The star constellations lesson plan was developed to support the child while learning about the cosmos.
Montessori inspired activities that cover the required core subjects and are simple for working parents.
Here are 11 star lessons that meet the Washington State required homeschooling subjects:
Art Appreciation
Starry Night: Painting on Foil
Hang space themed art at child’s eye level during the week you are studying space, a week or so prior to creating the art work. We will be using:
- Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
- Starry Night and the Astronauts by Alma Thomas
Materials
- Cardboard
- Foil
- Tape
- Cotton buds (q-tips)
- Paint
- Try acrylic or add a drop of dish soap, if you do not want the paint to flake off of the foil. Not recommended with small children.
Directions:
- Prepare foil canvas by covering cardboard in foil then tape it in place on the back.
- Discuss the colors used in Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” and Alma Thomas’s “Starry Night and the Astronauts.”
- Let the child select their paint pallet.
- Use cotton bud (q-tip) as a paintbrush
A friend recently shared a painting on mirrors outside activity with me and it inspired us to take this activity outside.
Music: 5 Little Stars
(to the tune of 5 little ducks)
- 5 little stars were out one night
- Gold and silver, shiny and bright
- Up came the sun with morning’s light
- One little star winked out of sight
- 4, 3, 2…
- 1 little star was out one night
- Gold and silver, shiny and bright
- Up came the sun with morning’s light
- That little star winked out of sight
- Hello day! Goodbye night!
Health and Mindfulness
Star Jumps
- This is an easy fun exercise!
- Stand with your feet together.
- Jump up, stretching arms and legs out like a star.
- Land with feet together.
- See how quietly you can land.
- YouTube Video demonstration
Yoga Star Pose
Five pointed star pose is an expansive exercise that encourages joy and lightness of spirit. Watch this YouTube video demonstration.
- Stand with your feet parallel to one another, grounded under wrists
- Knees have a micro-bend, quads engaged.
- Drop tailbone down, lengthening lower back.
- Arms are out to either side.
- Shoulders relaxed down, do not squeeze them together.
- Chest lifts, opening the rib cage breathe.
- Keep chin level with the floor.
- Radiate outward, feeling your energy expand beyond.
Download this constellation inspired yoga poses poster!
Reading and Writing
Underground Railroad
- $14.99 – Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
- $5.58 – Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
- Folk Song available on YouTube
- Information on what the lyrics mean
Visualization
Ask children to close their eyes and visualize a starry sky at night. Talk about what they see and don’t see. What they hear. How the air feels.
One of the stars is the North Star. If you’re lost at night and want to head north, you can head in the direction of Polaris, the North Star – which appears over the North Pole.
Parents will describe the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper.
*Note: The two stars at the end of the Big Dipper point to Polaris, the North Star, which is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper.
Children will open their eyes.
Story Work 1
Explain to students that there are several characters in the story: Peg Leg Joe, Molly, James, Hattie, George, and Isaiah.
As they listen to the story, students will visualize the scenes and imagine themselves in Molly’s place. They will think about how she is feeling throughout the story.
At the end of the story say, “I’m going to reread the ending of the book. I want you to imagine that you are one of the people in Molly’s family. As we listen to the author’s words, imagine how you would feel.”
Invite the child to write down or draw their ideas and feelings.
Story Work 2
Children can study the faces of the runaway slaves as illustrated in the book and discuss all of the feelings they see on the characters’ faces.
How would have felt and what they would have done if they had been enslaved?
Science
Be sure to read the full post covering teaching star constellations at home.
Constellation 3 Part Cards
- First, we talk about the stars and the different constellations that they form.
- Name the constellations but do not expect them yet to memorize the terms.
Find the Constellations
- Use the 3 part cards in tandem with a control sheet of the night sky (star wheel disk.)
- Children will find the constellations in the sky and mark with a contrasting color or highlight.
Mathematics
Number Mats
Number mats 1, 2 and 3 are available for download. Please let me know if you need different numbers, these were primarily made for 2 years old.
Level 1
- Form numbers with play dough
- Stamp stars in the ten frame
- Count out an object and fill the night sky with the correct amount
- Use a dry erase marker to practice writing the number
Go Go Astronaut
- Make a rocketship out of Magnatiles and cans
- You can also repurpose the earth cutout from the moon unit 1.
- Use a figurine or repurpose the self-astronaut artwork from the moon unit 1.
- Write positional words inside folded pieces of paper: above the earth, below the earth, to the side of the earth, on top of the earth, underneath the earth, etc…
- Child will place the astronaut according to the positional words.
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