Lesson Plan: The Stars and Constellations
Grade Level: 5th Grade
Subject: Science
Duration: 90 minutes
Learning Objective: Students will be able to identify major
stars and constellations in the night sky, describe their
characteristics, and understand their significance in
astronomy and ancient cultures.
Materials Needed:
Star charts (printed copies for each student)
Access to a computer or tablet with internet connection
Projector and screen for showing videos and images
Blank paper and colored pencils/markers
Classroom globe or a planetarium software (if available)
Worksheets for constellation activity
Glow-in-the-dark star stickers (optional)
Standards Alignment:
State Standards for Science 5.1: The Earth and the Solar
System
State Standards for Science 5.3: Matter, Energy, and
Organisms
Lesson Structure:
1. Introduction (15 minutes)
Begin with a captivating question: "What do you think is
up in the night sky?" Allow students to share their
thoughts.
Show a brief video (3-5 minutes) that highlights the
beauty of the night sky, featuring different stars and
constellations.
After the video, ask students to share their observations.
Prompt them with questions such as:
o "What did you notice about the stars?"
o "Do you recognize any of the constellations?"
2. Direct Instruction (20 minutes)
Present a mini-lecture about stars and constellations.
Use engaging visuals, like images of well-known
constellations (e.g., Ursa Major, Orion).
Discuss the characteristics of stars, including their color,
temperature, and brightness. Emphasize the concept of
light years and how we see stars as they were in the
past.
Explain the significance of constellations in different
cultures (e.g., Greek mythology, navigation in ancient
times).
Use a globe or planetarium software to simulate viewing
constellations from different hemispheres.
3. Guided Practice (20 minutes)
Distribute star charts to each student. Explain how to
read them, including:
o Finding the North Star
o Identifying major constellations and stars
o Understanding star brightness and how it’s
represented on charts
Conduct a hands-on activity: Activity Name:
"Stargazing Simulation"
o Split students into pairs and hand out star charts.
o Have them "stargaze" using flashlights in a
darkened corner of the classroom. They should aim
the flashlights at the star chart to match the stars
they see with those on the chart.
o Encourage them to mark at least three
constellations they recognized on their chart and jot
down a fun fact about each one.
4. Independent Practice (25 minutes)
Activity Name: "Create Your Own Constellation!"
o Instructions:
Give each student a blank piece of paper and
colored pencils/markers.
Ask them to create their own constellation by
connecting at least five "stars" (dots) on their
paper. They can be realistic or entirely
imaginative.
After creating their constellation, students
must write a brief story or description
explaining the constellation's name and what it
represents.
Encourage creativity! Students may use glow-in-the-dark
star stickers for their constellations.
5. Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)
Have students gather in small groups to present their
created constellations. Each student should explain the
reasoning behind their constellation’s design and
description.
Facilitate a whole-class discussion on how each student's
creation reflects their understanding of constellations
and the significance of patterns in the night sky.
6. Assessment and Closure (5 minutes)
Collect students' star charts and original constellations
for assessment.
Use an exit ticket where students must write down one
new fact they learned about stars or constellations and
one question they still have. This will provide insight into
their learning and areas of curiosity.
Differentiation Strategies:
For students needing additional support, provide a
simpler star chart or visuals with clearer labels. Partner
them with a peer for the guided practice.
For advanced students, encourage them to research less
commonly known constellations and share their findings
with the class.
Follow-Up Activity:
Encourage students to do a "home stargazing night"
where they apply their learning by observing the night
sky at home. They can keep a record of what
constellations they observe and share their findings in
the next class.
Reflection for Educators:
After the lesson, reflect on student engagement and
understanding. Consider what adjustments might
enhance clarity or interest in future lessons. Review the
exit tickets for insights into students’ grasp of the
subject matter and areas needing further discussion.
End of Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan: The Stars and Constellations
Grade Level: 5
Subject: Science
Duration: 90 minutes
Learning Objective: Students will be able to identify and
describe key constellations, their significance, and how stars
form groups to create patterns in the night sky.
Materials Needed:
Dark blue construction paper (1 sheet per student)
White chalk or gel pens
Star charts or printouts of constellations
Access to a projector for video presentations
Markers or colored pencils
Rulers
Handouts with background information on constellations
and stargazing tips
Digital resources (websites or apps about stars and
constellations)
Reflection journals (1 per student)
Standards Alignment:
NGSS 5-ESS1-1: Support an argument that differences in
the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other
stars is due to their relative distances from the Earth.
NGSS 5-ESS1-3: Analyze and interpret data to determine
scale properties of objects in the solar system.
Lesson Steps:
1. Introduction (15 minutes)
Begin by engaging students in a discussion about the
night sky. Ask questions such as:
o "What do you see in the night sky?"
o "Have you ever tried to find a particular star or
constellation?"
Show a 5-minute video clip about stars and
constellations to provide visual context and spark
interest.
Hand out the background information worksheets, which
include facts about stars, their life cycles, and the
significance of constellations in various cultures.
2. Direct Instruction (20 minutes)
Provide a direct instruction segment using a PowerPoint
presentation to outline key constellations (e.g., Orion,
Ursa Major, Cassiopeia) along with interesting
information about each (historical significance,
mythology).
Discuss the difference between stars and planets,
emphasizing that stars are fixed luminaries in the sky
forming constellations while planets move.
Introduce vocabulary: constellation, star, astronomy,
asterism.
After the presentation, ask students to turn to their
partner and share one new fact they learned from the
presentation.
3. Guided Practice: Create Your Own Constellation (30
minutes)
Activity Instructions:
o Each student will receive a sheet of dark blue
construction paper and will be creating their own
constellation using white chalk or gel pens.
o Instruct students to do the following:
1. Think Creatively: Encourage students to
create a constellation inspired by their
interests (animals, objects, etc.). Ask them to
sketch it lightly with a pencil if they prefer.
2. Draw Stars: Using chalk or gel pens, have
students draw dots or stars to represent their
chosen constellations (suggestion: use a ruler
to create straight lines to connect stars for
visual clarity).
3. Label the Stars: Once the constellation is
complete, students will write names for the
stars they created and add a short description
of the constellation’s story (why it’s named
that, or what they think it represents).
4. Share: After finishing, students will pair up
and share their created constellations and
stories with each other.
o Circulate during the activity to assist students,
prompt creativity, and encourage them to think
about patterns formed by stars.
4. Independent Practice: Stargazing and Reflection (20
minutes)
Hand out stargazing tips and select one or two
constellations for each student to try to identify by
looking at online resources or mobile apps.
Ask students to write a reflection in their journals
answering the following questions:
1. What did you learn about stars and constellations
that you didn’t know before?
2. Describe the process of creating your constellation.
What inspired you?
3. How do you think knowing about constellations
might enhance your experience of observing the
night sky?
5. Assessment (Homework and Exit Ticket) (5 minutes)
For homework, instruct students to either find one
constellation in the night sky and write a short
paragraph describing it or find a star chart online and
report back to the class the next day with one
interesting fact about their chosen constellation.
As an exit ticket, provide a small index card where
students can write their favorite part of the lesson and
one question they still have about stars or constellations.
6. Conclusion and Follow-Up (10 minutes)
Gather students for a brief share-back session based on
their exit tickets. Use this time to clarify any concepts or
answer questions that arose during the lesson.
Discuss how understanding the stars can lead to greater
interest in science, navigation, and storytelling through
myth and history.
Optionally, set up a star-gazing night for an upcoming
weekend where families are encouraged to attend and
look at the night sky together as a community activity.
Learning Assessment:
Students will be evaluated through their participation in
discussions, the thoroughness of their constellation
project, the reflection journal entry, and their exit
tickets.
The teacher will assess students’ understanding of the
lesson content through feedback on their constellations
and story descriptions.
This engaging lesson plan on stars and constellations
provides varied activities to accommodate different learning
styles while ensuring students grasp the essential aspects of
astronomy through creativity and teamwork, aligning with
the specified state standards.
