To Teach The Stars Network

To Improve the Astronomy in Schools

To Arrange a Workshop

Dr. Larry Krumenaker

larryk@ToTeachTheStars.Net

Phone: 404 702 8147

www.ToTeachTheStars.net

Fax: 404 393 7037

3605 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 240-203, Marietta, GA  30066-3068
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DeKalb 4th Grade Teachers Star Patterns Workshop Outline  (45 minutes)

November 13, 2009

  1. Pretest – 3 Questions via Powerpoint on how we see star patterns
  2.  3 Pieces of Data Exercise
            Examine photo and pick a star but be sure nobody else has your star.
            Show us your star without pointing.
            Enough examples are given until a pattern emerges—we use brightness, color and patterns to identify an object in the sky.
  1.  Location – We’ll start with patterns
            Make a Constellation Exercise using provided star field handout
                        Must have a name or identification (and a story if possible)
                                    Conclusion: Constellations are not real, they are constructed by
                                    our own minds and societies.
  1. Some sample constellations, easy to find and up this time of year (Orion, Pegasus, Summer Triangle) using identification worksheets, one powerpoint slide of Orion
  2. Using a Blank chart for tonight, find the ones we talked about.  (Teachers use a blank chart of their own and then point with laser on the screen).
  3. How to Use a Star Chart – The next method of finding objects in the sky is Altitude and Azimuth (direction).
            Identification of Altitude and Azimuth on the charts
            Practice using the charts for seeing in different directions
  1.  Show a  blank chart one month later – What do you see happens (Stars shift (but not so much in the north))  Why?
  2.  Earth Revolution Exercise –
            Zodiac constellations are identified and cards with them are placed around a light bulb that represents the Sun.  Holding an earth soft-globe, we move the earth around the Sun and see which constellations we can see (we also use wall hanging objects to provide a similar analogy).  We see that a zodiac constellation is always hidden by the Sun. (When possible we do this kinesthestically)
  1. Zodiac exercise – When IS the Sun in a zodiac constellation?
                  Dates in the Paper?
                  People put birthdates and names and their “Sun Sign” (we define this first) on a piece of paper and roll it into a ball and put it into a hat/container.
                  Teachers pick a ball of paper out of the hat/container.  
            A chart of the real dates of the Sun in each constellation is shown, people check to see if the paper has the correct sign for that date. An                                       amusing time is had by all :)
  1.  The relevant GPS (and a mistake in them) would be shown and discussed

 Other things that would be added in a 90 minute session:

  • We would go through revolution and rotation kinesthestically.
  • We would create angular measuring tools using “body parts”.  If possible we would go outside and measure an object in the sky.
  • Iridium satellites and a website would be used to give an exercise in finding altitude and azimuth.
  • We would return to Orion and Taurus images to discuss stellar evolution and show objects that represent the different stages.
  • Post-test

 
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