Constellation

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Home : 2004 : March : 18

Constellation
By JohnV

Students enjoy making constellations in film canisters.

Go to WalMart or another store that has a photo processing service on site. Ask them for their empty 35-mm film canisters (the black are the best for this). Have
your students trace around the bottom of the canister to make a circle. They will then copy a constellation into the circle by making dots for the stars. They then tape the constellation onto the outside of the film canister with the dots facing the canister. Use a push pin to make a hole for each star through the pattern and the bottom of the film canister.
Take the pattern off the

end of the film canister and look through the film canister from the open end and the holes will make the constellation.

They can trade and quiz each other on the various constellations. You can even make or keep some to use on a test or quiz over constellations. Just number the canisters and have the students write what constellation is in each one.

Another project is a star finder called a "planisphere". Go to the URL below at DiscoverySchool.com and you will find a printable pattern and instructions.

http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/skywatch/howto/planisphere1.html

Have fun! Kids really enjoy astronomy.

John