gift Shop

Explore

  • Exhibits
  • Events & Programs
  • Events

Join/Support

  • Join
  • Give
  • Volunteer
  • Become a Sponsor

Info

  • Inclement Weather Policy
  • Local Resources

Copyright © 2023 · Delightful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 —Discovery Station • All rights reserved.

Genesis Framework • WordPress • Log in

Click it!