Lesson Plan: Exploring the Plough (Big Dipper) through the Stars
Objective: Encourage children to explore and understand different ways of looking at the Plough constellation using inquiry-based learning.
Introduction (10 minutes)
Start with a question: “What do you know about the stars and constellations?”
Show a picture of the Plough (Big Dipper) and ask: “Have you seen this in the night sky?”
Activity 1: Observation and Inquiry (15 minutes)
Take the children outside at night or use a star chart app to find the Plough.
Ask: “What shape do you see? How does it look to you?”
Discuss how the Plough is part of the larger Ursa Major constellation.
Activity 2: Cultural Perspectives (15 minutes)
Share stories of the Plough from different cultures (e.g., “The Great Bear” in Greek mythology, “The Drinking Gourd” used by escaping slaves in the USA).
Ask: “Why do you think different cultures see different shapes and stories in the same stars?”
Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)
Encourage children to draw their own version of the Plough and create a story around it.
Ask: “How does your version compare to the ones we discussed?”
Conclusion (10 minutes)
Recap what they learned about the Plough and constellations.
Prompt them to ask more questions and explore other constellations on their own.
By encouraging observation, cultural exploration, and creativity, children engage deeply with the concept of constellations and learn that there are multiple ways to see and interpret the same stars.