Curated OER
Constellations
For this constellations worksheet, learners read about the different constellations and how to locate them in the night sky. Then students complete 4 multiple choice and 7 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Navigation By the North Star: A Lesson Plan in Four Parts
Students investigate why the North Star was important for navigation, how stars move across the night sky, how to locate the North Star, how to make a crude sextant, and how to determine latitude using a sextant and the North Star. They...
Curated OER
Earth Science: Create a Star Clock!
Students identify and use the starts to tell time just as people had for thousands of years. They identify the stars that appear to rise in the east and set in the west, and that those stars near the North Pole appear to go in circles...
Curated OER
Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students create an astrolabe and locate the North Star in the night sky. They determine the latitude of the North Star, and calculate an average latitude based on class results.
Curated OER
Mystery Constellations
Fourth graders predict constellations each month. In this astronomy lesson, 4th graders are presented with two constellations every month, and guess what they are as clues are given.
Curated OER
Following the North Star
Students give examples of the impacts of science and technology on the migration and settlement patterns of various groups. They draw stars
explaining how the North Star was used to give directions on the Underground Railroad.
Curated OER
How to be a Great Navigator!
Students, through teacher lecture and class discussion, explore historical methods of navigation: dead reckoning and celestial navigation.
Other
Boat Safe Kids
This is a delightful site about boats and boating. Lots of games plus a terrific overview of the history of navigation. Includes a visit to a reproduction of Columbus' Nina.
Other
Uss Constitution Museum: How to Be a Great Navigator!
In this lesson, 7th graders are shown how Great Navigators of the past stayed on course with the historical methods of navigation. The concepts of dead reckoning and celestial navigation are discussed. Using Vector Voyage students will...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Stargazing
Get started on the road to becoming an expert stargazer by following these recommendations for identifying stars, planets, and constellations. Includes an example of a journal that can be used as a record of your investigations.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Shackleton's Antarctic Odyssey: Let the North Star Tell You Where
Through this lesson, students will understand how to determine latitude and locate specific stars in the night sky. They will also have a chance to build and use an astrolabe.
Other
Denver Museum of Nature and Science:telling Time at Night Using Big Dipper [Pdf]
Students examine how to tell time by using the stars and arithmetic. Some topics explored are the Big Dipper, the North Star, and the Little Dipper.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: African American Abolitionists
Read about three African-American abolitionists who worked alone and in concert with white abolitionists. The most radical was David Walker, who was the founder of radical abolitionism.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How to Be a Great Navigator!
In this lesson, learners will learn how great navigators of the past stayed on course - that is, the historical methods of navigation. The concepts of dead reckoning and celestial navigation are discussed.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Finding Polaris
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains how to find Polaris or the North Star.
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies
Mocomi: What Is a Constellation?
Constellations are patterns formed by groups of stars. Take a look at some of the familiar constellations.