Objective:

The students will write a story about a star constellation they have developed (in the Art Lesson).

Materials

• A book containing information on the constellations and how people have given them names.  Our Stars by Anne Rockwell or Stars by Jennifer Dussling are good choices.  If these books are not available use the following link for information on the mythology of constellations http://www.dibonsmith.com/constel.htm. Or for easier to view constellations with just the simple name use this link http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3645/telescope/Stars.html.

• The constellation the students have developed in the Art Lesson.  If these lessons are not to be combined, allow the students to draw their own constellation on a piece of black paper with white crayon.

• Paper and writing utensils.

Procedure

1. Read the chosen book or review some of the constellations and their names with the students at one of the above mentioned sites.

2. Discuss how constellations are groupings of stars which have been given a name.  Some of these constellations have stories behind their names.

3. The students should write a story about the constellations they have developed.  What's the name of it?  What is the story behind the constellation?  The depth of the writings will depend on the age of the students.

4. Allow the students to share their constellation and it's accompanying story with the class.  Display these around the classroom or in the hallway.

Other Lesson Ideas

1. Read a book containing a legend about how the stars got in the sky, such as How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend by Jerrie Oughton or Coyote Places the Stars by Harriet Peck Taylor.  Have a lesson on what a legend is, and if appropriate, have the students write their own fictional stories for how the stars were placed in the sky.

2. Have the students complete the story starter, "One night I saw a shooting star and wished for..."

3. Have a phonics lesson on the st- blend.