Having the opportunity to experience the space dome at our school, I know the children love looking at the stars and the night sky. This is how I know that they would really enjoy using the Stellarium website. First, I would introduce the students to Stellarium and explain that it is a virtual planetarium they can explore. We would start by identifying familiar constellations like the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt, using the search function to find them easily. Someone mentioned using peg boards to recreate some of the constellations so I think this is an activity that they would really enjoy too.
Next, we’d use the time-travel feature to show how the night sky changes over days and months, helping them understand the movement of stars and planets. We could also explore different locations on Earth to see how the night sky varies around the world.
To make it interactive, students could take turns using the controls to zoom in on planets, moons, and other celestial objects. We’d discuss interesting facts about these objects as we explore. Finally, students could draw their favorite constellations or celestial bodies, reinforcing what they’ve learned.