Lesson 1: The Message of the Constellations
Content Objective
• Students will be able to describe how the constellations have myths attached to them.
NETS
• Students create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
• Students apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
Motivation Activity: The Big and Little Dipper
Students review the interactive website found at http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM
Informational Activity: History of the Constellations
Students review the history of the constellations found at http://www.eaaa.net/strstory.htm
Orientation-Application Activity: A Comparison of Iroquois Legend & the UR Slaves
1. Students read the legend - http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/spiritsong/IroquoisBigDipper.html
2. Create a Venn diagram of this legend and what you know of the Big Dipper using the Interactive Venn Diagram found @ http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/venn/
Application-Evaluation Activity: Create Your Constellation
1. For this assignment, students make their own constellation legends. See http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-constellations/ for directions.
2. Download the Star chart and ask students to complete it following the directions.
3. Students create a simple PowerPoint presentation to describe their constellations. They need to scan in or take a photograph of the constellation drawn.
The Use of PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint is possible for users without specialized training to create and project colorful and animated visuals. Students can use templates to produce very professional looking presentations (Newby et al., 2006, p. 122).
Newby, T. J., Stepich, D. A., Lehman, J. D., & Russell, J. D. (2006). Educational technology for teaching and learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, In
Lesson Assessments
Project Assessment - Venn Diagram
Students’ Venn Diagrams are evaluated using the Venn Diagram Rubric.
venn_diagram_rubric.pdf | |
File Size: | 44 kb |
File Type: |
Project Assessment - Constellation PowerPoint
Students’ Constellation PowerPoints are assessed with the checklist, PBL Multimedia Presentation Checklist, found @ http://pblchecklist.4teachers.org/view.php3?id=260134
Student Evaluation of the Lesson
To evaluate instruction, students complete the survey about the constellations lesson found at http://www.polldaddy.com/s/ECE343D617485FF2/