Background

First graders have been learning all about the sun, stars, and constellations. To introduce this lesson, we investigated the intriguing question of why stars only appear at night, but not during the day. Students modeled the stars using their own constellation projectors (a flashlight shone into a cup with holes poked in the shape of the Big Dipper).  They tested what happened to the stars as the Sun rose and set.

Question to Explore

How can we depict constellations in our night sky using marshmallows and toothpicks?

Materials

• black construction paper
• marshmallows
• toothpicks
• Elmers’ glue
• white colored pencil to write the name of the constellation
• constellation image printouts

Procedure

• Pass out constellation images for students to refer to
• Students will use marshmallows and toothpicks to create a model of their constellation by piercing the marshmallow with the toothpick and glueing the marshmallows to the construction paper
• Break toothpicks in half for stars that are closer together in a constellation
• Write the name of the constellation in white colored pencil on your construction paper
• Option to draw stars in the night sky surrounding your marshmallow constellation