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ASSIGNMENT
Chose one of the options below and write a reflective piece (150 words minimum) in this forum as a reply to this post:
- Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
- Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
- Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For Example: Dúchas Folklore Commission
Also, please respond to at least one other participant’s post in this forum.
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Module 5 assignment
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Like all aspects of nature it is no wonder that that there are so many songs, poems and artworks inspired by the night sky. The sky connects us all to each other and I believe we look up to the night sky in the hope that we can find ourselves and so we can find resolutions and the answers that we are looking for. Also, we look up to the sky at night to speak to those who have left this world.
From childhood lullabys like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star are used to soothe a baby as are night sky like mobiles are hung above a baby’s cot.
Reach for the Stars is an example of a pop song that inspires you to go for it and suggests nothing is impossible.
Moon River is a classic love song about hopes and dreams.
A poem that come to mind is I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by Wordsworth.
‘Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.’
The imagery in this verse of the poem is so spectacular and vivid as you see cloud and dance in the night sky while the stars are sparkling and twinkling.
‘They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon’
This is a famous quote know by so many from the poem The Owl and the Pussy Cat.
One of the most recognised pieces of artwork about the night sky is The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh painted by him while in an asylum. Vanessa Gogh also found solace and answers in the night sky and painted the night time scene which most likely helped him in his recovery.
I’ll leave you with the following quote from Oscar Wilde – “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Don’t stop believing!!!!
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
1.Night Sky, Moon and Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyjzXCCbLY4
2.Sun, Moon and Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcUyDAO1Fk0
3.I’m a Star, The Stars Song by StoryBots (Song/Rap): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3aXb3LpWg
4A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay – speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding hope and beauty in the vastness of the night sky. The chorus repeats a line: “Cause you’re a sky, you’re a sky full of stars.”
5.The Big Sky by Kate Bush is an atmospheric and dreamy song which describes the majesty and the grandeur of the night sky. The lyrics describe the vastness of the universe, and the way stars seem to shimmer and dance in the sky.
6.Midnight Sky by Miley Cyrus is an upbeat catchy song the speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding strength and resilience in the beauty off the night sky. The lyrics repeat the phrase, “I’m gonna keep on dancing in the midnight sky.”
Poems:
1.Twas the Night Before Christmas
2.The Starlit Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins
3.Stars I Have Seen them Fall by A.E. Housman
4.Firework Night by Enid Blyton
5.Five Little Rockets Standing in a Row (Rhyme)
Art: Looking and responding:
Van Gogh: 1. Starry Night 2. Café Terrace at Night
Kandinsky – Moonlit Night
Monet – Seascape
Bonnard – Night Landscape
Elsheimer – The Flight into Egypt
Verschuier – The Great Comet of 1680 over Rotterdam
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Wow, what an incredible collection you’ve shared! The variety of songs, poems, and art that connect us with the night sky is truly inspiring.
Songs:
You’ve included a fantastic mix, from the “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay to “The Big Sky” by Kate Bush. Each song offers a unique perspective on the night sky, whether it’s finding hope, beauty, or resilience in its vastness.
Poems:
The selection of poems is wonderful, capturing the magic and wonder of the night sky. From the festive imagery in “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the serene reflections in “The Starlit Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins, these poems evoke a sense of awe and contemplation.
Art:
The artwork listed is absolutely iconic, each piece portraying the night sky in its unique style. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and “Café Terrace at Night” are mesmerising, capturing the swirling stars and also the tranquillity of night. Kandinsky, Monet, and the others you mentioned also bring a rich visual exploration of the night.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
1.Night Sky, Moon and Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyjzXCCbLY4
2.Sun, Moon and Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcUyDAO1Fk0
3.I’m a Star, The Stars Song by StoryBots (Song/Rap): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3aXb3LpWg
4.A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay – speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding hope and beauty in the vastness of the night sky. The chorus repeats the line, “Cause you’re a sky, you’re a sky full of stars.”
5.The Big Sky by Kate Bush is an atmospheric and dreamy song which speaks of the majesty and the grandeur of the night sky. The lyrics describe the vastness of the universe, and the way stars seem to shimmer and dance in the sky.
6.Midnight Sky by Miley Cyrus is an upbeat catchy song the speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding strength and resilience in the beauty off the night sky. The lyrics repeat the phrase, “I’m gonna keep on dancing in the midnight sky.”
Poems:
1.Twas the Night Before Christmas
2.The Starlit Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins
3Stars I Have Seen them Fall by A.E. Housman
4.Firework Night by Enid Blyton
5.Five Little Rockets Standing in a Row (Rhyme)
6. Won’t it be Fun on Bonfire Night By Unknown Author
Art: Looking and responding:
Van Gogh: 1. Starry Night 2. Café Terrace at Night
Kandinsky – Moonlit Night
Monet – Seascape
Bonnard – Night Landscape
Elsheimer – The Flight into Egypt
Verschuier – The Great Comet of 1680 over Rotterdam
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Hello Anne,
Thank you so much for your post. What a wonderful way with words you have-“ we look up to the night sky in the hope that we can find ourselves.”
The night sky is certainly a font of inspiration for many, and you have chosen some wonderful examples from an eclectic mix of genres.
There is a lot of potential to further engage in the theme of the night sky with young learners with prompts like those you mentioned as an opening to the activity or as a follow-on cross-curricular link to art, poetry and music. The Owl and the Pussy Cat is a classic for good reason, with its fun tale and repetition, and is a terrific choice for younger learners.
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes by the late and great Carl Sagan,
“Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. We have lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are ready at last to set sail for the stars.”
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Implementing “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” in the classroom can be an exciting and educational project. Start by introducing students to the concept of Dark Sky Places, areas committed to reducing light pollution to preserve natural nightscapes.
Step-by-Step Plan
Research Phase:Divide students into small groups and have them research Dark Sky Places around the world. Provide resources such as websites, videos, and articles.
Site Selection:Encourage each group to choose a location within the school grounds or a nearby community area that could be transformed into a Dark Sky Place.
Design and Planning:
Have students design their Dark Sky Place using posters, drawings, or digital presentations. They should include features like shielded lighting, educational signs about light pollution, and areas designated for stargazing.
Presentation:Each group presents their design to the class, explaining the benefits of reducing light pollution and how their plan helps preserve the night sky.
Implementation Proposal:Discuss ways to implement some of these ideas in real life. For example, advocating for shielded lighting around the school or organizing a stargazing night.This project not only raises awareness about light pollution but also fosters creativity, teamwork, and community engagement among students.
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I think you have suggested really useful ideas here Sarah that would get the children thinking about the topic. I like the ideas of the groups creating presentations with music, etc to show their ideas, this would really give them an opportunity to bring their ideas to life. Having seen on this module some examples of dark sky events that are held throughout the country, I think the children would really enjoy getting to plan their own event in their dark sky space. There were some really well-designed posters for events in the Mayo Dark Sky Park that caught my eye while I was doing the module. You could look and respond to these with the class and use them as inspiration to get the children thinking about what could be in their dark sky space. This activity as a whole would be a great way to draw together all of the different topics that were covered in this course and would provide great opportunities for creativity.
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Hi Sarah,
That’s a great plan. I like the choice that is included, it allows for students of different abilities and talents to get stuck in.
It would be lovely to encourage the pupils to bring their findings/ideas to other classes or to the student council and maybe even present it to the principal or request that their ideas/suggestions for a particular project be brought to the Board.
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night
I found the talk from Clodagh Doyle from the National Museum of Ireland so interesting and packed with lots of great ideas relating to Piseógs of the Night, particularly for Halloween. There are some great cross curricular links between History, Science, Geography and Gaeilge. As well as this, you could have a lot of fun with your class exploring the traditional games linked with Oiche Shamhna.
I would start by explaining that in the past, people were very in tune with nature and the changing of seasons. Celebrations took place to mark the beginning of the dark season, Samhain and the beginning of the light season, Bealtaine. These were often linked with the supernatural.
Many of the children or their families may be familiar with piseógs/traditions and stories relating to Halloween. Using some of the material from presentations, we would discuss these in class. Then, I would set the children homework to conduct an interview with a family member about this. We would decide on some sample questions as a class. Children would be given an opportunity to present their findings with their classmates.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
One could reflect on this at great length as there is such an abundance of song, poetry and art connected with the night sky. I will consider just songs and music connected with the moon. The classic pop hit Blue Moon by The Marcels in 1934 began a trend that has continued. 30 years later in 1964 Frank Sinatra sang Fly me to the Moon which was closely associated with their Apollo Mission to the moon at that time. Less than a decade later and Pink Floyd and David Bowie released not just songs but whole concept albums relating to the moon and space. The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie.
Preceding all of this we have Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and my own favorite Debussy’s Clair de Lune. Modern day classical composers are continuing to find inspiration and the moon as we see with the example of Ludovici Einaudi’s Full Moon. -
Hi Andrea. I think you love your music. I would only add one song to your list. Song to the Moon from the opera Rusalka by Dvorak. Sublime. https://youtu.be/oMGC362KszY?si=3iDQd0bAVjgWcX9O
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The night sky has long been a source of inspiration across cultures, leading to the creation of countless songs, poems, and works of art. Here are a few examples that connect us with the night sky:
### **Songs:**
1. **”Space Oddity” by David Bowie** – A haunting song about an astronaut floating in space, capturing the vastness and mystery of the cosmos.
2. **”Vincent” by Don McLean** – This song references Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Night,” blending art and music to evoke the beauty of the night sky.
3. **”Night Sky” by CHVRCHES** – A synth-pop track that metaphorically uses the night sky to explore themes of hope and longing.
4. **”Across the Universe” by The Beatles** – Lyrics like “Limitless undying love, which shines around me like a million suns” connect deeply with the imagery of the night sky.
5. **”Northern Sky” by Nick Drake** – A soft and evocative song that uses the night sky as a backdrop for themes of love and longing.### **Poems:**
1. **”Stardust” by President Michael D. Higgins** – A poem reflecting on our connection to the cosmos and the infinite possibilities held within the stars.
2. **”The Starlight Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins** – This poem marvels at the beauty and mystery of the night sky, with its “fire-folk sitting in the air.”
3. **”When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman** – Whitman contrasts the cold analysis of the night sky by an astronomer with his own experience of simply looking up and feeling connected to the universe.
4. **”Bright Star” by John Keats** – Keats expresses a desire to be as steadfast and unchanging as a star, reflecting on the timelessness of the night sky.
5. **”To the Evening Star” by William Blake** – This poem personifies the evening star as a protective and guiding presence in the night sky.### **Art:**
1. **”Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh** – Perhaps the most famous painting of the night sky, it captures the swirling, dynamic beauty of the stars above.
2. **”The Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh** – Another of van Gogh’s masterpieces, this painting depicts the reflection of the stars in the river, connecting the heavens and the earth.
3. **”The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai** – While primarily focused on the ocean, the night sky and the moon in this iconic woodblock print highlight the vastness of nature.
4. **”The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dalí** – This surrealist painting, with its melting clocks, includes a dusky sky that evokes the passage of time and the infinity of the universe.
5. **”Black Square” by Kazimir Malevich** – A more abstract connection, this work can be seen as representing the void of space, a conceptual connection to the night sky’s emptiness.### **Films:**
1. **”2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)** – Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this film uses the night sky and space as a canvas for exploring humanity’s place in the universe.
2. **”Interstellar” (2014)** – Directed by Christopher Nolan, this film explores deep space and time travel, delving into the mysteries of the night sky and our connection to it.
3. **”Contact” (1997)** – Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film portrays the search for extraterrestrial life and the awe-inspiring nature of the cosmos.
4. **”The Tree of Life” (2011)** – Directed by Terrence Malick, this film features scenes of the cosmos that evoke the vastness and beauty of the night sky.These examples show how the night sky has been a profound source of inspiration, linking humanity with the infinite and the unknown across various forms of creative expression.
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Hi Joanne,
Thanks for your post, you have put together a great list. It is only when we start putting together lists like these that we all realise the timeless, inspirational, and evocative nature of our cosmos, which we have taken for granted for so long and now risk losing sight of.It reminds me of Carl Sagan’s quote from Pale Blue Dot, “Before we invented civilization, our ancestors lived mainly in the open out under the sky. Before we devised artificial lights and atmospheric pollution and modern forms of nocturnal entertainment, we watched the stars. There were practical calendar reasons of course but there was more to it than that. Even today, the most jaded city dweller can be unexpectedly moved upon encountering a clear night sky studded with thousands of twinkling stars.”
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
I thought that the activity as described would be readily applicable in most classes in a primary school. I think the children might like to research the different priorities they would have as various stakeholders. For example, I think a senior class could get a lot of discussion out of the idea that town planners have to counterbalance the priorities of protection biodiversity through responsible use of urban lighting on the one hand with people’s safety on the other hand. A good extension of this task would be to have the children do some design work to come up with a superior type of urban lighting that leads to minimal light pollution. If children worked in groups, each with an LED torch to model a streetlight, they could work with cardboard, fabric or other materials to try and design a light that produces illumination below but that minimises light pollution going upwards. Having debated the different priorities and uses for urban lighting, this would allow the children to design a solution that aims to address all these concerns.
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night.
- This activity really appeals to me as I absolutely love looking through the Dúchas.ie website and reading through stories from the schools collection relating to where I teach and where I attended school myself.
- I think when a teacher is interested in a particular area it’s easier to instil an interest and love of such things in the children you teach.
- Last year, the school I currently teach in celebrated 125 years. It was pretty amazing to think that people attended that exact building so long ago as opposed to so many old school houses around the country just abandoned by the state to make way for new buildings.
- We asked the children to interview grandparents and elderly neighbours about their memories of school when they were young and using the stories and old photographs we published a book about the 125 years. One lady who was interviewed was 100 years old which was pretty amazing.
- The children would love to undertake a similar activity based on piseógs/tradition and if any of these stories have a connection with the night sky.
- They could use the dúchas.ie website to see if they can find relations whose stories from the 1930’s are on the website.
- This is a project that would involve school and home and I’m sure the grandparents and extended families would show an interest in the children’s findings also.
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Lora, this sounds like a fantastic way to celebrate 125 years. I also think that you are so right – if a teacher is passionate about a topic, the interest in learning just radiates. I had actually forgotten about the stories on the dúchas.ie website until today – I must go back and read a few myself!
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Hi Lora,
Thanks for sharing the duchas.ie website, wow what a wealth of knowledge!
My dad is a real old school, long time retired school principal I must hit him up for piseógs / tradition and ask if any of these stories have a connection with the night sky.
We must not forget that people have a lot to share (not everything is on the internet!)
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I like the idea of involving grandparents or cairde na scoile and asking or interviewing them for old piseógs and traditions. The collection of old stories and traditions would make a nice display and a talking point, and could be used to tie in with grandparent’s day, which I know many schools host.
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For Example: Dúchas Folklore Commission
I have a passion for Geography and History therefore projects are a must in the classroom. Projects give so much opportunity for the children to do their own research, work in teams, build confidence when presenting their projects and overall they are engaging fully in important topics.
I think that it is vital for schools in the area to regularly do projects on local traditions, folklore and stories from the past. Children love to talk and the older generation enjoy shairng their stories from times gone by. Having a selction of stories, traditions etc on file for everyone to read in years to come is really important in my eyes.
What a lovely way to integrate the subjects with the theme The Night Sky –
5th and 6th class – History project
After completing lots of work in Geog and Sci on the theme a nice way to finish it all off would be a history project – Stories from the past.
- Pupils will be asked to talk to people in the local area about the night sky and how they think it has changed over the years.
- Discuss how the use of lights has changed over the years – lamps, torches, etc.
- Look at how the lighting in our local area has changed with regard to homes and street lighting. What was the area like years ago?
Pupils will work individually, collect stories and interview the older generation in the local area. Some pupils may even want to ask granny or grandad to come in to school and answer questions from the whole class.
Big projects like this in school that involve the whole community are memorable and special for everyone.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
Working in a built up urban area may present some additional challenges to this activity however with a little imagination I feel it could be quite successful. I would begin by introducing the class to Dark Sky Spaces in Ireland and sharing images of Ireland’s dark sky areas. Prompt questions such as why would people visit a place like this? what could you see here? What animals do you think would like to live here? Etc. would allow the children to draw on their previous learning around light pollution, dark skies and biodiversity. Using Google Earth we could look at the area around our school and see if any particular place stands out as a good setting for our Dark Sky Place. Perhaps the Phoenix Park may reveal itself to be just such a place? It would be quite easy for me to arrange a class visit to the Phoenix Park and this may help students to appreciate more fully the task in hand. Allowing the students to envisage the project from different stakeholders’ perspectives is a great idea as it encourages greater empathy and allows for a wider scope of enquiry. Each group may encounter different challenges around lighting, parking, noise and disruption to neighbours and they will be encouraged to use models and maps to experiment wand come up with solutions.
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Creating a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” activity in the classroom can be an engaging way for students to learn about light pollution and its effects on the environment. This is better suited to the senior classes.
Firstly I would introduce the concept of a dark sky space and its importance. As a class we would discuss the impact of light pollution on the wildlife, human health and astronomy. To further highlight I would show examples of dark sky spaces in Ireland and show them what is visible as a result. I think it is important for pupils to have a clear visual.
After this the pupils would be divided into groups and asked to research different aspects of the dark sky space for examples community involvement, any local county council policies, wildlife, tourism and astronomy features. Each group will then have to design their own dark sky space and include the following elements and justify their reasons:
Location: where they will choose and why.
Lighting Plan: How could you reduce lighting?
Community involvement: Why is it important to involve the local community and how can you involve local community?
Wildlife Protection: What will be done to ensure the safety of local wildlife?
Astronomy: What could be done to encourage astronomy enthusiasts to the area?
Pupils will then present their findings to the class and take all feedback on board. After all of the presentations are presented, pupils will be given the opportunity to reflect on their work and see if there was anything they would do differently.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own
Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?There is massive potential to undertake a design your own sky place project within the classroom environment. When undertaking this project, it is important to follow a number of steps to ensure the children reach their full learning potential. It is important to go through the relevant terminology with the children associated with dark sky places. This is important to ensure the children have a good understanding and will all be able to contribute to their group projects. The children will be divided into mixed ability groups where they will choose dark sky places from different locations across the world. They will pick one and conduct research on their chosen place using iPads, books, news articles, images, videos and reports. Each group will then choose a suitable location to reconstruct into a Dark Sky Place. The children would make online presentations and explanational artwork displays to accompany their presentations. The groups will present to their peers before presenting to the other classes in the school. If possible I would invite the school officials for the children to explain the advantages of reducing light pollution in our local environment. The children will have come up with various practical ways on how to apply their ideas which the school officials will hopefully consider implementing.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
To connect children with the night sky, I would introduce a mix of music, poetry, and art. There are so so many to choose from, with endless integration opportunities.
- The song “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is perfect for its simplicity and charm, making it easy for kids to sing along while learning about stars.
- For poetry, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Moon” is a great choice; it’s short and evocative, capturing the magic of the moon in a way that children can appreciate.
- For art, Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” provides a captivating visual representation of the night sky, encouraging kids to see the beauty and wonder of the stars and moon.
These can all help to spark curiosity and inspire children to explore and appreciate the night sky more deeply, while providing meaningful integration.
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Hello Leanne,
Thanks for your post!You’ve come up with some great learner friendly examples in your list.
I was most impressed with the poem choice of The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson, as it would be a perfect prompt for starting an activity based on nocturnal and diurnal creatures, with his mention of a bat, “The bat that lies in bed at noon, All love to be out by the light of the moon.” And also diurnal creatures like us humans,“But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.”
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The list is endless. These are some of the ones I’ve used with Senior Infants and some videos also. There are also some more included that may be more suitable for other class levels:
Videos:
- Literacy Shed: https://www.literacyshed.com/the-sci—fi-shed.html
- Sesame Street: I don’t want to live on the Moon https://youtu.be/kIq8jLj5TzU
- Story Bots https://youtu.be/ZHAqT4hXnMw
Songs:
- Sing the song ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’ with the children drawing their attention to the words: ‘How I wonder what you are?’
- The Planet Song for Kids https://youtu.be/mQrlgH97v94
- What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong https://youtu.be/2nGKqH26xlg
- Reach for the Stars by S Club Seven https://youtu.be/50kP4S0peAs
- Constellation Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBGpA2Muyc
Stars, from Finding Neverland by Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy https://youtu.be/mG8La7PxgO8 - The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
- Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
- Starman by David Bowie https://youtu.be/rpO1U-nEgRU?si=RezxPd6y79M5QCfN; cover by Jack L https://youtu.be/xBZ034GHM4Q
- Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como https://youtu.be/_VJlHWESyLI?si=47XhnngPLstYVXQW
Art:
- Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
- Galileo’s Moon Drawings
- “Earthrise” by William Anders (Apollo 8 Mission) – Photograph
Poetry:
- Poem to listen to: He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by WB Yeats
- Humpty Dumpty Went to the Moon
- Our Earth
- Hey Diddle Diddle
- Star Light, Star Bright
SESE linked with Philosophy 4 Children
- What are stars? Can we name any stars? What do stars do? Why do we call some people Superstars?! How many stars do we think are in the night sky? Why can we see lots of stars some nights and very few on other nights?
Drama activity
- Design Your Own Dark Sky Park https://teachnet.ie/ds/pdf/design_your_own_dsp_lesson_plan.pdf
Story Box – I have a box of Night Sky/Space-themed picture books that I use also. These were compiled from existing class libraries
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
The list is endless. These are some of the ones I’ve used with Senior Infants and some videos also. There are also some more included that may be more suitable for other class levels:
Videos:
Literacy Shed: https://www.literacyshed.com/the-sci—fi-shed.html
Sesame Street: I don’t want to live on the Moon https://youtu.be/kIq8jLj5TzU
Story Bots https://youtu.be/ZHAqT4hXnMwSongs:
Sing the song ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’ with the children drawing their attention to the words: ‘How I wonder what you are?’
The Planet Song for Kids https://youtu.be/mQrlgH97v94
What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong https://youtu.be/2nGKqH26xlg
Reach for the Stars by S Club Seven https://youtu.be/50kP4S0peAs
Constellation Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBGpA2Muyc
Stars, from Finding Neverland by Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy https://youtu.be/mG8La7PxgO8
The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
Starman by David Bowie https://youtu.be/rpO1U-nEgRU?si=RezxPd6y79M5QCfN; cover by Jack L https://youtu.be/xBZ034GHM4Q
Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como https://youtu.be/_VJlHWESyLI?si=47XhnngPLstYVXQWArt:
Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Galileo’s Moon Drawings
“Earthrise” by William Anders (Apollo 8 Mission) – PhotographPoetry:
Poem to listen to: He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by WB Yeats
Humpty Dumpty Went to the Moon
Our Earth
Hey Diddle Diddle
Star Light, Star BrightSESE linked with Philosophy 4 Children
What are stars? Can we name any stars? What do stars do? Why do we call some people Superstars?! How many stars do we think are in the night sky? Why can we see lots of stars some nights and very few on other nights?Drama activity
Design Your Own Dark Sky Park https://teachnet.ie/ds/pdf/design_your_own_dsp_lesson_plan.pdfStory Box – I have a box of Night Sky/Space-themed picture books that I use also. These were compiled from existing class libraries
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Songs/Poems/Art that connect us to the night sky
Songs:
– “Space Oddity” by David Bowie. Our class were very lucky this year as they were involved in a zoom interview with the astronaut Chris Hadfield, who created a video of this song while in space. He is a really interesting man and the children were really intrigued and inspired by his life story.
– “Rocketman” by Elton John
– “Starry, Starry Night” by Don McLean
– “Golden Slumbers” by the Beatles (great cover version by Elbow also)
– “Silent Night”
– “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson
– “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
– “Counting Stars” by One Republic
– “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
I could go on forever thinking of songs that connect us to the night sky and found it very enjoyable!
Poems:
Poetry is not my strong point, so unfortunately I could not think of any poetry that connects us to the night sky. However, I have no doubt that there are a vast number of poems with this theme.
Art:
– “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
– “Café Terrace at Night” by Vincent van Gogh
As with the poetry, I drew a bit of a blank when it came to the art. I know that I have seen plenty with a theme of the night sky but to name the artist or the painting is not possible!
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Hello Katie,
Welcome to the course, and thanks for your post!
Your love of music has certainly come across in your response! You have created a great list of ideas, and as you can see, there is plenty of more inspiration here on this forum page.
What an amazing experience for your learners, connecting with Chris Hadfield-I am a big fan of his videos about life on the ISS as an educational tool.
The great thing about an assignment like this is that going forward, whenever you hear a poem or see art, you will be looking for the theme of the night sky! Of course, I am sure your learners would enjoy the chance to create a poem and art of their own, celebrating this theme as part of a cross-curricular activity.
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Ha Katie,
I was just here and getting my husband to help me come up with song titles and we have come up with almost the same list!
To add a few more …
Wish upon a star
REM – man on the moon
S club 7 – Reach for the stars (a personal favourite!)
Super man lovers – Starlight
Kids love music and I always try to include a songs no matter what the subject so was delighted to see this as an assignment.
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One painting that comes to mind is Pablo Piassco’s nocturnal painting ‘Night Fishing at Antibes’. Its one of my favourite paintings and can be found here
https://www.wikiart.org/en/pablo-picasso/night-fishing-at-antibes-1939
It centres around some people on the pier but what draws the viewers eye is the fantastic colours he used to portray the sky. The moon is visible just above the pier and the sky is lit up with shades of purple, blue and violet. Lesser known than Van Gogh’s Starry Night, I feel this shouldn’t be overlooked.
There are so many references to the night sky in songs – from nursery rhymes to more modern songs. Particular favourites would be Moon River by Andy Williams and more modern songs such as ‘Let’s see where the night goes’ by Josh Ritter. However, the list is endless really!
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STARS
Countless stars in the sky, I love to see them in the night
When they twinkle in the night, They bring to my heart, delight
Our shines, while other are shooting, Everyone holds their breath while shooting
They come out in the night and bright in the day, They steal my heart and shine bright in May
They brighten up the dark sky, That is why we find them so nice
Countless stars in the sky, I love to see them in the night
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I would start by encouraging students to brainstorm and list as many songs, poems, and pieces of art as they can think of that are inspired by the night sky. This could include classics like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” and poems like “To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. I’d play some night sky-themed songs in class, like “Starlight” by Muse or “Moondance” by Van Morrison, to set the mood and get the creative juices flowing.
We’d have a lively discussion about the themes and emotions these works evoke, and how artists use imagery of the night sky to express feelings of wonder, solitude, or romance. To make it interactive, I’d have the students create their own art, poems, or even short songs inspired by the night sky, which we could then share in a classroom gallery or performance. This activity would not only connect us with the night sky but also deepen our appreciation for how it inspires creativity across different mediums.
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Nature is a great inspiration for all kinds of art . The night sky has inspired many people over the years . As a child raised on a farm in the west of Ireland I remember in Winter walking the cows out after milking and my mother would always direct my gaze to the sky and we’d say together
Star light, Star bright ,
First star I see tonight ,
I wish I may ,I wish I might ,
Have the wish I wish tonight.
I repeated the custom with my own children though milking cows by hand had finished .
A lovely book I read with infants is the story ‘On the night you were born ‘ by Nancy Tillman . The line they particularly love is ‘The moon stayed up til morning and the Polar Bears danced’.
I recall an interview with the wonderful and talented artist Imelda May. She stated that no matter where in the world she was on tour she always stepped outside to look at the moon and in so doing felt close to her mum back in Dublin as it was the same moon she also saw.
‘Vincent ‘ by Don McClean pays tribute to the iconic painting ‘Starry Night ‘by Van Gogh . ‘Swirling clouds of violet haze’ captures the colours and evokes a sense of wonder and awe in the dark sky.
Another painting by Van Gogh called ‘Starry night over the Rhone ’emphasizes the colours of the night sky and of the artificial outdoor lighting that was new to the time. Would modern light pollution change dramatically the landscape now?.
Christy Moore sings Colm Gallagher’s song ‘The Reel in the Flickering Light’ .It is such a vividly described song that children love drawing the creatures dancing in the moon light -‘The daddy longlegs jumped up spritely, and he danced to the reel in the flickering light .
A phrase we often use is ‘Look up and see the stars ‘ when the world feels overwhelming and we need to breathe and reassess the seriousness of the situation.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night
Artwork
- Adam Elsheimer, The Flight into Egypt
- Joseph Wright of Derby, Vesuvius in Eruption
- J. M. W. Turner, Fishermen at Sea
Songs
- “Blue Ridge Mountain Sky” by The Marshall Tucker Band
- “Airplanes” by B.o.B
- “Look Up at the Stars” by Shawn Mendes
- “Watching the Night Sky” by Blaze Bayley
- “Clear Night Sky” by La Luz
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
What a wonderful topic! Here are some songs, poems, and artworks that celebrate the night sky:
Songs:
“Space Oddity” by David Bowie – A classic song about being lost in space and the vastness of the universe.
“Rocket Man” by Elton John – A poignant ballad about a astronaut’s longing for his loved one while exploring the cosmos.
“The Final Countdown” by Europe – An iconic synth-pop anthem that takes listeners on a journey through the stars.
“Starlight” by Muse – A soaring rock ballad that captures the sense of wonder and awe inspired by the night sky.
“Stardust” by The Presidents of the United States of America – A catchy indie-rock song that celebrates the magic of stardust and the infinite possibilities of the universe.
Poems:“The Star-Splitter” by Robert Frost – A beautiful poem about a farmer who gazes up at the stars and feels connected to the universe.
“The Darkling Thrush” by Thomas Hardy – A haunting poem about a thrush’s song in the darkness, symbolizing hope and renewal.
“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas – A powerful poem about embracing life and refusing to let go, with imagery inspired by the starry night sky.
“The Dark Sky” by Hafiz – A mystical poem that explores the connection between humanity and the universe, with vivid descriptions of celestial bodies.
“Stardust” by Warsan Shire – A stunning poem that weaves together themes of identity, family, and cosmic wonder.
Artworks:“The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh – A iconic painting that captures the swirling clouds and stars of a summer night in Provence.
“Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Star” by James Abbott McNeill Whistler – A dreamy nocturne that evokes the mystery and beauty of a starry night.
“Starry Night Over the Rhone” by Vincent van Gogh – Another stunning painting by Van Gogh, this one depicting a starry night sky over a tranquil river.
“Aurora Borealis” by Frederic Edwin Church – A breathtaking oil painting that captures the ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights.
“Nebulae” by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope – Stunning images of nebulae, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, that showcase the breathtaking beauty of distant stars and gas clouds.
These are just a few examples, but there are countless more songs, poems, and artworks that celebrate the night sky and our connection to it! -
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I think it would be fun and fascinating for my class to explore how artists have always been captivated and inspired by the night sky!
Looking at Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night is a must of course but he also painted the lesser known Starry Night Over the Rhone in 1888. Comparing and contrasting these two post impressionist paintings would be a very worthwhile lesson.
J.M. Turner painted Fisherman at Sea, his first oil painting, when he was only 21. This is a moonlit seascape which juxtaposes the puny warm light of the fishermen’s lamp against the vast darkness and cold moonlight of the night sky. I would introduce the style of romanticism using this example of Turner’s.
A favourite painting of mine called The Moon by Amaral hangs in The Museum of Modern Art in New York. In this contemporary painting the radiant crescent moon stands out from the rest of the nocturnal composition. I think it would be a great idea to task the children with late night homework to create their own version of this using oil pastels from the classroom!
These works of art each connect us to the night sky. Music does this very well too and I would take the opportunity to introduce the pupils in my class to David Bowie who wrote many, many songs about space! We could listen to and delve into the meaning of the lyrics in Starman and Space Oddity. His line “the stars look very different today” is fantastic material to spark discussion and ask question about the artist’s intent. Life on Mars is arguably the best pop song Bowie ever wrote and in the context of the classroom could inspire the pupils to write stories, poems and songs of their own.
Other songs to add to the classroom playlist include Elton John’s Rocket Man, Coldplay’s Sky Full of Stars, Don McLean’s Vincent and of course the age old Silent Night.
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Hi Eileen
You have some great ideas there for art and music lessons. I love your description of the Turner painting and as well as the art appreciation, it could be a nice way of looking at how our use of artificial light has intensified over time. I also love the idea of giving children pastels to create their own painting of the moon for homework based on The Moon by Amaral. That would certainly be something new and different for them. Studying the songs of David Bowie is a lovely idea for music. With all of this inspiration, I’m sure your pupils will be well prepared to create their own works of art and literature.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
As a Junior Teacher, I just love theming my fortnightly/monthly plans.
This theme of Night Sky will offer lots of cross curriucular links and integration.
The theme of Night Sky is so vast – Space, rockets, galaxies, the moon, the stars, the planets, the Milky Way,
the list is long!
Songs vary from nursery rhymes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Night Sky, Zoom Zoom Zoom We’re Going ot the Moon,
Five Little Aliens in a Flying Saucer, Star Light Star Bright First Star I See Tonight, are only to mention a few!
Other songs for older children might include Can you Feel the Love Tonight? Reach for the Stars, Sky Full of Stars.
Stories include Peace at Last, The Bedtime Bear, Goodnight Moon, Papa Please Get the Moon for Me, nCan’t you Sleep Little Bear? The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark, Night Monkey Day Monkey.
Art ideas – Starry Night Over the Rhone by Vincent van Gogh , Starry Night by Edvard Munch, Starlight Night by Georgia O’Keefe. Then there are more simple art activities for younger children – they could paint or draw or colour The Man on the Moon, day picture(made from white card on black background)/night picture (black card on white background), finger painting the sky at night, dark sky reflections onto a lake, night time picture using charcoal, dark skies with shooting stars, the moon, planets, etc. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
When we consider the beauty and majesty of the night sky, it’s no surprise that it has provided so much inspiration for so many artists in different genres over the centuries and into the present day. I am lucky to see large, dark skies in Co. Wexford and am constantly struck by their beauty. Even the act of looking up can raise the spirits and encourage us to look beyond ourselves. I always get a sense of perspective from the constellations when I think about how they are viewed from different angles by people all over the world. The night sky can create community – more important than ever.
The link below, the astronauts’ playlist, has got lots of songs with the themes of night/space/planets etc. The first clip is of Chris Hadfield singing Space Oddity on the ISS in 2013. This would provide a super prompt for activities based on space and the night sky.
https://www.space.com/11037-space-music-playlist-astronauts-wakeup.html
The second link is to poetry with the theme of space. I love the James McDonald one, One Day I’ll Be as it is based on the theme of dreams for the future and relates to that age-old question still being pondered today – “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This poem could be a very meaningful and inspiring start point for lessons that could integrate literacy, art, music, SPHE, Geography.
https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/space-poems/
One Day I’ll Be
Today at school my teacher said,
I wonder what you’ll be?
When time has passed and you’ve grown up,
And the world is yours to see.Right then and there I stood straight up,
And looked her in the face,
And said with pride and confidence,
I plan to live in space.Like pirates of so long ago,
My ship will take me far,
Around the moon and back again,
And to a distant star.So when you talk about the world,
And say it’s yours to see,
I believe I’ll have the greatest view,
Upon the cosmic sea.The third link is to art based on the themes of night sky. There is a nice alternative to The Starry Night. It is Starry Night over the Rhone which is interesting as it features reflections on the water.
https://darksky.org/news/7-pieces-of-art-inspired-by-the-night-sky/
The possibilities are endless, like the stars themselves.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
When we consider songs, poems and art based on the night sky, the list is endless. The night sky has provided so much inspiration for artists from all genres for centuries and still does today. Even the act of looking upwards can raise the spirits and encourage us to look beyond where we are. Whenever I see a sky full of stars, I think about all of the other people who must be looking at the same sight. I think the night sky creates community, something which is needed more than ever. In particular, I think the constellations provide perspective as you consider how they appear in different parts of the world to other people.
I really enjoy themed lessons in this context as you can use a piece of art, or a song, poem, rhyme, etc. as a prompt and develop individual lessons or longer term projects which can integrate so many different subjects.
This link is to lots of clips with a stars/space/planets theme including a great one of Chris Hadfield playing Space Oddity on the ISS in 2013.
https://www.space.com/11037-space-music-playlist-astronauts-wakeup.html
Another on the above list is by Arana Grande and Kid Cudi from 2021 called Just Look Up from the film Don’t Look Up which parodies the climate change crisis and is well worth a look. It could be used as a start point for so many of the activities covered in this course.
This next link is to lots of poetry for children based on a space theme. Again, so many of these could be used as prompts to encourage creative responses from pupils in composing their own poetry.
https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/space-poems/
I like this one by James McDonald, One Day I’ll Be. I think it would work so well with primary school pupils as that age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is still such an important one!
One Day I’ll Be
Today at school my teacher said,
I wonder what you’ll be?
When time has passed and you’ve grown up,
And the world is yours to see.Right then and there I stood straight up,
And looked her in the face,
And said with pride and confidence,
I plan to live in space.Like pirates of so long ago,
My ship will take me far,
Around the moon and back again,
And to a distant star.So when you talk about the world,
And say it’s yours to see,
I believe I’ll have the greatest view,
Upon the cosmic sea.This poem could be the starting point for activities based on dreams for the future and could be integrated very effectively with Art, SPHE, Geography.
This third link is to the Dark Sky International site which has a nice alternative to Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. It has Van Gogh’s Starry Night over the Rhone which features water and allows for exploration of the reflection created by the water.
https://darksky.org/news/7-pieces-of-art-inspired-by-the-night-sky/
The possibilities really are endless, as endless as the stars themselves.
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Hi Valerie,
Thank you for sharing a comprehensive list and lesson opportunities. I like the poem you have chosen also to incorporate both the night sky and dreams for the future, children could imagine being an astronaut or living in the ISS.
Starry Night from Van Gogh is also a very nice activity to link with the theme of the night sky.
Thematic planning and teaching provides for so many meaningful learning connections for children.
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Songs/Poems/Art that connect to the Night Sky
The night sky has long been a source of inspiration for songs, poems, and art. Songs like “Space Oddity” by David Bowie, “Yellow” by Coldplay, and “Starlight” by Muse capture the wonder of the cosmos.
Poems such as “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” and a “Clear Midnight” by Walt Whitman and “Stars” by Robert Frost reflect on the night sky’s beauty and mystery. John Keats’ “Bright Star” expresses eternal love and admiration for a star.
In art, Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” vividly portrays the swirling night sky over a quiet town. Similarly, “The Starry Night” by Edvard Munch explores the emotional impact of the night sky and “The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dalí, while primarily about time, the surreal nightscape plays a significant role.
Additionally, the modern digital art of Vija Celmins and the cosmic themes in the works of Yayoi Kusama further connect us to the celestial wonders.
The night sky’s vastness and mystery have a timeless allure, sparking creativity across various mediums. Whether through music, poetry, or visual art, these works invite us to ponder our place in the universe and the beauty of the stars above.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The night sky has long inspired artists, poets, and musicians, leading to a vast collection of works that connect us with its beauty and mystery. Here are some of my favourite:
Songs
“Vincent (Starry Starry Night)” by Don McLean
“Space Oddity” by David Bowie
“Rocket Man” by Elton John
“Across the Universe” by The Beatles
“Black Star” by Radiohead
“Stars” by Simply Red
“Starman” by David Bowie
“Under the Milky Way” by The ChurchPoems
“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman
“To the Evening Star” by William Blake
“Bright Star” by John Keats
“The Starlight Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
“Stars” by Robert Frost
“A Night-Piece” by William Wordsworth
“The Star” by Ann and Jane Taylor
“Look Upwards” by Ralph Waldo EmersonArt
“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
“Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh
“The Black Square” by Kazimir Malevich
“The Milky Way” by Peter Paul Rubens
“Night Hawks” by Edward Hopper
“Lovers in the Evening” by Marc Chagall
“A Nocturne” series by James McNeill Whistler
“The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador DalíThese works span various forms of expression and interpretations, illustrating how the night sky continues to captivate and inspire creativity across different mediums.
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This is a great selection Micheal, and very suitable for the senior end where they offers food for discussion, debate, contemplation, and simply appreciation.
I have just come across a new song, Outer Space by Ad Infinitum, Released in April ’24, that I think my senior classes will enjoy working with. I think the surprise (the cosmic unknown if they have not already heard it) will be to listen to the song after studying the lyrics in each station. I would play the Music Video on the IWB. Genre – symphonic metal.
Here is an extract – from Outer Space by Ad Infinitum
My satellite is floating ’round and ’round
My whole world is turning upside down
In this celestial maze, you’re my guiding light
I know that every cage has a way out
I’m feeling paralyzed
When my mind is losing control
The abyss was calling my name
I needed to lose my horizonLesson Plan
I would set up three workstation (5th / 6th Class)1 .Reading. Word Study:
Use existing language skills and knowledge to decipher text in other languages.
Progression Step J: analyses and discusses the origins of words from a range of subject areas.
children highlight words associated with outer space. They will List the words and discuss any known morphemes within them, to help decipher true meaning. They may use ICT, or a high quality Dictionary children will discover their origin and true meaning.
2. Oral Language: Information Giving, Explanation and Justification.
Analyse and select information to communicate ideas and opinions for a variety of purposes, such as informing, debating, explaining, justifying and persuading.
Progression Step J – justifies their perspective and opinions based on evidence and personal experience
Children take it in turn to explain their perception or perhaps the artist’s perception in relation to feelings, opinions, desires etc.Their responses should reflect upon the artist’s use of ‘Space’ vocabulary. After each contribution the group can question and analyse each others’ responses if time permits.
3. Music: Composing –
• select from a wide variety of sound sources (voice,
body percussion, untuned and tuned percussion, melodic instrumentsand technology) for a range of musical purposesUsing tablets or other recording devices, pupils will compose and record themselves singing a section of this song, to express how they or the listener should feel when listening to it.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
Looking at Ireland from Space, I would use the video “We’re Brighter together ” from electric Ireland as a trigger to get the children thinking about dark sky places. I would then ask the question “Why can we see artificial light from Ireland at a distance of 200 miles away?
After this discussion, I would divide the students into groups for their design challenge. I would use the Framework for Inquiry to assist them. Students will be assigned one of the following stakeholder groups to represent their views:
1) Lighting Planners/Designers
2) Visiting Stargazers
3) Conservation Rangers
4) Local Residents
The challenge for the learners would be “to represent the interests of different stakeholders with a meeting to investigate the key requirements for establishing a dark sky site in their locality. The views of stakeholders will be considered and presented at the end of the session.” The students would then present results in the design of a map, using photos or drawings to create a collage of their dark sky place, and a brochure providing information on the attractions within the site along with useful information for the visitor to inform them of what to expect.
I would further challenge the groups by asking the following questions “How can we preserve dark skies and still have light in our lives?” “What information would be useful for visitors who want to visit your dark sky place?” Other factors to consider would be the safety of the visitors, biodiversity at night, access to the site, stargazing tips and information on astronomy. -
Consider how many songs/poems/art can you think of to connect us to the night sky?
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Songs</span>
A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
Starry Starry Night – Don McLean
When the Stars go Blue – Ryan Adams
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Nursery Rhyme
Counting Stars – OneRepublic
Starlight – Muse
Mightnight Sky – Miley Cyrus
Moon River – Andy Williams
Mr.Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
Under the Milky Way – The Church
Space Cowboy – Kacey Musgraves
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Poetry</span>
The Moon – Robert Louis Stevenson
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer – Walt Whitman
To the Moon – Percy Bysshe Shelly
Bright Star – John Keats
The Starlight Night – Gerard Manley Hopkins
Under the Harvest Moon – Carl Sandburg
A Clear Midnight – Walt Whitman
Look at the Stars – Robert Frost
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Art</span>
The Starry Night – Vincent van Gogh
Starry Night Over the Rhône – Vincent van Gogh
Cafe Terrace at Night – Vincent van Gogh
The Hubble Deep Field – NASA
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
This was such a fun activity and I hadn’t realised how many of the songs, poems & art pieces I love are connected to the Night Sky until I started to really think about it. The list of possible inclusions is endless, but I’ve compiled a list of favourites here.
Songs:
“Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
“Rewrite The Stars” by Zac Efron And Zendaya
“All Of The Stars” by Ed Sheeran
“A Sky Full Of Stars” by Coldplay
“City Of Stars” by Ryan Gosling And Emma StonePoems:
A Night-Piece by William Wordsworth
Ah, Moon–and Star! by Emily Dickinson
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art by John Keats
Sonnet 14 by William Shakespeare
Stars Over the Dordogne by Sylvia PlathArt pieces:
Starry Night Over the Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh, 1888
The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, 1889
The Great Comet of 1680 Over Rotterdam by Lieve Verschuier, 1680
The Meteor of 1860, Frederic Edwin Church, 1860
The Flight into Egypt by Adam Elsheimer, 1609I hadn’t heard President Michael D Higgins poem ‘Stardust’ before today. It’s such a lovely & lasting tribute to his wife Sabina & her mother Mary.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The night sky has always fascinated humas, inspiring countless artists, poets, and musicians to capture its beauty, mystery, and grandeur. Here, I have selected a few songs, poems and pieces of art that beautifully connect us with the night sky.
Songs
“Space Oddity” by David Bowie
David Bowie’s iconic song captures the surreal and lonely vastness of space, resonating with our imaginations of the night sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo
“Rocket Man” by Elton John
Elton John’s classic reflects the melancholic beauty of space exploration and the night sky’s allure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtVBCG6ThDk
“Starman” by David Bowie
Another masterpiece by Bowie, it tells the story of a star being who brings hope to humanity, symbolizing the night sky’s promise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRcPA7Fzebw
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
A timeless lullaby that every child knows, it marvels at the simple yet profound beauty of stars.
“Northern Sky” by Nick Drake
Nick Drake’s soulful song brings a poetic and introspective view of the night sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3jCFeCtSjk
“Starlight” by Muse
This song emphasises the emotional connection and awe we feel when gazing at the night sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgum6OT_VH8
Poems
“The Star” by Jane Taylor
A classic children’s poem that marvels at the beauty of stars.
“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman
Whitman contrasts scientific knowledge with the sheer, unquantifiable beauty of the night sky.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45479/when-i-heard-the-learnd-astronomer
“Stars” by Robert Frost
Frost’s poem captures the silent, majestic presence of stars in the night sky.
https://poets.org/poem/stars-1
“Bright Star” by John Keats
Keats’ sonnet expresses a longing to be steadfast and eternal like a star.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44468/bright-star-would-i-were-stedfast-as-thou-art
Pieces of Art
“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
Perhaps the most famous depiction of the night sky, capturing its swirling, turbulent beauty.
“The Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh
Another masterful depiction by Van Gogh, this painting beautifully illustrates the stars reflecting over water.
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Hokusai
While primarily focusing on the sea, the piece includes a dramatic night sky that adds to its powerful composition.
“Starry Night and the Astronauts” by Alma Thomas
This modern abstract piece uses bright colours to depict the night sky’s grandeur.
Each of these works, in their unique way, connects us with the night sky, evoking feelings of wonder, reflection, and connection with the universe. Through music, poetry, and visual art, we find a shared human experience of gazing at the stars, dreaming of what lies beyond our planet and finding our place within the vastness.
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Songs/Poems/Art:
The night can influence culture and inspire art. Artists capture the mysterious beauty of the night sky. ‘Starry Night’ by Van Gogh is a famous painting depicting the sky just before sunrise. The swirling patterns give energy and movement. Children enjoy creating their own version and they make a lovely classroom display.
Dark skies influence literary writings, and there are many to choose from. ‘The Moon’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, where the poet pays tribute to the moon, is a good poem to explore with senior classes. I also really like the poem ‘An Ghealach’ by Caitríona Ní Chléirchín. She calls the moon ‘banríon na spéartha’.
Videos are good triggers to introduce a new topic. The cultural connection that music has with the night sky is demonstrated in some of these videos. The cover version of David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ which was produced for Spaceweek 2018 could be used to get the children thinking and wondering. We could compile a list of songs that includes the theme of space or night sky. My sixth class love a karaoke session and we could pick a song from our list and have some fun and entertainment at our ‘Am Órga’ on Fridays. One of my own personal favourites is ‘Meet You at the Moon’ by Imelda May. ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’ by Chris de Burgh is a festive favourite, where the star of Bethlehem is a space craft, it sets the nativity scene, which the children like and connect with.
The night sky inspires science, art, music and literature. Until recently our ancestors experienced and enjoyed a clear night sky full of stars. Hopefully it will keep on giving!
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For Example: Dúchas Folklore Commission
I think this would be a lovely project/ activity to undertake as a whole school. This could be also incorporated across many curricula areas such as history, art, English, gaeilge.
I also think it would be a lovely idea to incorporate this with grandparents day. Leading upto this children could interview their grandparents about old Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night and children could discuss this with them. Children could then create a presentation about what they discussed. Grandparents could also be given the opportunity to discuss these on grandparents day and tell them to the other children. Children could then incorporate this by doing an art lesson relating to the story. Grandparents could also help the children and it would be a lovely activity to do on the day together.-
Hi Christina
I love your idea of incorporating a project on stories and traditions of the night sky with Grandparents Day and making it a whole school project. I’m sure the children will love collaborating with grandparents on their research and artwork both on the day and in preparation for the visit and giving an opportunity to children to present their findings and for the grandparents to maybe tell some of their stories in person to a whole class will be a great way to involve everyone, whether they have grandparents present on the day or not.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The night sky has long been a profound source of inspiration for songs, poems, and art, creating a bridge between humanity and the cosmos. President Michael D. Higgins’ poem “Stardust” encapsulates this connection, evoking a sense of wonder and reflection. Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” captures the mesmerizing beauty of a night untouched by artificial light, illustrating the profound influence of dark skies on art. Music also reflects this connection, with David Bowie’s “Starman” and the cover by Jack Lukeman with the National Children’s Choir, echoing the mystery and allure of the cosmos. Poetry by John O’Donohoe, like “The Wound at the Side of the House,” highlights the impact of artificial light on nature, blending cultural and environmental awareness. These artistic expressions not only celebrate the beauty of the night sky but also emphasise the importance of preserving it for future generations.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
Sky full of stars
Reach for the stars
When you wish upon a star
Moon river
Starman
Space oddity
Fly me to the moon
Dancing in the moonlight
Man on the moon
Moon dance
Moonshadow
Talking to the moon….they would love to learn this one…
Poetry:
The moon by Robert Louis Stephenson
Sonnet 14
Art:
Vincent van gogh- starry night
Non named celetial art…..
You could let the children creatively respond to the theme of dark skies using the resources availbale in your room. Maybe some opposite art with black and white sugar paper, or looking and responding to other online sources of artwork. You could also ask the class to deign posters that could be used in an educational awareness campaign about light pollution and what we need to do to make changes.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
Here are just a few I foudn online!!
Starry Starry Night” (Vincent) by Don McLean – Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Starry Night”.
“Nightswimming” by R.E.M. – Reflective of nighttime and nostalgia.
“The Night We Met” by Lord Huron – A song about reminiscing under the night sky.
“Drops of Jupiter” by Train – Mentions the stars and the universe.
“Midnight City” by M83 – Evokes a nocturnal and atmospheric feeling.
“Northern Lights” by Thirty Seconds to Mars – Inspired by the natural phenomenon often seen in the night sky.
“A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay – Incorporates imagery of stars and the night sky.
“Blackbird” by The Beatles – Though not explicitly about the night sky, it has poetic imagery that can evoke a similar feeling.
“Moonlight Sonata” by Ludwig van Beethoven – A classical piece that captures the serene and mysterious nature of the moonlit night.
“Sail to the Moon” by Radiohead – Includes celestial imagery and themes.
Heres a nice poem I found also
The Baby’s Star
by John B. Tabb
The Star that watched you in your sleep
Has just put out his light.
“Good-day, to you on earth,” he said,
“Is here in heaven Good-night.“But tell the Baby when he wakes
To watch for my return;
For I’ll hang out my lamp again
When his begins to burn.”Or one I used to love to say to my own children when they were young
Star Light, Star Bright Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might Have the wish I wish tonight.
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Create a dark sky space in your school
Firstly you would have to identify a space where this could be done effectively. For us, the only option might be to use a corner of the pe hall as everywhere else is occupied. This in itself would be a challenge straight away as there are high up windows. Then possibly using something along the lines of a temporary clothes line, hang up from wall to wall. Cover these with dark blankets or quilts that will block out the light. Then the fun starts, using leds or fairy lights have some fun in the space recreating a night sky. You could also used those glow in the dark stars that are used on childrens bedroom walls. You could try to recreate different constellations and explore further learning on this in class. Alternatively, arrange a visit to another school that may have a planetarium.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
To implement a “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in a classroom, I would engage students in a creative and educational project. I would start by introducing the concept of dark sky places and the importance of preserving natural night environments for nocturnal species. I would provide students with materials like poster boards, art supplies, and information on different ecosystems. I would encourage them to design their ideal dark sky place, considering factors like light pollution, habitat preservation, and sustainability. Students would create posters, dioramas, or even digital presentations showcasing their vision of a dark sky place that supports nocturnal species. This activity not only fosters creativity but also raises awareness about the impacts of light pollution and the significance of protecting dark skies for biodiversity.
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Songs, poems, art that connect us with the night sky- One that springs to mind is the poem ‘A Christmas Childhood’ by Patrick Kavanagh where he recalls being at home with his family on Christmas Night as a child. There is an image in the poem of his father playing music under the stars in the early hours of the morning- ‘There were stars in the morning east, And they danced to his music.’ He also mentions a constellation visible in the night sky- ‘Cassiopeia was over Cassidy’s hanging hill.’ The poem also mentions nature- the sound of moor hens, whin bushes on the horizon. This poem is really atmospheric and evokes images of a time when people were much more in tune with nature and the night sky than most people are now. Here is a link to the poem:
https://allpoetry.com/poem/14330523-A-Christmas-Childhood-by-Patrick-KavanaghAn example of artwork that features the night sky is Van Gogh’s ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’. I think this painting is really interesting in the context of what we focused on in this course because it would have been painted in the late 19th century (if I am correct in thinking this is when Van Gogh was active as an artist), a time when artificial light existed but was not as commonplace as it is nowadays. The painting shows a street scene at night with the front of a cafe lit by artificial light. Apart from this though, the rest of the street is largely dark and there are stars clearly visible in the night sky. I find it interesting because it seems that when Van Gogh painted this picture the night sky must still have been very clear in urban areas. If this street scene were painted nowadays it would probably feature a lot more artificial light and little or no stars visible in the sky. You can see the painting I am talking about at this link:
https://sites.create-cdn.net/siteimages/35/9/0/359067/18/8/4/18848022/863×1200.jpg?1604413269Finally, a song that links to this topic would be Chris Hadfield’s versions of Space Oddity which was recorded aboard the International Space Station. The video is available to watch on Youtube and feature footage of what it is like aboard the space station, as well as images of the earth in the day and night from space. It could be a way to introduce topics like space, light pollution, etc and start a conversation among pupils about these topics. This is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo
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Hi James
Thank you for sharing those examples of poetry, art and music and explaining so well how they can be used as inspiration in your classroom.
I love A Christmas Childhood and always think of that line ‘Cassiopeia was over Cassidy’s hanging hill’ whenever I try to find constellations in the night sky.
I like your description of the Van Gogh painting and its usefulness in highlighting the difference between the useful artificial light of earlier eras with the excessive light pollution of recent times.
I am also a big fan of the Chris Hadfield version of Space Oddity.
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Songs, poems, art that connect us with the night sky- One that springs to mind is the poem ‘A Christmas Childhood’ by Patrick Kavanagh where he recalls being at home with his family on Christmas Night as a child. There is an image in the poem of his father playing music under the stars in the early hours of the morning- ‘There were stars in the morning east, And they danced to his music.’ He also mentions a constellation visible in the night sky- ‘Cassiopeia was over Cassidy’s hanging hill.’ The poem also mentions nature- the sound of moor hens, whin bushes on the horizon. This poem is really atmospheric and evokes images of a time when people were much more in tune with nature and the night sky than most people are now. Here is a link to the poem: https://allpoetry.com/poem/14330523-A-Christmas-Childhood-by-Patrick-Kavanagh
An example of artwork that features the night sky is Van Gogh’s ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’. I think this painting is really interesting in the context of what we focused on in this course because it would have been painted in the late 19th century (if I am correct in thinking this is when Van Gogh was active as an artist), a time when artificial light existed but was not as commonplace as it is nowadays. The painting shows a street scene at night with the front of a cafe lit by artificial light. Apart from this though, the rest of the street is largely dark and there are stars clearly visible in the night sky. I find it interesting because it seems that when Van Gogh painted this picture the night sky must still have been very clear in urban areas. If this street scene were painted nowadays it would probably feature a lot more artificial light and little or no stars visible in the sky. You can see the painting I am talking about at this link: https://sites.create-cdn.net/siteimages/35/9/0/359067/18/8/4/18848022/863×1200.jpg?1604413269
Finally, a song that links to this topic would be Chris Hadfield’s versions of Space Oddity which was recorded aboard the International Space Station. The video is available to watch on Youtube and feature footage of what it is like aboard the space station, as well as images of the earth in the day and night from space. It could be a way to introduce topics like space, light pollution, etc and start a conversation among pupils about these topics. This is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo
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Songs, poems, art that connect us with the night sky- One that springs to mind is the poem ‘A Christmas Childhood’ by Patrick Kavanagh where he recalls being at home with his family on Christmas Night as a child. There is an image in the poem of his father playing music under the stars in the early hours of the morning- ‘There were stars in the morning east, And they danced to his music.’ He also mentions a constellation visible in the night sky- ‘Cassiopeia was over Cassidy’s hanging hill.’ The poem also mentions nature- the sound of moor hens, whin bushes on the horizon. This poem is really atmospheric and evokes images of a time when people were much more in tune with nature and the night sky than most people are now. Here is a link to the poem: https://allpoetry.com/poem/14330523-A-Christmas-Childhood-by-Patrick-Kavanagh
An example of artwork that features the night sky is Van Gogh’s ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’. I think this painting is really interesting in the context of what we focused on in this course because it would have been painted in the late 19th century (if I am correct in thinking this is when Van Gogh was active as an artist), a time when artificial light existed but was not as commonplace as it is nowadays. The painting shows a street scene at night with the front of a cafe lit by artificial light. Apart from this though, the rest of the street is largely dark and there are stars clearly visible in the night sky. I find it interesting because it seems that when Van Gogh painted this picture the night sky must still have been very clear in urban areas. If this street scene were painted nowadays it would probably feature a lot more artificial light and little or no stars visible in the sky. You can see the painting I am talking about at this link: https://sites.create-cdn.net/siteimages/35/9/0/359067/18/8/4/18848022/863×1200.jpg?1604413269
Finally, a song that links to this topic would be Chris Hadfield’s versions of Space Oddity which was recorded aboard the International Space Station. The video is available to watch on Youtube and feature footage of what it is like aboard the space station, as well as images of the earth in the day and night from space. It could be a way to introduce topics like space, light pollution, etc and start a conversation among pupils about these topics. This is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
There a numerous songs ,poems and art suggestions that you could use to connect children with the night sky .As a trigger you could let the children listen to a song that may give them suggestions for visual representionsof the sky at night . The children would listen to short parts of perhaps 6 songs and on one piece f paper draw what comes to their mind.
Examples of songs could include
· Twinkle Twinkle Little star.
· Reach for the Stars by S Club Seven
· Starman by David Bowie
· The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw
· Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean
· The Solar System song
· Constellation Song:
Story Books that could be read to the younger kids include
· How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
· I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay
· Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
There are many poems that could be used but The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson could be read to the children and this would lead to a lots of promptd of the night sky and what happen in the world during the night .One could show the kids the following video https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=10959785a6cd5531&sca_upv=1&q=the+moon+by+robert+louis+stevenson&tbm=vid&source=lnms&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jqw-AzvpDFRWNmLZKilfTrfn09q0QL89IE2BK9wqCaoIVFOCV1aoDeP5tw4R7IXvsEru5h7CjL6p8iEdExKawty8Ih9BaQ4THdbQdc9OzGogmA3n2ZhZZDIZC9rq5LYItoW5Tge&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjevPH4sqSHAxVKYEEAHQxiBXEQ0pQJegQIBRAB&biw=1366&bih=607&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e0acf811,vid:B2sKsVab9nc,st:0
Art work involving looking at and discussing Starry Night and Starry Night over the Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh .
Fishermen at Sea by JMW Turner
Children could then produce their art work using chalk on coloured paper and paint .
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Implementing a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project for 3rd-class students can be both fun and educational. Start by introducing the concept of Dark Sky Places, explaining how reducing light pollution helps us see the stars better. Teach about constellations, moon phases, and animals that are active at night.
For art, have students create star maps or dioramas using glow-in-the-dark paint. Encourage them to think about features like telescopes or special stargazing spots. Read and discuss poems like President Michael D. Higgins’ “Stardust,” then have students write their own poems or stories about the night sky.
Get the community involved by inviting local astronomers to talk to the class or organizing a trip to a nearby Dark Sky Place. End the project with a Night Sky Festival where students can display their art, read their writings, and stargaze with telescopes. This will help them appreciate and protect our night skies.
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Hi Andrew
I love the idea of organising a local Night Sky Festival for the students to share their artwork and writing is a great idea particularly if you can get local astronomers involved to allow the children and others to view then night sky with telescopes. This has the potential to be a great community event and having it at night when people will be looking at the night sky while discussing light pollution should increase the likelihood of people listening to the children’s messages and taking action
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
There a numerous songs ,poems and art suggestions that you could use to connect children with the night sky .As a trigger you could let the children listen to a song that may give them suggestions for visual representionsof the sky at night . The children would listen to short parts of perhaps 6 songs and on one piece f paper draw what comes to their mind.
Examples of songs could include
• Twinkle Twinkle Little star.
• Reach for the Stars by S Club Seven https://youtu.be/50kP4S0peAs
• Starman by David Bowie https://youtu.be/rpO1U-nEgRU?si=RezxPd6y79M5QCfN; cover by Jack L https://youtu.be/xBZ034GHM4Q
• The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
• Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
• The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
• Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
• The Solar System song
• Constellation Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBGpA2Muyc
Stars, from Finding Neverland by Gary Barlow & EliotStory Books that could be read to the younger kids include
• How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
• I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay
• Touch the Brightest Star by Christie MathesonThere are many poems that could be used but The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson could be read to the children and this would lead to a lots of promptd of the night sky and what happen in the world during the night .One could show the kids the following video https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=10959785a6cd5531&sca_upv=1&q=the+moon+by+robert+louis+stevenson&tbm=vid&source=lnms&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jqw-AzvpDFRWNmLZKilfTrfn09q0QL89IE2BK9wqCaoIVFOCV1aoDeP5tw4R7IXvsEru5h7CjL6p8iEdExKawty8Ih9BaQ4THdbQdc9OzGogmA3n2ZhZZDIZC9rq5LYItoW5Tge&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjevPH4sqSHAxVKYEEAHQxiBXEQ0pQJegQIBRAB&biw=1366&bih=607&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e0acf811,vid:B2sKsVab9nc,st:0
Art work involving looking at and discussing Starry Night and Starry Night over the Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh .
Fishermen at Sea by JMW TurnerChildren could then produce their art work using chalk on coloured paper and paint .
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I’ve really enjoyed reading over all these suggestions. Thanks Roisin for the links! I can’t get over the huge variety of resources people suggested. It seems like a very personal thing to people. And if something is personal to you it can make part of a great lesson.
I wonder could they be collated!! (not by me for example :))
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
There a numerous songs ,poems and art suggestions that you could use to connect children with the night sky .As a trigger you could let the children listen to a song that may give them suggestions for visual representionsof the sky at night . The children would listen to short parts of perhaps 6 songs and on one piece f paper draw what comes to their mind.
Examples of songs could include
· Twinkle Twinkle Little star.
· Reach for the Stars by S Club Seven https://youtu.be/50kP4S0peAs
· Starman by David Bowie https://youtu.be/rpO1U-nEgRU?si=RezxPd6y79M5QCfN; cover by Jack L https://youtu.be/xBZ034GHM4Q
· The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
· Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
· The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
· Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
· The Solar System song
· Constellation Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBGpA2Muyc
Stars, from Finding Neverland by Gary Barlow & EliotStory Books that could be read to the younger kids include
· How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
· I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay
· Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
There are many poems that could be used but The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson could be read to the children and this would lead to a lots of promptd of the night sky and what happen in the world during the night .One could show the kids the following video https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=10959785a6cd5531&sca_upv=1&q=the+moon+by+robert+louis+stevenson&tbm=vid&source=lnms&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jqw-AzvpDFRWNmLZKilfTrfn09q0QL89IE2BK9wqCaoIVFOCV1aoDeP5tw4R7IXvsEru5h7CjL6p8iEdExKawty8Ih9BaQ4THdbQdc9OzGogmA3n2ZhZZDIZC9rq5LYItoW5Tge&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjevPH4sqSHAxVKYEEAHQxiBXEQ0pQJegQIBRAB&biw=1366&bih=607&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e0acf811,vid:B2sKsVab9nc,st:0
Art work involving looking at and discussing Starry Night and Starry Night over the Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh .
Fishermen at Sea by JMW Turner
Children could then produce their art work using chalk on coloured paper and paint .
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Hi Roisin,
Thank you for sharing your list of songs, poems and stories and including links too.
I also am a big fan of Oliver Jeffers and always try to incorporate one of his books during our Science Week read alouds. This list would also support thematic planning for a night sky or space theme.
I also like your idea to use the songs as a stimulus or trigger for the pupils to respond to in an art lesson.
I hope you enjoyed this course and have lots of resources to bring back to your own class in September
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
There a numerous songs ,poems and art suggestions that you could use to connect children with the night sky .As a trigger you could let the children listen to a song that may give them suggestions for visual representionsof the sky at night . The children would listen to short parts of perhaps 6 songs and on one piece f paper draw what comes to their mind.
Examples of songs could include
· Twinkle Twinkle Little star.
· Reach for the Stars by S Club Seven https://youtu.be/50kP4S0peAs
· Starman by David Bowie https://youtu.be/rpO1U-nEgRU?si=RezxPd6y79M5QCfN; cover by Jack L https://youtu.be/xBZ034GHM4Q
· The Sky’s the Limit by Nik Kershaw https://youtu.be/RL_rYCgn6uk
· Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McLean https://youtu.be/4wrNFDxCRzU (also covered by Ellie Goulding – https://youtu.be/C3_spbo8eVc)
· The Solar System song
· Constellation Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjBGpA2Muyc
Stars, from Finding Neverland by Gary Barlow & EliotStory Books that could be read to the younger kids include
· How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
· I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay
· Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
There are many poems that could be used but The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson could be read to the children and this would lead to a lots of promptd of the night sky and what happen in the world during the night .One could show the kids the following video https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=10959785a6cd5531&sca_upv=1&q=the+moon+by+robert+louis+stevenson&tbm=vid&source=lnms&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jqw-AzvpDFRWNmLZKilfTrfn09q0QL89IE2BK9wqCaoIVFOCV1aoDeP5tw4R7IXvsEru5h7CjL6p8iEdExKawty8Ih9BaQ4THdbQdc9OzGogmA3n2ZhZZDIZC9rq5LYItoW5Tge&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjevPH4sqSHAxVKYEEAHQxiBXEQ0pQJegQIBRAB&biw=1366&bih=607&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:e0acf811,vid:B2sKsVab9nc,st:0
Art work involving looking at and discussing Starry Night and Starry Night over the Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh .
Fishermen at Sea by JMW Turner
Children could then produce their art work using chalk on coloured paper and paint .
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Number 2: Consider how many songs/poems/art you can think of to connect us with the night sky.
Since the beginning of time people have been in awe of the night sky and it is the centre of countless songs/poems/sayings/ stories/traditions/feasts /artworks. Poetry, song and art are wonderful stimulus to any lesson in primary school classrooms.
Nursery Rhymes: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I see the moon and the moon sees me.., Hey Diddle Diddle, Wish Upon A Star
To more modern songs… A Sky Full of Stars, Fly me to the Moon, Lady Stardust, Firework, Moon River, Because the Night Belongs to Us, Reach for the Stars..
https://www.musicalmum.com/songs-about-night-sky/ this website had 20 great songs inspired by the night sky.
Poems: When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman, 2. “Bright Star” by John Keats, “The Starry Night” by Anne Sexton
Artwork: Vincent Van Gogh “Starry Night’, Edvard Munch “Starry Night” and Georgia O’ Keefe “Starry Night”. J. M. W. Turner, “Fishermen at Sea”. James Whistler, “Nocturne in Black and Gold”. Harald Sohlberg, “Summer Night” -
After looking at the Folklore Collection, I decided to look at it from a weather perspective. There are lots and lots of little stories and piseoga about the night sky and how it can foretell the weather. Some are as simple as -if you see the stars at night there is frost. However, there are some that talk about the constellations, for example; The “bull” is the name given to a group of 14 bright stars. When the “bull” is on its legs it is a sign of bad weather. Or: A bright moon with a lot of stars is almost always followed by a fine day; but if the moon is dull and the stars are covered with mist rain is not far off. Or: Shooting or falling stars mean wind storms.
Some of these piseoga are from my school’s local areas. It would be a lovely project to do with the children. The children can collect information from the collection, record it and present their findings to the school. It would also be nice to invite some more senior members of the community in to talk about old weather lore that they heard when they were young.
The project would cover a lot of objectives throughout the curriculum.
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Hi Mary,
The Folklore collection is a fabulous resource and also asking older members of the school community to come in and share their own weather lore with the children is a lovely idea to bring History to life in the classroom. I agree with David, that by not sharing these stories they could get lost.
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night.
I really like the idea of doing a school project with children around piseógs to do with the night. Most stories of people being accosted by the little people, na daoine maithe or na sí are set at night. Often there are descriptions of a dark night as someone walks home alone from a neighbour’s house after a night of telling stories or playing cards. You can really imagine the darkness of the quiet country boithríns, an experience that must have been common a few generations ago.
I would discuss common stories, folklore and piseógs around the theme of the night with the children. We would look at the coming of St. Brigid to bless the brat Bríde during the night, or the meeting with the Púca at midnight crossroads. We would of course also discuss that most important night of all, Oíche Shamhna, Halloween. I would gather the children’s own understanding of this nighttime folklore and then we would look at some stories from Duchas’ Schools Collection. We would identify similarities and differences (and also note the beautiful handwriting!).
I would then assign the children a homework task, to gather any nighttime piseógs or stories their own families might have. We have many children from other cultures in our school so it would be great to enrich our own tales with some different traditions.
As part of ongoing English lessons we would then write our own stories as if we were adding to the Duchas Schools Collection.
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Hi David,
I really like your idea regarding the piseógs of the night. The Dúchas Schools Collection is be a great starting point to source stories from your own local area. While they might not be specifically about the night, it might be a great introduction to stories and folklore. And I agree, the handwriting is just beautiful in this collection.
It is also an ideal link to History to explore stories from the lives of others, pupils could ask older relatives and I also like how you could use this project to explore folklore from other cultures also..
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Implementing a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” initiative in a school in the west of Ireland can be an engaging and educational way to raise awareness about light pollution and its impact on biodiversity. Here’s a detailed plan on how to execute this project:
Phase 1: Planning and Education
1. Classroom Preparation:Introduce the Concept: Begin with a series of lessons on light pollution, its effects on biodiversity, human health, and the benefits of dark skies. Use multimedia presentations, documentaries, and guest speakers from local environmental groups.
Research Projects: Assign students to research different aspects of light pollution, such as its impact on nocturnal animals, plants, and human circadian rhythms. Encourage them to present their findings to the class.
2. Community Involvement:Engage Local Experts: Partner with local astronomers, environmentalists, and dark sky advocates to provide expert insights and workshops.
School-Community Collaboration: Organize meetings with local community groups and businesses to discuss the project and seek their support.
Phase 2: Dark Sky Place Design
1. Design Projects:Student Projects: Have students design their own “Dark Sky Place” using maps, diagrams, and models. They should consider factors such as lighting design, public awareness campaigns, and conservation measures.
Class Presentation: Students present their designs to the class and possibly to the wider school community. This can be in the form of a science fair or an exhibition.
2. Implementation Plans:Select a Site: Choose a location in the school grounds or nearby community area to implement the dark sky place.
Workshops: Conduct workshops on how to reduce light pollution, such as using shielded lighting fixtures, installing motion sensors, and choosing lower-intensity bulbs.
Phase 3: Community and Business Engagement
1. Awareness Campaign:Public Talks and Seminars: Organize public talks and seminars to educate the community about light pollution and its effects. Utilize local media, social media, and school newsletters to spread the message.
Partnership with Businesses: Collaborate with local businesses to encourage them to adopt dark sky-friendly lighting practices. Offer incentives or recognition for those who make significant changes.
2. Monthly Dark Sky Week:Event Planning: Designate one week each month as Dark Sky Week. During this week, organize night-time events such as stargazing parties, nocturnal wildlife walks, and night photography sessions.
Music and Celebrations: Incorporate music that celebrates the night sky. Invite local musicians or school bands to perform pieces inspired by the night. Host poetry readings or storytelling sessions that highlight the beauty of the dark skies.
Art and Culture: Encourage students to create artwork inspired by the night sky. Display these artworks in local galleries or public spaces.
Phase 4: Long-Term Sustainability
1. Monitoring and Evaluation:Track Progress: Monitor the impact of the dark sky place and community initiatives. Conduct surveys to gather feedback from participants and assess changes in light pollution levels.
Continued Education: Keep the conversation going with ongoing education efforts, updating the curriculum, and involving new students each year.
2. Annual Celebrations:Dark Sky Festival: Host an annual Dark Sky Festival to celebrate the achievements of the project, bring the community together, and reinforce the importance of dark skies. Include activities like lantern walks, educational booths, and cultural performances.
By integrating education, community involvement, and ongoing celebration, this initiative can effectively raise awareness about light pollution and foster a deeper appreciation for the night sky in the west of Ireland.-
Hi Aaron
That sound like a very comprehensive and exciting project, involving not only the school but the entire local community. You have incorporated group research projects, awareness campaigns, engineering design projects within the classroom as well as art, music and poetry with local consultation and night time events to celebrate the night sky. Of course, such a project would require a big time commitment but if implemented would be hugely beneficial for the pupils and a great example of how a school community could become leaders and influence their own local community in a very positive way. I hope you enjoyed the course.
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Describe how you would complement a version of ‘Design your own Dark Sky Place’ in your school/classroom?
As my school is located in quite a built up urban area I think investigating and designing a dark sky place would be very beneficial. There are a lot of objectives that can be achieved by implementing this project. My aim would be for children to have a better understanding of light pollution particularly in such a built up urban area such as ours, nocturnal animals and the natural environment as a whole and ways in which we can reduce light pollution in our school and local area.
The school has quite a large open space and we are often visited by nocturnal animals. In a school I worked in, we put up a webcam to film the comings and goings of animals in the school grounds. As part of this project I would love to install a few webcams to track any activity at night and I feel that by doing a project such as this would strengthen my case!
As suggested I would start with the idea of Dark Sky Places and get children to come up with what they think and do they actually think that they exist? I would imagine with older children that this could be a source of some debate e.g. why are they needed? Is the sky not dark enough? Would this have any effect on the environment? Is light necessary? For younger kids, I would probably first introduce nocturnal animals and pose the question: what habitat would be most suitable for them? Why might nocturnal animals live in towns rather than the countryside? In towns (urban areas) what factors might prevent nocturnal animals living as they should?
Investigation: For older children I would direct them to websites that explain and highlight drak sky places. I would challenge them to come up with 5 reasons why Dark Sky Places are important and who for.
For younger kids I might use a stimulus e.g. a fox teddy bear and get children to come up with ways in which we can help our mascot live in our environment.
We would then research the school grounds and decide where the best place for a Dark Sky Place. If we were to stand here at night time, what would we expect to see/hear/smell/touch?
With older children I might also segway into looking at the stars and the constellations and add this eventually to our design phase. For younger children I might pose the question: would we be able to see the North Star? What is the North Star?
Design Phase: I would divide my children into different groups: Nocturnal animals/Stars/Moon. I would ideally create a dark sky in my classroom with a view to blacking out the windows to use as a roleplay area. I would use torches and illuminous stars to replicate a star sky place.
To end the project I would arrange an evening for parents to observe a dark sky place… I would do this mid winter to achieve as dark a sky as possible. I would love to tie it into observing the Observe the Moon event on September 14th but I feel that the moon will be too bright! The event could also incorporate poems and songs inspired by our night sky.
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For Example: Dúchas Folklore Commission
I really like the idea of doing a project on Piseógs with the chldren. I teach in a Gaelscoil and a fundamental part of school life is teaching the children about Irish culture and traditions.
I would start by discussing the childrens own stories of the night. Most people as children remember a story about the nightime- be it scary or comforting and I think it would be interesting for the kids to share they tales they have been told with each other. We would then move onto reseaching piseógs using duchas.ie.
The children would ask parents/ grandparents about their stories of the night skies from growing up and we would invite them in to share these stories with the whole class. Many of the children have grandparents who grew up in Gaeltacht areas, as do many of the other teachers so we would ask them in particular to share their stories.
I think it would be a really interesting project and one that would be of great importance in keeping culture alive.
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Describe how you would complement a version of ‘Design your own Dark Sky Place’ in your school/classroom?
As my school is located in quite a built up urban area I think investigating and designing a dark sky place would be very beneficial. There are a lot of objectives that can be achieved by implementing this project. My aim would be for children to have a better understanding of light pollution particularly in such a built up urban area such as ours, nocturnal animals and the natural environment as a whole and ways in which we can reduce light pollution in our school and local area.
The school has quite a large open space and we are often visited by nocturnal animals. In a school I worked in, we put up a webcam to film the comings and goings of animals in the school grounds. As part of this project I would love to install a few webcams to track any activity at night and I feel that by doing a project such as this would strengthen my case!
As suggested I would start with the idea of Dark Sky Places and get children to come up with what they think and do they actually think that they exist? I would imagine with older children that this could be a source of some debate e.g. why are they needed? Is the sky not dark enough? Would this have any effect on the environment? Is light necessary? For younger kids, I would probably first introduce nocturnal animals and pose the question: what habitat would be most suitable for them? Why might nocturnal animals live in towns rather than the countryside? In towns (urban areas) what factors might prevent nocturnal animals living as they should?
Investigation: For older children I would direct them to websites that explain and highlight drak sky places. I would challenge them to come up with 5 reasons why Dark Sky Places are important and who for.
For younger kids I might use a stimulus e.g. a fox teddy bear and get children to come up with ways in which we can help our mascot live in our environment.
We would then research the school grounds and decide where the best place for a Dark Sky Place. If we were to stand here at night time, what would we expect to see/hear/smell/touch?
With older children I might also segway into looking at the stars and the constellations and add this eventually to our design phase. For younger children I might pose the question: would we be able to see the North Star? What is the North Star?
Design Phase: I would divide my children into different groups: Nocturnal animals/Stars/Moon. I would ideally create a dark sky in my classroom with a view to blacking out the windows to use as a roleplay area. I would use torches and illuminous stars to replicate a star sky place.
To end the project I would arrange an evening for parents to observe a dark sky place… I would do this mid winter to achieve as dark a sky as possible. I would love to tie it into observing the Observe the Moon event on September 14th but I feel that the moon will be too bright! The event could also incorporate poems and songs inspired by our night sky.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Thinking about this I could immediately name many poems I’ve read over the years referencing the night Sky, the stars or the moon;
John Keats – ‘Bright Star, Would I as Steadfast as thou Art’
Emily Dickensen – ‘AH, Moon and Star’
Sylvia Plath, ‘Stars over Dordogne’
Even when the moon and stars are not the topic of poems they are often used in metaphors or to set scenes, such as in Kavanaghs ‘In Memory of my Mother’, where he talks about the ‘ricks against the moonlight’, or in the famous Wordsworth poem ‘Daffodils’, he compares them to stars – ‘Continuous as the stars that shine, and twinkle on the Milky Way’.
In music I could also immediately name many songs, from across many genres and times, that feature the night sky.
From more modern songs such as Coldplay’s ‘Sky full of Stars’, and ‘Yellow’, (‘Look at the stars, look how they shine for you,’), Or One Republic’s ‘Counting Stars’. To others across the last 50 or so years –
Lee Ann Rimes – ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight’
Thin Lizzy – ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’
Frank Sinatra – ‘Fly Me to the Moon’
And even back as far as Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’, the night Sky has been a popular feature of many songs. When I asked my husband the same question he immediately thought of ‘Twinkle Twinkle,’ one I hadn’t even considered, but a popular one in my house with small children!
However, when I thought about Art featuring the night Sky, I found it much more difficult to think of examples beyond ‘Starry Night’ which was surprising. A small bit of internet research soon showed me that there was plenty to be found, Van Gogh had many other paintings of or featuring the night sky – ‘Road with Cypress and Star’, ‘Café terrace at Night’, and Starry Night over the Rhone’, were a few, along with
Winslow Homer – ‘Moonlight’
JMW Turner – ‘Fishermen at Sea’
James McNeill Whistler – ‘Nocture, Blue and Gold’
All paintings made striking and effective with their depictions of the night sky.
I was also not surprised to see, with a quick search on Etsy, there are over 1000 paintings available to buy of the moon, stars or sky at night, proving that it is not a subject of the past, but one still heavily influencing artists today.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Thinking about this I could immediately name many poems I’ve read over the years referencing the night Sky, the stars or the moon;
John Keats – ‘Bright Star, Would I as Steadfast as thou Art’
Emily Dickensen – ‘AH, Moon and Star’
Sylvia Plath, ‘Stars over Dordogne’
Even when the moon and stars are not the topic of poems they are often used in metaphors or to set scenes, such as in Kavanaghs ‘In Memory of my Mother’, where he talks about the ‘ricks against the moonlight’, or in the famous Wordsworth poem ‘Daffodils’, he compares them to stars – ‘Continuous as the stars that shine, and twinkle on the Milky Way’.
In music I could also immediately name many songs, from across many genres and times, that feature the night sky.
From more modern songs such as Coldplay’s ‘Sky full of Stars’, and ‘Yellow’, (‘Look at the stars, look how they shine for you,’), Or One Republic’s ‘Counting Stars’. To others across the last 50 or so years –
Lee Ann Rimes – ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight’
Thin Lizzy – ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’
Frank Sinatra – ‘Fly Me to the Moon’
And even back as far as Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’, the night Sky has been a popular feature of many songs. When I asked my husband the same question he immediately thought of ‘Twinkle Twinkle,’ one I hadn’t even considered, but a popular one in my house with small children!
However, when I thought about Art featuring the night Sky, I found it much more difficult to think of examples beyond ‘Starry Night’ which was surprising. A small bit of internet research soon showed me that there was plenty to be found, Van Gogh had many other paintings of or featuring the night sky – ‘Road with Cypress and Star’, ‘Café terrace at Night’, and Starry Night over the Rhone’, were a few, along with
Winslow Homer – ‘Moonlight’
JMW Turner – ‘Fishermen at Sea’
James McNeill Whistler – ‘Nocturn, Blue and Gold’
All paintings made striking and effective with their depictions of the night sky.
I was also not surprised to see, with a quick search on Etsy, there are over 1000 paintings available to buy of the moon, stars or sky at night, proving that it is not a subject of the past, but one still heavily influencing artists today.
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You have given a great list of songs, poems and paintings in your post. I found myself going down a rabbit hole after reading that you searched art based on the night sky- I myself found Turner ‘Fishermen at Sea’ a surprising example of the moonlight highlighting the fishing boat- again potentially using it as a starter question about the need for clear skies in nautical navigation. Then as a contrast Edward Hopper ‘Nighthawks’ highlights the light pollution in urban settings with the bright- almost day light- shining out from the café onto the streets and into the night.
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We are lucky to be located close to Dunsink Observatory in Ashtown, Co Dublin so I think this would be a great place to collaborate with to create/ host a dark sky event for our school.
First I think this would be a wonderful collaborative project for our More Able children across the school to work on together. They could use our school’s sensory room to get together to imagine what our dark sky place might look like, and how to prepare for it.
The children could organise a school event at the Dunsink Observatory one evening. Wonderfully, their website states that ‘weather permitting, visitors can view celestial objects through the historic Grubb Telescope’ which would be an added bonus for the evening. We would choose a clear night around the new moon for maximum visibility.
I would take some tips from Mayo Dark Sky Park’s website to help the children organise the event such as for a Stargazer’s Check List:
1. Bring binoculars (never point binoculars or any lens directly at the Sun)
2. Use only red torch light (your eyes need 20 minutes to adjust to darkness)
3. Download seasonal Star Maps and Planisphere
4. Wear warm clothes – hats, gloves, boots or sturdy shoes
5. Stargazing is best on your back – bring a blanket
6. Bring hot drinks and snacks
7. Play stargazing songs such as Starry Starry Night!Finally, I would ask the group to prepare posters for around the school and for parents to promote the event, and encourage teachers to speak to their classes about light pollution and stargazing ahead of this!
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Hi Fiona,
What a great location for your school to be able to access or visit Dunsink Observatory and if possible collaborate with them for a dark sky event. I’m sure the children in your school along with the school community would appreciate such an event and it would also raise awareness about light pollution.
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This is a great question as it really gets you to stop and think.
Art wise a starry night by van gogh springs to mind.
In the past few months I have also seen ones depicting the northern lights which are fascinating.Music wise twinkle, twinkle little star is so well known. As is hey diddle diddle in which The cow jumps over the moon.
With an older class you could do cold plays a sky full of stars.
Thin Lizzy dancing in the moon light.
Ah moon and star by Emily Dickinson
Hopkins the starlight Night is a beautiful poem that describes the skies -
COnsider How many poems songs art work you can think of to do with the moon:
This is such a brilliant focus! Children would get such a kick out of this. Wouldn’t it be nice to send them home to get suggestions from their families and what great conversations that might inspire.
Songs
Fly me to the Moon- Frank Sinatra
THe Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys
Harvest Moon by Neil Young
Starman by David Bowie- I love the Jack Lukeman version sung with a school choir no less! That has definitely inspired me.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star- a classic
Perseverance by Ieske Poppers
Sky Full of Stars by Cold Play- this might appeal to the older classes- SPHE lesson around it no doubt.
If the People lived their lives as if it were a song, proclaiming music to the stars to be dancing circles in the sky…..Traditional Russian Song- this can be done really nicely as a round.
Constellations by Jack JOhnson.Poems
Moon Poem by Mary Oliver- her poetry is so rich and beautiful and there’s loads to to language wise with this.
Perseverance by Ieske Poppers
WB Yeats – I remember learning this in primary school and being affected by itArt
Van Gogh of course
Kandinski
Soviet and American Space propaganda art inspired by the Space Race in the 20th century.I’m a fan of this the Deep Space Sparkle art club and it provides loads of lesson plan ideas for art. Many of the lessons are based around a stimulus or prompt like a famous piece of art.
Here is one lesson: https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/rocket-and-space-art-collage-for-kids/-
Hi Una,
Thanks for sharing this comprehensive list of poems, songs and art. It is a great starting point to integrate the theme of the night sky across the curricular areas. I also like your idea of getting suggestions from home to add to the list for school. I also hadn’t thought of the propaganda from the Space Race which would also integrate with History for the senior classes.
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“Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh can be used to engage students in a discussion about the night sky and the effects of light pollution. Show them the painting and ask them to imagine how a similar scene would look today with city lights. This can lead to a conversation about how artificial lighting affects our view of stars and disrupts nocturnal wildlife, bridging art and science in an engaging, visual way. I could play “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay to spark children’s curiosity about the night sky. Discuss the lyrics, emphasizing the beauty and wonder of stars. Follow with an activity, identifying constellations and planets. Connect the song’s imagery to real-life observations, teaching about light pollution’s impact on our view of the stars. This blend of music and science will engage students and enhance their appreciation for the night sky.
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Hi Eoghan
Art and music can be great ways of opening up discussion on the night sky and the differences between what the artists saw and the children’s own experiences of the night sky. Asking them to imagine or paint their own version of “Starry Night” based on what they see in the night sky is a nice exercise in thinking about light pollution. They might also consider if the “Starry Night” that Vincent Van Gogh saw would have been similar to the “Sky Full of Stars” that Coldplay were imaging in the song 125 years later when the impact of light pollution was much greater and it was much rarer to see a good display of stars in the night sky.
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Module 5
In Ireland, the night skies have inspired a wealth of artistic expressions through songs, poems, and art. President Michael D. Higgins’ poem “Stardust” beautifully encapsulates the wonder and mystery of the universe. Other works include:
Songs:
“Moondance” by Van Morrison:
“Spancil Hill”
“Space Oddity” by David Bowie
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
“Vincent” by Don McLeanPoems:
“He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by W.B. Yeats:
“The Stolen Child” by W.B. Yeats
“The Night Piece, to Julia” by Robert Herrick
“To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“The Moon and the Yew Tree” by Sylvia PlathArt Pieces:
“A Connemara Village” by Paul Henry
“Starry Night over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh
“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
“The Night Watch” by Rembrandt
“Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket” by James McNeill WhistlerThese works from various artists and writers in Ireland and around the world demonstrate the universal fascination with the night sky and its influence on human creativity.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
Exploring songs, poems, and artworks that connect us with the night sky can provide a rich and inspiring context for understanding the importance of dark skies and the impacts of light pollution. There are so many songs, poems and artworks that come to my mind when I think of the night sky. Yellow by Coldplay contains the famous line “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you,” celebrating the wonder of the night sky. Space Oddit by David Bowie captures the imagination of space exploration and the vastness of the universe. Counting Stars by OneRepublic uses the imagery of stars to convey hopes and dreams. These are songs that frequent my Spotify playlist. As a first time mother, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is now a frequent tune in my home also. The Starry Night by Van Gogh is one of the most famous depictions of the night sky in art. Starry Night by Edvard Munch is a different artist’s interpretation of the night sky. These are two pieces of artwork I explore each year with my 6th classes. Stardust by President Michael D. Higgins reflects on our connection to the universe and the stardust that makes up all of us. The Starlight Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins celebrates the beauty of the night sky. Stars by Sara Teasdale is a short poem that marvels at the beauty and tranquillity of the night sky.
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To implement a version of “Design Your Own Dark Sky place” in my classroom I would first need to make sure that the children have a solid foundation and knowledge in the areas of earth and space, stargazing, light pollution and dark skies and biodiversity through using some of the activities and ideas covered in the previous modules.
I would then use our local park as example of a Dark Sky place that we need to design. I would introduce the children to the various different stakeholders that may wish to give their input into the design of the park e.g. the conservation rangers, visiting stargazers, local residents and light designers. We would discuss as a class the views and interests of each of each of the stakeholders. I would then divide the class into groups and give each child in the group a role to play.
At the end of the lesson we would come back together as a class and listen to some of the discussions from the groups and reflect on those discussions. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
I have always been intrigued by the night sky, clearly so have many others when you consider the amount of poems, songs and art inspired by the night sky.
Here is a list of songs I can think of based on or inspired by the night sky.
Wake Up in the Sky- Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars, and Kodak Black
A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – The Beatles
Children of the Sky- Bob Sinclair featuring Steve Edwards
Bigger Than the Whole Sky – Taylor Swift
Burning in the Skies – Linkin Park Kiss the Sky – Jason Derulo
Sky – Sonique
We even see the sky mentioned in nursery rhymes! Twinkl twinkl little star
When I think about Art depicting the night sky the first image i think about is starry starry night by Vincent Van Gogh. It really is such a beautiful piece showing us the night sky with out light pollution! Café Terrace at Night is another piece Van gogh showing us the night sky.
Others include
Kandinsky – Moonlit Night
Monet – Seascape
Bonnard – Night Landscape
Elsheimer – The Flight into Egypt
There are numerous poems also worth mentioning.
I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by Wordsworth.
The Starlit Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Twas the night before Christmas.
Firework Night by Enid Blyton -
Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of
the Night.
I would introduce this theme in the month of October- on the build up to Halloween and as the days are beginning to get shorter and the dark skies of night are seen sooner in the evening.
I would pose the trigger question: what traditions do your family have for Halloween? From there I would collect the information from the children and create a poll of how many children share the same traditions and how many differ. This would then lead on to talking about ‘new traditions’ and ‘old traditions’. I would make a Venn Diagram about traditions that are done during the day light or during night time. I would then model using the website dúchas.ie to look at the collections of traditions collected from schoolchildren between 1937 – 1939 (more specifically Bailiúchán na Scol).
I would engage the pupils by collecting stories from their families and making link to the locality where possible i.e. including landmarks/ castles/ fairy forts/ liosanna/ standing stones. I would also ask the children to interview older members of their families about what games/ traditions they had at Halloween.
I would then make the link between preserving the night’s sky and the continuation of traditions/ folklore in the local area. Long ago people sat around a fireside and shared stories, we still sit under the same sky- lets try and preserve it by focusing on light pollution and minding local biodiversity for future generations.
These stories/ traditions/ practices would be collected and displayed around the school through a variety of displays on the build up to Halloween.
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Hi Doireann
I love your idea of basing this project around Halloween, a time when a lot of the traditions and folklore are associated with darkness and the outdoors. With newer Halloween activities such as buying costumes and carving pumpkins rather than turnips becoming more and more prevalent in recent years, it would be a really interesting exercise to see what older games and stories still persist in families and what traditions were remembered by parents and grandparents. Linking these to duchas.ie and to local landmarks would be a lovely idea. You can make the link to Dark Skies by thinking about the contrast of children in the past enjoying their Halloween traditions under a dark sky with children today Trick or Treating on overlit streets and discuss how that would have affected their experience of the festival.
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Design your own ‘Dark Sky place’
If I was to do a lesson with my class on designing a ‘Dark Sky place’ I would firstly do a lot of discussion around what they think this type of place is and why it’s important. I would explain to them that a Dark Sky site is a unique place where visitors come from all over the world because they can no longer see the night sky from where they live due to light pollution. I would show them videos of the three protected areas in Ireland that are Dark Sky sites.
We would talk about why these places are special and about what can be seen in the sky on a clear night. We would talk about the animals that live in these places and do some drawing and free writing also.The next step of the design would be to put the students into groups and to plan their design and to think about a suitable site for it. I would discuss certain factors with them such as Light Pollution, viewing sites & access, biodiversity at night, information on astronomy and safety.
I would also have done lots of role play including discussions with the students.
I would assign each student a group with a stakeholder to represent their views, these will include designers, visitng stargazers, conservation rangers and local residents. In their groups I would get them to discuss what kind of information would be useful to visitors, what you can do and see in a dark sky park.
At the end of the lesson we would evaluate our design and ask questions such as will our plan help to protect the night sky in the future, what supports do we need and is our plan realistic?-
Hi Kelly
It is great that you have included lots of time for preparation and discussion into your activity. Learning about the purpose of Dark Sky places and about those that already exist in Ireland is a good start as it will help the children to understand the purpose of their project. Highlighting the different forms of light pollution and the problems with them is also good. You mentioned ding lots of roleplay and discussion as preparation and this is also very positive. Having discussed the issues and done some roleplay in advance, the children will be better equipped to get into character and think about the creation of their Dark Sky Place from a number of different perspectives.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
The ESERO lesson on this provides an excellent structure I have taken inspiration from.
Engage:
Present a picture of the night sky in a Dark Sky Park as the discussion for a ‘see think wonder’.
Introduce and facilitate the discussion of a Dark Sky Park and what it would look like in our community.
Present questions like: who re the stakeholders, where would it be based, map of the area, who would it attract, what would they need, what biodiversity may be affected, how could we restrict light pollution?Explore:
I love the idea of assigning the children as stakeholders which gives them a chance to consider another valuable perspective. They can speak to some ‘actual’ stakeholders and then feedback their thoughts which will help in putting together the initial plan.
They need to refer to parking, safety, lighting.
Explain:
Each group will share their learning with the whole class so that all info has been shared and all children can use it.
Elaborate:
Design a brochure sharing the idea of a Dark Shy Place. Share the map of the layout, rules of use, opening hours, safety precautions, etc.
Evaluate:
They could present their brochures to other classes for feedback or questions on any of the terminology and ideas. -
If I was to carry out a school wide project to collect traditions and stories of the night I would first introduce the duchas folklore collection as a starting point. As a whole class we would brainstorm possible traditions and stories related to the night that they could research. Examples include:
Myths and legends about the moon and stars.
Nighttime festivals and celebrations.
Bedtime stories and lullabies.
Songs and poems inspired by the night sky.
Rituals and customs associated with the night.Together we would discuss research methods and provide guidelines for conducting interviews. We would look at a sample interview questionnaire together. The children would then carry out an interview with an older family member/ neighbour and decide how they are going to present the findings. There would be lots of opportunities for using IT when carrying out the project. Afterwards we would have a feedback session as a whole class and then it would be nice to have an open celebration inviting families and the wider community in to see the compilation of the work. I think this would be a really lovely idea and so important to document all these wonderful stories and traditions.
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‘Good Night’ by The Beatles is an easy lullaby, suitable for junior classes that connects us with the night sky.
‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ by Toploader is a fun pop song with connections to the natural light of the sun.
One of my favourite songs ‘Sky Full of Stars’ by Coldplay which could be used as a trigger for discussing about the stars or about light pollution.
‘Moonlight Sonata’ by Beethoven could be used as a listening and responding piece whereby pupils draw or write what the composition makes them think of.
‘Memory’ from the musical Cats would be another option to open discussion about the natural light from the moon vs artificial light from street lamps.There is beautiful imagery in the poem ‘Night Sky’ by Valsa George:
‘street lamps blink their eyes’, ‘Stars slowly appear in the night sky like sequins stitched on to a blue brocade.’Gerard Manley Hopkins, ‘The Starlight Night’ is comprehensible sonnet for 5th/6th Class which uses great metaphors comparing the stars to ‘fire-folk’ sitting in the night sky, to the eyes of elves, and to diamonds.
‘Starry Night’ by Van Gogh is an obvious choice for linking art with the night sky. And even though it is mentioned in Module 5 , I had to include it in my own response.
Another painting which I came across when researching is ‘The Boulevard Montmarte at Night’ by French Impressionist Camille Pissarro. It would be a great piece to link with artificial lighting at night.I know we were not required to choose a story to link with the night but there is a lovely novel suitable for 2nd Class called ‘The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark’ by Jill Tomlinson which makes great connections to the night sky, constellations and nocturnal animals. It would be a great resource to use in conjunction with learning about the Dark Skies.
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My favourite item from the long list of resources listed by participants is Patrick’s Starry Night tin foil painting lesson, based on the Van Gogh masterpiece,where children use cotton tips as opposed to a brush or hand to copy the lovely dark sky with its bright white and yellow on top of the dark cathedrals or castles.I think that that would capture the children’s imagination and it is also a very practical and enjoyable activity.
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First, I would introduce the children to some examples of traditions and stories from the past connected to night, often there is a moral or a lesson in these and I would ask the children to explore what this might be. For example, Jack O’Lantern will be out and about if you’re out late at night, this was to encourage people to get home and to bed at an appropriate time so they were fresh for the next day.
The children would then work in pairs to research other stories and traditions and they would be shown resources to use including;
Dúchas website https://www.duchas.ie/en
Ask About Ireland https://www.askaboutireland.ie/
Museum of Country Life https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Country-LifeThey would also be encouraged to ask older people they know about any stories and traditions they know and if children were from other countries it would be really interesting to compare difference and similarities between these stories and traditions.
When the projects were completed the children would present their work to the class and engage in a Q&A. Their work would be uploaded to the school website to share with the whole school community.
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Introducing children to night-time traditions and stories is a fantastic idea! Exploring their moral lessons, like the Jack O’Lantern tale, provides valuable insights. Pairing up to research stories using resources like Dúchas and the Museum of Country Life, and interviewing family members, adds depth. Comparing international traditions will broaden their perspectives. Presenting their findings and sharing them on the school website will celebrate their hard work and engage the whole school community.
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Module 5 Assignment – Option 1
To implement a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project in my classroom, I would start by explaining the importance of Dark Sky Places in reducing light pollution and preserving night skies. I’d provide materials like paper, markers, and star charts. I’d divide the students into groups and have them research different aspects, such as the impact of light pollution and effective lighting solutions, and then present their findings.
Next, I’d ask each group to choose a location for their Dark Sky Place, real or fictional, and plan essential elements like types of lighting, stargazing areas, and amenities. Students would then sketch detailed designs on large sheets of paper or create 3D models.
Each group would present their design to the class, explaining how it addresses light pollution. We would follow up with a discussion on what they learned and how they can promote dark sky principles locally. To extend the project, I might organize a trip to a potential Dark Sky Place or a night-time stargazing event. This project would help students understand light pollution and foster environmental stewardship.-
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your post. I can see that you have put thought into developing the “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project for your class, providing learners with teamwork opportunities to research, create maps or even 3D models.
Acting as stewards for this fictitious Dark Sky Place, your students will learn a lot about the importance of dark skies and the role we all play in being mindful of this easily solved form of pollution that has a detrimental impact on biodiversity and wastes so much energy.
If it is not possible to visit a dark sky location, even getting the learners to report on the level of brightness in their neighbourhood during the winter when the days are short could help raise further awareness of this issue.
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Implementing a Dark Place project in a school or classroom setting can be an engaging and educational experience that blends creativity and science. This concept can be tailored to fit various age groups and subjects. Developing a dark place in the classroom can help develop problem solving skills and it also fosters an inclusive classroom. It is integrated into the curriculum through art (use of colours, design), English ( descriptive writing, poetry) and science ( concepts of light and space). It is important to plan the project by discussing a timeline to complete the project and what materials may be needed. The teacher should have students brainstorm and sketch their ideas. Encourage them to think about what elements make their space special and personal. When the project is complete the children should be able to write or discuss what their dark place means to them and a session should be organised where the students could present their dark places to the class or the wider school community. Activities that could be incorporated across different subject areas include: Art: Students create a 3D model of their dark place using clay or recyclable materials.
Literature: Students write a short story or poem set in their dark place.
Science: Explore the physics of light and shadow, and how it can affect the perception of their dark place.
SPHE: Discuss the role of personal spaces in mental well-being.-
Hi Odhran
You have outlined a great plan there for a Dark Sky Place project. As you have identified, planning is very important, both for the teacher and for the pupils. For the teacher, as you said, planning will involve deciding how much time will be dedicated to the project and identifying all of the curriculum links so that it can be integrated into a number of lessons. For the pupils, planning will involve research into dark skies and light pollution, discussion of materials to be used, drawing of plans if they are to make a model and decisions on how they will present their work to others.
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It would be a very good idea to do a project with the children, in getting them to collect pisreoga, traditions and stories relating to the night, darkness and the other world. The children would benefit from information on other Gods of Death such as Hel (Norse), Hades (Greek), Pluto (Roman) agus Arawn( Celtic) and their association with Astronomy and the Dark Skies.
Death in Ireland would have been a very big occasion in communities which would be celebrated extensively and in various ways. There is a lot of material on this subject matter in the Dúchas.ie website and I think The Schools Collection, written by school children throughout Ireland in the 1930s would be very apt and interesting for the children.
We have Wake Games (170), Rites of Passage(573), Death(1076), Samhain (934) and Graveyards(2501) as stories, pisreoga and traditions to teach to the children.These are short paragraphs and very suitable for primary school children. As they are in both English and Irish, it is easy to have examples in both languages and have maybe a Writing Workshop for maybe 5 groups of children to discuss the various topics.
There is an interesting reference to traditions/pisreoga in the Death Section(1076), Eibhlín Ní Riain, Ballina, of the need for total silence during Wake time, even from the animals nearby, and milk churning was not allowed in case of making noise that would interfere with the silence need for the corpse.There is a little story there too of a little boy watching the sun moving slowly in sky and saying that he would like to get the sun moving as fast as he does when is doing his chores for a local woman, Nora Seán Liam. This can be found with the words starting “A ghrian, a ghrian, an raibh tú riamh ar aimsear?”
This collection is online and very accessible to the pupils and material can be printed too, to enable the children to read the material, rewrite any of it that they would like.They could organise the material in a Classbook Form or Wall Project Form and maybe present to another class/ school assembly around Halloween when darkness, death and dark skies would be very topical.
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What a fantastic idea for a lesson or in this case lessons around the influence of the night sky on our culture and cultures around the world. I had not heard of the Schools Collection before. What a wonderful collection of stories and piseogs from nearly a hundred years ago. As we return to school and are looking forward to celebrating Halloween in October this will be a wonderful way to incorporate this course into my History and EWnglish lessons.
Ancient societies were fascinated by the night sky and the various gods found in Greek, Roman, Norse and of course Celtic mythology are great examples of the night sky’s influence in the past.
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Prepare a school project to collect Píseogs/Traditions/Stories of the Night.
Students could engage in a collaborative research project to uncover and present night time traditions and stories from various cultures. Each student or group can select a particular culture or region to focus on and investigate how the night is celebrated or interpreted through its customs, festivals, and folklore. For younger classes or less-able children, a specific culture or region can be provided to them with sub-headings. Students could start by researching nighttime traditions and stories through books, iPads/Google, and interviews with people, such as family members/grandparents on old night time traditions. They will collect information about cultural practices, myths, legends, and any festivals that include night time traditions.
The children can record their information into a copy or page, with illustrations, with any relevant information including who they talked to or where they got their information. Each student or group could then present their research to the class in the form of a story, PowerPoint presentation, Book Creator app – whatever the children are more comfortable with. Children can be given their own choice of preference here – younger children can be scaffolded by simplifying the presentation of 3/4 pages on the iPad Book Creator.
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Hi Shane
I like the idea of children researching stories and traditions from different cultures and regions. There could be a lot of variation represented by parents and family members who came from different parts of Ireland and even more variation in customs and stories from other countries around the world. This is a great way to make connections beyond the school and to involve parents, grandparent and other family members as well as other members of the local community in a school project. I love how you are offering children the choice of how to display and present their work to others while providing a template for those who would prefer to have that option
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I really like how creative and inclusive your idea is! Getting students to explore night-time traditions from different cultures is such a nice way to expand their world view, while also helping them connect with their own roots by talking to family members. I love that you’re giving them the freedom to choose how they present their findings and that you’re making sure younger kids or those who need extra help can still take part. Using the Book Creator app is a great idea too. It makes the whole project fun and tech-friendly. This is a fantastic way to get students excited about storytelling while building their research and presentation skills!
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Michael D. Higgins’ poem “Stardust” reflets on the interconnectedness of all life, emphasising how humans are composed of the same elements as the stars. Inspiration and comfort can be taken from the wonder of the night sky and the cosmos.
Connecting with the night sky can be both fun and deeply emotional, beautifully captured through various songs. Classics like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” evoke timeless wonder, while David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” blends excitement with melancholy. Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars” celebrates celestial beauty, and Elton John’s “Rocket Man” explores the thrills and loneliness of space travel. Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” adds playful exploration, and emotional songs like Bruno Mars’ “Talking to the Moon,” and The Beatles’ “Blackbird” deepen connections with themes of longing and hope.
Poetry enriches our bond with the cosmos. As was pointed out in this module, John O’Donoghue’s ‘The wound at the side of the house’ highlights the effect of light pollution on the natural wonder and beauty of the sky at night.Jane Taylor’s “The Star” celebrates a twinkling star’s wonder, Robert Frost’s “Stars” contemplates their beauty and mystery, and Walter de la Mare’s “Silver” paints vivid moonlit scenes. John Keats’ “Bright Star” offers romantic constancy, while Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” contrasts scientific understanding with the emotional experience of stargazing.
Art expresses our fascination with the night sky. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and “The Starry Night Over the Rhône” capture starry energies, while Whistler’s “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket” evokes night time drama. Rubens’ “The Milky Way” and Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” highlight celestial beauty and awe, deepening our cosmic connection.
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Module 5 Assignments: Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The more I thought about it and researched songs, poems and art, the more I realised there were so many I already know/was aware of. Some of these songs and poems are popular with most children anyway but these along with the artwork may help inspire a sense of wonder about the night sky and stars.
Children’s Songs
1. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star – classic nursery rhyme that explores the wonder of a star shining in the night sky.2. Star Light, Star Bright – traditional nursery rhyme about wishing upon the first star seen at night.
3. Catch a Falling Star and Put it in Your Pocket… popular song that encourages catching a falling star and putting it in your pocket.
4. When You Wish Upon a Star – Pinocchio song about dreams and wishes being connected to stars.
5. A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay, while more modern, this song captures the beauty of a sky full of stars in a child-friendly way.
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Children’s Poems
1. Wynken, Blynken, and Nod – Eugene Field. A poem about three children sailing in a wooden shoe under the night sky.2. The Star. – Jane Taylor. Also known as the full version of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” this poem describes a star’s brilliance.
3. Bedtime. – Eleanor Farjeon. A poem describing the night sky and stars as a backdrop for bedtime.
4. Little Star. – Dorothy Aldis. A simple poem that captures a child’s view of a star.
5. Choose Something Like a Star. -Robert Frost.
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Art
1.Starry Night – by Vincent van Gogh – one of the most famous paintings capturing the night sky.
2.Starry Night Over the Rhône – by Vincent van Gogh.
3.The Great Wave off Kanagawa – by Hokusai – a dramatic night sky over the ocean.
4.The Starry Night – by Edvard Munch.
5. Moonrise – by Caspar David Friedrich.
6. The Milky Way – by Georgia O’Keeffe.
7. Meteor Shower – by Roy Lichtenstein.
8. Astronomer by Candlelight – by Gerrit Dou. -
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I have chosen to consider how many songs/poems/art I can think of that can connect us with the night sky. I think this is a really lovely idea as it can create many art/music/literacy links with SESE.
The most obvious book that I can think of is the classic ‘Goodnight Moon’ by Margaret Wise Brown. While looking up other stories, I actually found a link that shows many storybooks for younger children that discuss stars and the constellations that I will link below that I think I would definitely use in the classroom:
Two traditional nursery rhymes that also come to mind are: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Star Light, Star Bright. I am sure that are much more. There are also more modern and current songs which might be nice to introduce to inspire interest for the children. A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay, Rewrite the Stars that was in The Greatest Showman, and Counting Stars by One Republic are the first songs that come to mind. -
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
1. “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” by Don McLean – A tribute to Vincent van Gogh and his painting “The Starry Night.”
2. “Yellow” by Coldplay – Inspired by looking up at the stars.
3. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie – A song about an astronaut’s journey through space.
4. “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay – Celebrates the wonder of the night sky.
5. “Under the Milky Way” by The Church – Reflects on the beauty and mystery of the night sky.
Poems:
1. “The Star” by Jane Taylor – The classic nursery rhyme (“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”).
2. “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman – A reflection on the sublime experience of gazing at the stars.
3. “Stars” by Robert Frost – A contemplation on the eternal nature of stars.
4. “To the Evening Star” by William Blake – An ode to the evening star.
5. “The Starlight Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins – A vivid description of the night sky.
Art:
1. “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh – Perhaps the most famous painting of the night sky.
2. “Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh – Another beautiful depiction of the night sky by van Gogh.
3. “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai – Features the night sky as part of its dramatic scene.
4. “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket” by James Abbott McNeill Whistler – Captures a night scene with fireworks.
5. “Starry Night” by Edvard Munch – Different from van Gogh’s, this work by Munch also captures the essence of a night sky. -
Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night.
School projects which involve a combination of research and inter-generational interviews, whether written or filmed, can be of great benefit to the pupils, teachers and families. They say that every time an old person dies, it’s like a library burns down and I am a big fan of chronicling the history of an area, or specific topic, in this case traditions and folklore of the night.
In terms of planning ahead, I would initially contact parents and grandparents about the topic and garner interest in visiting the school. I would also make contact with the Museum of Country Life about visiting the museum with a view to a tour on the topic of traditions of the night, then research the Dúchas project to identify some extracts that may be of use to the project, which will be documented in a Scoilnet Learning Path.
From there, I would have a KWL with the pupils regarding any traditions that they may already know or be aware of. We would develop an interview schedule that could be most beneficial to gather the most amount of useful information for our project. When the interview schedule is completed, some of the grandparents who volunteered to visit the school will come in and be interviewed. The pupils will then know how to conduct the interview and will have a week to interview at least 2 people regarding traditions/folklore of the night.
Pupils will then type up the answers to their interview questions and these will be collated. Combining this information with their research, museum visit and in-school interviews, the pupils will thematise the information and create a book which will be ultimately published for the school.
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The night sky is an excellent topic to link with the arts subjects. The first piece that comes to mind for Visual Arts Looking and Responding is Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting. This would be a lovely stimulus for discussing stars, how they appear to us, how they could appear differently without light pollution and how we can imagine them to appear and respond to that with colour and texture. Going right back to nursery rhymes with infants, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star reminds us that the children can be wondering about and learning about the night sky right from infants. Coldplay’s song ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ is a nice one to incorporate music with older class groups.
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Songs – There are so many, many songs ,poems and art that connect us with the night sky that I have space many happy hours listening, looking and reading this morning! The night sky can be a source of motivation and inspiration for anyone who looks up at it. Lyrics can invite the listener to embrace the boundless possibilities of life and to revel in the wonder of the natural world, or can provide a powerful and uplifting message of empowerment for listeners of all ages. Lyrics can speak to themes of self-discovery and independence, themes of strength, defiance, and perseverance, themes of love, loss, and the beauty of nature, feelings of a sense of awe and wonder at the vastness of the universe or offer a moment of peaceful respite from the world’s hustle and bustle. Themes that inspire and uplift listeners around the world, themes of ambition, hope, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world, redemption, and the power of human connection. Songs that invite the listener to reflect on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of human experience.
Examples include:
• “I’m a Star, The Stars Song” by StoryBots
• “Vincent” by Don McLean
• “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
• “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
• “Stars” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
• “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
• “As With The Night Sky” by Kyle McEvoy and Philip G Anderson (video)
• “The Big Sky” by Kate Bush (video scene where she is shining torch into the night – talking point )
• “Midnight Sky” by Miley Cyrus
• “Northern Sky” by Nick Drake (video)
• “Night Sky” by Faime (video) explore themes of passion, desire, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.
• “The Night Sky” by Keane (video)
• “The Night Sky” by Mostly Autumn
• “Same Night Sky” by 2AM Club -an anthem for anyone who has ever felt the ache of missing someone and the hope that comes with knowing that they are still out there, under the same night sky.
• “Airplanes” by B.o.B
• “Look Up at the Stars” by Shawn MendesArt – The most famous example that crops up on every search is Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”, housed in New York’s MoMA.
Websites that include Van Gogh and many other nightscapes include:
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/night-sky-paintings/ include:
• Edward Hopper – “Nighthawks”
• Vincent van Gogh – “Starry Night Over the Rhone”
• Adam Elsheimer – “The Flight into Egypt”
• James Whistler – “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket”
• Tarsila do Amaral – “The Moon”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/the-arts/5-most-beautiful-and-famous-paintings-of-the-night-sky/photostory/109073932.cms include:
• ‘Moonlight’ by Winslow Homer
• ‘Moonlit Shipwreck at Sea’ by Thomas Moran
• ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’ by van Gogh
https://artuk.org/discover/stories/the-night-sky-in-art include:
• Nebra sky disc (c.1800–1600 BC, copper & gold, Early Bronze Age Unetice culture)
• A Moonlit Wooded River Landscape by Aert van der Neer
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artists-made-night-sky-muse include more recent artists, for example:
• Mara de Luca – “Cut Night Sky 1”
https://artfilemagazine.com/artworks/
worth a look at with older classes: https://feastcornwall.org/camelford-night-sky-art-installation/
if money and distance allows: https://media.ireland.com/en-ie/news-releases/global/stars,-stones-and-an-experience-of-the-dark-sky.aspxPoems/ rhymes –
• “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth
• “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” by Edward Lear
• “The Starlit Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” By Clement Clarke Moore (‘twas the night before Christmas…)
• “The star” by Jane Taylor (‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’)
• “The Moon” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Technically a rhyming book “Adam’s amazing space adventure” by Benji Bennet is a fabulous resource for lower classes to be inspired by.
The children themselves may enjoy ‘researching’ night sky songs, poems, art by quizzing family members and maybe seeing which is the most popular! (statistics)-
Hi Katie,
Wow, what a fantastic collection of songs, poems, and art! Your ideas are incredibly inspiring. I’m definitely going to borrow some of these for my third-class boys. I think they’ll love exploring the night sky through music and art as much as I do. Thanks for sharing such a rich array of resources—I’ll be sure to incorporate them into our lessons!
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In our all-boys third class, implementing a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project could be both educational and fun. I’d start by explaining the importance of dark skies for night-time creatures and how light pollution affects their natural behavior. We’d discuss different elements that make a “dark sky place,” like minimizing artificial lights and creating habitats for nocturnal animals.
Next, I’d give each student a large sheet of paper and art supplies to design their ideal dark sky environment. They could draw their dream night sky with minimal light pollution, including features like bat houses, owl perches, and native plants that attract insects. To make it interactive, students could also create 3D models using cardboard, paint, and recycled materials.
To connect with the night sky through art and storytelling, we’d explore songs, poems, and stories about the stars and moon. For instance, we might read Michael D. Higgins’ poem “Stardust” and discuss its themes. Additionally, students could share local legends and folklore about the night sky, drawing inspiration from resources like the Dúchas Folklore Commission.
This project not only helps students understand the impact of light pollution but also encourages creativity and personal connection with the night sky through art and storytelling. It’s a fun way to blend science with the arts while fostering a deeper appreciation for our natural world.
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Some songs that I would pick that connect us with the night sky are:
Twinkle, twinkle little star, catch a falling star, star light, star bright, moon river, when you wish upon a star and sky full of stars by Coldplay.
Here is a list of some possible art projects that the children could engage in when learning about the night sky.
They could create their version of starry night by Vincant Van Gogh, they might make a phases of the moon hanging mobile to consolidate their learning on the topic, They could create the plough using a box, tinfoil and black string, planet tubes and a constellation jar made from using a jar, fairy lights and craft paper.
Here is a list of some poems that would connect us with the night sky:
“The Star” by Jane Taylor, Silver” by Walter de la Mare, Stars” by Sara Teasdale and “Bed in Summer” by Robert Louis Stevenson.
I think there is a clear connection between these songs, poems and art projects and the night sky.I would use these in my classroom for the purpose of integration when teaching about the night sky and I think the children would enjoy them. -
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I hope these action songs are not on the lists already.
WOW! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood
Night’s Nice by Barbara and Ed Emberley
Forest Bright, Forest Night by Jennifer Ward
Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem FoxWings Across the Moon by Linda Hargrove
Starry Night, Sleep Tight: a Bedtime Book of Lullabies by Gail YerrillA Tiny Little Star
There’s a tiny little star
Way up in the sky,
(raise fist high)
A tiny little star,
Up so very high.
(raise fist even higher)
She twinkles brightly
Through the night,
(open fist and wiggle fingers)
But during the day
She’s out of sight.
(hide hands behind back)
Sun, Moon, and Stars
Here is the sun; it’s big and bright.
(arms over head to make sun)
And here is the moon, with its glowing light
(use hands to make a circle)
Here are the stars up in the sky,
(point upward)
Twinkling brightly way up high.
(flutter fingers)
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Consider how many songs/poems/artwork connect us to the night sky- For the younger classes one of the first songs any child learns is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Another lovely song linked to the Disney Film Pinocchio is ‘When you wish Upon a Star’. A suitable poem for this age group would be ‘Star Light, Star Bright first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight’. Another fun song for this age group is by Raffi ‘Aikendrum’ and is all about a man who lived on the moon. Stories suitable would be ‘Bringing Down the Moon’ and ‘I Took the Moon for a Walk’.
For the Senior Classes Starry Night by Van Gogh and Moonlight by Winslow Homer would be sources of inspiration. The poem which most inspires in terms of imagery of dark skies and alludes to Cassiopeia is ‘A Christmas Childhood’ by Patrick Kavanagh.-
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your post. What a wonderful assortment of songs, art, and poetry for all ages! I had never heard of Aikendrum, but it is a great and fun fit for younger learners. Disney songs like When You Wish Upon a Star are always so popular and will help young learners connect with the night sky and its beautiful stars, beacons of hope in the dark.Beautiful choices for the senior cycle, and it’s great to see an Irish poet feature on the list. Patrick’s work is so vibrant and visceral that it will captivate your learners. It also makes a great reference to the constellation Cassiopeia and is a nice prompt for leading into an activity, like finding this constellation on Stellarium, etc.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
I really enjoyed this module and it was lovely to see how so many songs/poems/art can start as a trigger for this learning. Here are some of my own that I can think of that would be great to use with a class.
Poems:
-The Lamplighter by Robert Louis Stephenson
-Warm Summe Sun by Mark Twain
-Twinkle, Twinkle little star (Children’s rhyme)
-Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Songs:
-Starman by David Bowie
-Counting Stars One Republic
-Night by Bruce Springston
-Night and Day by Frank Sinatra
-One of these Nights (The Eagles)
Art:
-Vincent Van Gough ‘The Starry Night’
-Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
-Moonlight by Winslow Homer
This is an example of some integration that you could do with the study of the night. I think the children would really enjoy these songs and it is good way to engage the children at the start of a lesson.
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Here is a list of songs, poems, and artworks that connect us with the night sky, capturing its beauty and mystery.
Songs
“Vincent” by Don McLean: Inspired by Van Gogh’s The Starry Night.
“Space Oddity” by David Bowie: This song explores themes of space and isolation.
“Starman” by David Bowie: A tribute to the stars and the possibility of life beyond Earth.“A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay: Celebrates the beauty of stars.
“Under the Milky Way” by The Church: This song reflects on the beauty and mystery of the night sky.
“Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars: This song explores themes of longing and connection.
“Moon River” by Henry Mancini: This song celebrates dreams and journeys under the night sky.
“Stars” by Simply Red: This song emphasizes longing and wonder inspired by stars.Poems
“Stars” by Robert Frost: This poem reflects on the timelessness and beauty of the stars.
“To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley: This poem contemplates the moon’s influence and beauty.
“Silver” by Walter de la Mare: This poem captures the gentle glow of moonlight over the landscape.
“Night” by William Blake: This poem explores the serene beauty of the night.
Art
“The Starry Night over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh: This painting captures the reflection of stars in the Rhône River. -
Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For
This will be a follow on project from learning about Dark Skys and Light Pollution. There is potential for this to be a whole-school project, engaging the ‘techie’ children in all classes to group together to edit recordings (e.g. snip and enhance volume), artists to illustrate etc.
I will read out an entry from The Schools collection (the Dúchas.ie), containing reference to the night sky.
The following are a few of the signs we associate with the moon. When the moon has a silvery face it foretells frost. When a white ring of mist appears round the moon it is a sure sign of rain. A new moon that is far north when she is first seen is for bad weather. The new moon that is lying on “her” back when she first appears is a sign of good weather. A far off ring round the moon is a near hand storm. A moon that seems to be standing erect in the sky indicates bad weather. Sometimes the moon is hidden underneath clouds; it signifies a great storm of rain. – Star of the Sea, Glengivney, pg 311,312)I will explain that we should compile our own collection of stories relating to the night sky, as we could be one of the last generations to see it with the naked eye.
ICT – teach moment – I will teach them that using a ‘-’ before a word will filter searches not to include that word, if possible. (this will help prevent finding numerous weather stories)
Using Ctrl+f to find words within documents.
As a result of this teaching moment I will read another extract, showing the magnification tool over the original text, and highlighting the digital text on the right.When I was a boy at home my mother had Irish names for many of the stars and groups of stars. The only name I can presently recall is the Dreoilín. This as well as I can remember, was applied to a group of 7 stars which lie very close together and may be seen about 10.30 o’clock any bright star-lit night pretty high up in the south-eastern sky. I am not sure but I think it is the group of stars called the Pleiades. They are so close together and their light blends so, that it is sometimes difficult to say if there are seven or only six in the group. – Cromadh, Croom, Co. Limerick
Allow the children to explore other entries which mention the night sky, teaching children how to search for specific words, or phrases on the web, or in text.
I will share a Google Form for children to compile evidence; stories / poems / phrases etc.
Children can use text or voice typing to fill in their forms.
They can take photos and voice recordings when possible. I will ensure that there is an option to add files to their G-Form responses.Responses can be shared out among the class, using the Google Sheet format of the response, in view only mode, to ensure no changes to the original survey.
Children will transcribe recorded stories, or add a vocal recording to text only stories.
Images can be sourced or drawn to add colour and illustration to evidence.Present records using BookCreator.com
Children will add their text, images and recordings into a shared Book on Book creator. The final book can be shared on the school website, and that of our local Library. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Providing children the opportunity to make connections with the Dark Skies through the use of Art, song and poetry is extremely important and gives children a pathway to show appreciation for the world around them in an artistic way. It also allows them to look and interpret how others view the world and the beauty that is in it. Some of the songs and poems that I have provided below exhibit this appreciation and consider elements of the dark skies that may not be previously considered or appreciated. This thematic approach gives children the opportunity to make sense of the dark skies in a number of ways and it is certainly the approach that I will take with my own class when I teach this extremely versatile topic.
Module 5 looks at how to make learners critically think about the night sky. This is important for children when they begin to look at art, songs and poetry that relate to the dark skies because they can relate their feelings to the feelings of others and how it is similar and/or different.
Art: Looking and responding to Art is a vital part of the Visual Arts curriculum so providing opportunities for children to discuss and debate art elements based on the night sky is crucial and it is something that I will certainly implement with my own class. I would consider art by Henri Matisse and John Rienpenhoff because their art is unique and contrasting from each other which further develops the concept that a person’s depiction of the night sky is individual.
Poetry: Poetry can be interpreted in many different ways so if I was doing this with my class, I would put them into groups so come up with the own interpretation of the poem so show the individually in it.
‘Recipe for a night sky’ by Kate Williams
‘The Night Sky by Val Harris
Song: I would get the children to consider their favourite line of the song of the part that stood out to them the most and to vocalise why it was their favourite. This oral language activity helps the children to further develop the message that the songwriter was getting across. I would use songs that the children may be familiar with for this activity to further develop an interest and stimulate their critical thinking.
‘A sky full of stars’ by Coldplay
‘Counting Stars’ by One Republic
‘All of the stars’ by Ed Sheeran
‘Half the world away’ by Aurora (inspired by the night sky)
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“Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” in the classroom can be an exciting and educational project. I would Start by introducing students to the concept of Dark Sky Places, areas committed to reducing light pollution to preserve natural nightscapes. Again i would focus on Ballycroy national park and show the kids images of the night sky.
I would get the children to Brainstorm different songs or poems they could think of that might influence a piece of art on the night sky. I would show them the van gough painting and play a clip from the song starry starry night by Don Mclean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk
I would then get the children to paint their own painting influenced by dark skies. This could be influenced by starry starry night or a piece of art or music of their choosing . I would set up a display of our dark skies with the titles of songs or quotes of songs or literature that influenced their paintings.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
One of my favourite parts of lesson planning on any topic is finding songs, poetry and works of art to complement SESE lessons. While working on lesson plans for the maths topic the circle I discovered artist Alma Thomas. While working on lesson plans for the American Revolution my class LOVED listening to the Hamilton soundtrack (filtered where necessary). While working on a lesson plan for biodiversity I discovered the poem Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah. The possibilities for integration with the arts seem just endless no matter what topic is being covered and it is an aspect of lesson planning that I thoroughly enjoy. Some works relating to the topic of the Night Sky are:
MUSIC
The Planets Suite by Holst
Star Wars soundtrack by John Williams
ET soundtrack by John Williams
Spaceman by Babylon Zoo
A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
When you Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio
ART
Starry Night
Starry Night Over the Rhone by Van Gogh
POETRY
The Rainbow By William Wordsworth
Aurora by Emily Dickinson-
Hi Niamh
Integrating art, poetry and music into all of your STEM lessons is a lovely idea and it sounds like you have discovered a wide range of art, poetry and music while doing this. Encouraging your pupils to do the same might be a nice exercise too to see what they come up with. I remember my son doing a poetry assignment during school closures where he had to choose a poem to write about. For reference, he was given a website link with a wide range of poetry all listed by subject area. I took a look at the section on “Nature Poetry” for my own interest and was disappointed to find poems about farm animals and pets but not a single one about nature so I was delighted to look up and read your suggested poem Nature Trail by Benjamin Zephaniah. It is a great poem to go along with bug hunting and discovering Biodiversity and the reference to the owl in the garden at night is a lovely link with Dark Skies
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
Sky full of stars – Coldplay
Twinkle Twinkle little star
Fly me to the moon
Here comes the sunClair de Lune is a classical music piece which could be used to imagine what the night sky looks like.
Planets by Gustav Holst is also another classical piece that could be a good introduction to a lesson on the night sky.Poems:
Bright star I see tonight is a beautiful poem about the night sky.
Art:
Starry Night by Van Gogh is the most famous one.Other good inspiration for art based on the night sky would be to flick white paint with a toothbrush on black paper to represent the stars.
Papier mache could be used on balloons to make a solar system. Black card and painted stars could then be used to represent the night sky.
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Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your post. What a wonderful collection of creative sources you have listed. Great classical choices. I’m currently listening to Clair de Lune, and it’s interesting to learn that this song was inspired by a poem, which was, in turn, inspired by a painting.
Creativity breeds creativity, and your ideas for creating a night sky sound like a great way to portray the magnificent views we are losing to light pollution and may even inspire your learners to be more creative in their celebration of the night sky.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The first song that came to my mind with the topic of the night sky is Van Morrison’s classic ‘Moondance’, in this song he references the moon and they night sky as a backdrop for romance and mysticism.
Dublin’s Declan O’Rourke wrote the song ‘Galileo‘, and it is another fine example of a piece of music that uses the sky for inspiration… “Who puts the rainbow in the sky? Who lights the starts at night?”
In the album, ‘The Gods we Can Touch”, Norwegian artist Aurora incorporates celestial themes and the mystic of the night sky into her music, exploring mythological and cosmic elements. An example of this would be the song ‘A little Place Called the Moon’.
I will put Clannad and the Gloaming together for this point, both groups are known form blending traditional Irish music with modern influences. Both group often evoke the ethereal qualitied of the night sky in their ambient, contemplative soundscapes.
W.B. Yeats frequently incorporated celestial imagery in his works, such as in “The Song of Wandering Aengus” which uses the night sky to symbolize dreams and otherworldly realms.
‘Star of the Sea” by Joseph O’Connor is a historical novel, set during the Famine, uses the metaphor of the night sky and the sea journey under the stars to explore themes of hope and despair.
“The Sky Garden” by James Turrell, located in West Cork, this renowned installation by American artist Turrell is designed for observing the night sky, blending art and astronomy in a unique setting.-
Hi Orla,
Thanks for your post. You’ve got some great options listed and a lovely eclectic mix. I particularly like “The Sky Garden” (which I must visit this summer!), what a great outing this must be for schools nearby.You make an excellent point about the music itself rather than the inclusion of certain words that can evoke the ethereal qualities of the night sky, with a terrific example of Clannad’s unique and hypnotically beautiful sound.
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Consider how many songs/poems/art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky.
Ireland’s deep connection to the night sky is reflected in its rich cultural heritage of songs, poetry and art. Traditional songs like ‘The Star of the County Down’ evoke the beauty of the stars. In poetry, W.B. Yeats frequently drew on the night sky to explore themes of mysticism and the human experience. Many Irish artists depict the night sky over iconic landscapes. Paul henry’s paintings often include serene, starry skies over the Irish countryside.
Other examples:
‘Twinkle, twinkle, Little Star’ that invites children to wonder and marvel at the stars.‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ inspires children to look to the stars and believe in their dreams.
Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ sparks imagination and a sense of wonder in children.
There are many pieces of music, poetry and art that connect us all to the Night Sky and are very accessible and engaging.
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Humans have always been interested in the night sky. Thousands of years ago people look up and saw constellations and made up stories and myths and legends about what they saw. More recently, the night sky has inspired many works of art, songs and poems.
The most famous piece of art with the night sky as the central theme is ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh- this painting captured the swirling energy of the night sky. Van Gogh also painted another piece about the night sky- ‘Starry Night Over Rhone’- in this painting, the night sky reflects in the water.
When I think of stars, the first thing that comes to mind it ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, which of course is a childhood classic. Another poem about the night sky is ‘Silver’ by Walter de la Mare. In this poem, he paints a picture of the moon’s light shining on a still dark night.
A song I love about the moon is ‘Moon River’ by Audrey Hepburn from the movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. This song uses the moon light in the river as a symbol for dreams and the passage of time. Another song about the night sky is ‘A Sky full of Stars’ by Coldplay. This song uses the imagery of the stars to describe the brightness and beauty someone they love.
These songs, poems and paintings show the influence of the night sky on human creativity. In order for the night sky to continue to be a muse for all artists, we need to protect it and reduce light pollution.
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Hi Marie
You make a very good point there. Not only can we study individual artworks, songs and poems about the night sky to see how the artists saw the skies and to compare the experiences of different people in the past and in different locations and situations, but we can also look at the sheer volume of creative works based on the night sky and realise how important it is to us culturally as well as for our own health and that of other species to have dark skies.
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Planning a school project to collect traditions and stories of the Night would be an engaging and educational experience for the children. I would start by having a discussion with the children and defining the project’s objectives. I would formulate a timeline, ensuring ample time for research, interviews, and presentations.
Next, the children could gather resources by researching online, visiting local libraries, or consulting with eldery people in the community (grandparents, neighbours etc) to learn about nighttime traditions.The children could create surveys or questions for interviews. I would encourage collaboration by assigning group roles, like researchers, interviewers, and documentarians etc so that everybody has a job that suits their ability and skills.
I would schedule interviews or storytelling sessions with community members, recording their insights with permission. Students can then compile these stories into a creative format—such as a book, video, or presentation.
Finally, I would organise a showcase event where the children can present their findings, celebrating the richness of nighttime traditions while fostering a sense of community and appreciation for cultural heritage.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
I have looked at the following examples:
Music:
Coldplay: Sky full of stars
Star Man: David Bowie
Northern Sky: Nick DrakeI would use these three songs to really get the children to analyse the lyrics and make links to the natural world. I would split children into groups and get them to add their own verse to the song they are given. Listen and respond to the music to discuss what they visualized when they heard the songs and allow them to access prior knowledge that may inform their visualisations.
Poetry:
Stars Never Lie: Dustin Hoffmann
Constellation of stars: Zala EjazPoetry can really have an impact as it is a select amount of words that have a powerful meaning. Looking at these two poems we would discuss the themes, meanings and visualizing the images created by the poets. Also the children could then create their own poems allowing them to think about themes and the language associated with poetry.
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This has been an enjoyable task of finding links to my own music and art exposure and thinking of the ways children, particularly in the older classes might relate to and learn from these songs, poems and art that I’ve chosen. I believe it would be a fun opening task to have the children brainstorming their own ‘Night sky’ songs, poems and art; individually, in pairs or even in groups.
Some of my choices in songs:
“Sky Full of Stars” – Coldplay
“The Voyage” – Christy Moore
“Dancing in the Moonlight” – Toploader
“Dancing in the Moonlight” – Thin Lizzy
“Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
” Scaití ” – OneRepublic counting stars as GaeilgeSome of the Poems I’ve been exposed to which involve the night sky are:
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” – W.B. Yeats
“Stars” – Robert Frost
“To the Evening Star” – William BlakeI don’t know a huge amount about art. The only ones obvious to me were “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh and “The Scream” by Edvard Munch.
After researching, some other ones I liked were:
“Starry Night and the Astronauts” by Alma Thomas and “The Starry Sky” by Jean-François Millet. -
MODULE 5 ASSIGNMENT:
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”Based on this module, I would prepare a scheme encompassing the arts & humanities subjects to explore the treatment of the Northern Lights. The topic can really cross over into any subject you would like though, with just a little flexible thinking!
• Music: Beginning with an article from The Guardian, where scientists recorded the true music of the Northern Lights!
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/jan/05/noises-of-the-northern-lights-weatherwatch?CMP=share_btn_url
• In groups, the children could take a few minutes to discuss/predict/perform what the sounds might be like, noting any ideas on their mini whiteboards.
• We would then watch the following brief YouTube video which plays the actual music of the Aurora. Afterwards the children would be given time to share responses etc
• Children prepare & perform a ‘soundscape’ or ‘sound poem’ or ‘piece of music’ that they compose with their groups, reflective of what they have learnt. They could use any found materials or instruments available in the classroom. Guidance towards music curriculum needed ie.: sense of rhythm, pitch & form etc
• Finish by hearing 2 contrasting examples of music inspired by the Northern Lights
1. A gorgeous Scandinavian choral piece – lyrics and music are stunning! https://youtu.be/rXKJCdGMUas?si=4pqW5pakoGyUP6QZ
2. A lovely sing-a-long-able pop/soft rock/folky song, which is a tribute to the native people of Northern Canada. The chorus repeats the native phrase: ‘Nalligilaurakku’, which means “I remember.”
The perfect lead into looking at Indigenous stories and tales centered around the Northern Lights internationally, and their importance in folklore/mythology.
So from this you get the general idea. I have compiled lots of resources to support the following very vaguely described areas:
• Art – responding to areas listed for Drama below; particularly Finland’s ‘Foxfire’ tales. Use of paint, print, construction – ideas from the children’s inspiration please 😉
• Drama –acting in role of story tellers, passing on the mythology of northern lights throughout history using resources, poems & stories we have explored in English & SESE, from Scandinavia, Scotland and China.
• Poetry – Alaska: Night Lights by Laura Salas Acrostic & very child friendly https://laurasalas.com/poems-for-teachers/alaska/
• Dance – responding to all of the above (including our music examples) via dance, using colourful sheets and scarves to represent the colours and flow of the northern lights.Hope people can use these ideas and links etc. Have a great year with your classes everyone 😊
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MODULE 5 ASSIGNMENT:
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”Based on this module, I would prepare a scheme encompassing the arts & humanities subjects to explore the treatment of the Northern Lights. The topic can really cross over into any subject you would like though, with just a little flexible thinking!
• Music: Beginning with an article from The Guardian, where scientists recorded the true music of the Northern Lights!
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/jan/05/noises-of-the-northern-lights-weatherwatch?CMP=share_btn_url
• In groups, the children could take a few minutes to discuss/predict/perform what the sounds might be like, noting any ideas on their mini whiteboards.
• We would then watch the following brief YouTube video which plays the actual music of the Aurora. Afterwards the children would be given time to share responses etc
• Children prepare & perform a ‘soundscape’ or ‘sound poem’ or ‘piece of music’ that they compose with their groups, reflective of what they have learnt. They could use any found materials or instruments available in the classroom. Guidance towards music curriculum needed ie.: sense of rhythm, pitch & form etc
• Finish by hearing 2 contrasting examples of music inspired by the Northern Lights
1. A gorgeous Scandinavian choral piece – lyrics and music are stunning! https://youtu.be/rXKJCdGMUas?si=4pqW5pakoGyUP6QZ
2. A lovely sing-a-long-able pop/soft rock/folky song, which is a tribute to the native people of Northern Canada. The chorus repeats the native phrase: ‘Nalligilaurakku’, which means “I remember.”
The perfect lead into looking at Indigenous stories and tales centred around the Northern Lights internationally, and their importance in folklore/mythology.
So from this you get the general idea. I have compiled lots of resources to support the following very vaguely described areas:
• Art – responding to areas listed for Drama below; particularly Finland’s ‘Foxfire’ tales. Use of paint, print, construction – ideas from the children’s inspiration please 😉
• Drama –acting in role of story tellers, passing on the mythology of northern lights throughout history using resources, poems & stories we have explored in English & SESE, from Scandinavia, Scotland and China.
• Poetry – Alaska: Night Lights by Laura Salas Acrostic & very child friendly https://laurasalas.com/poems-for-teachers/alaska/
• Dance – responding to all of the above (including our music examples) via dance, using colourful sheets and scarves to represent the colours and flow of the northern lights.Hope people can use these ideas and links etc. Have a great year with your classes everyone 😊
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Consider how Songs/Poems/Art can connect us with the Night Sky. Here is a sample of some.
Poems:
1. “Stardust” by President Michael D. Higgins – A reflective piece on the cosmos and our place within it.
2. “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman – Whitman contrasts scientific understanding with the awe of simply gazing at the stars.
3. “The Starry Night” by Anne Sexton – Inspired by Van Gogh’s painting, it explores the painter’s vision and the beauty of the night sky.
4. “Bright Star” by John Keats – A sonnet where Keats expresses a wish to be as steadfast as a star.
5. “Choose Something Like a Star” by Robert Frost- A poem encouraging contemplation and calm, like the distant stars.Songs:
1. “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” by Don McLean – A tribute to Vincent van Gogh and his famous painting, “The Starry Night”.
2. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie – A haunting song about an astronaut, Major Tom, floating in space.
3. “Across the Universe” by The Beatles – Reflects on the infinite and cosmic with a sense of wonder.
4. “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay – Celebrates the beauty of the night sky and love.
5. “Starman” by David Bowie – Tells the story of a star being who brings a message of hope to Earth.Art:
1. “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh – Perhaps the most famous painting inspired by the night sky, depicting a swirling, dreamlike night.
2. “Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gough – Another stunning portrayal of the night sky by van Gogh.
3. “A Black Hole Colliding with Another Black Hole” by Samuel Araya – A modern take on the cosmic theme.
4. “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Hokusai – While primarily about the sea, the night sky in the background plays a crucial role in the composition.
5. “Starry Night and the Astronauts” by Alma Thomas – A vibrant piece inspired by space exploration and the night sky.This is a collection of Songs/ Ar/ Poetry that connect us with the Night Sky and I do believe that children would enjoy studying some of above.
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Module 5:
Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For Example: Dúchas Folklore Commission
I looked at this resource and it was fascinating, particularly the Main Manuscript collection. I think cihldren would love to hear old stories written in such a different style than nowadays, see the old writing itself and listen to the stories.
I think a project on this would link well with Bealoideas in Gaeilge and students would become familiar to traditions and our culture in a fun way.
In my locality a new inititave was begun with signposts to advertise a Lost Treasure Trail marking old Cairns and historical places relatively unknown to most, bar those living bwdide them. One is a Cairn called Cairn Eochaí. I’m looking at it from my window and it has the most spectacular views in the west of Ireland over Lough Mask. A character from folklore linked to it was Lú, who had a long hand…and it comes from a comet apparently. I have a book about it. It’s fascinating history.
Also the night of the big wind would be another excellent story about a storm long ago.
Archaeo-astronomy will definietely interest students and in this module I learned that Ireland was at the forefront of space exploration with the largest telescope being at Birr for 75 years.
Also the Irish women involved in astronomy is something to investigate.
As homework children could ask their families if they have any stories from long ago or even sayings or memories from their youth. Discussions could takeplace about how light affected their travelling around in the dark in their youths compared with today.
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Module 2 assignment:
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
I think this was a smart question as everyones searches led us to sharing all our resources. The following are exerpts from the above posts.
Ones that stood out for me when I was younger were poems from Monley-Hopkins and Walt Whitman.
I think songs will denitely appeal to my 3rd and 4th classes, especially from Coldplay.
However I love this about this module in that the Dark Skies are in so many aspects of our lives and that they have affected so much that they are in our thoughts and hopw much of an inspiration the sky is.
I will definitely be studying the piseogs and old stroies from the past using the Dúchas Folklore Commission website as I think preservsing our traditions is so important. This also will tie in with Gaeilge and History so much.
I’m fascinated with archeo-astronomy and how the sky is connected to folklore. I live near Cairns directed related Lú and recently Mayo Coco has marked the Cairns on a new signpost initiative to promote people visiting them. LTT Lost Treasures Trail. From my window here I’m looking at Cairn Eochaí and it has one of the most spectacular views in Connacht, over the Mask and really is unknown. Other Cairns are nearby too and there are wonderful stories about these ancient figures. Lú apparently was named Lú with the long hand, supposedly after a comet. I have a book about it but it could turn into a local project with my students perhaps.
.Night Sky, Moon and Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyjzXCCbLY4
2.Sun, Moon and Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcUyDAO1Fk0
3.I’m a Star, The Stars Song by StoryBots (Song/Rap): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t3aXb3LpWg
4.A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay – speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding hope and beauty in the vastness of the night sky. The chorus repeats the line, “Cause you’re a sky, you’re a sky full of stars.”
5.The Big Sky by Kate Bush is an atmospheric and dreamy song which speaks of the majesty and the grandeur of the night sky. The lyrics describe the vastness of the universe, and the way stars seem to shimmer and dance in the sky.
6.Midnight Sky by Miley Cyrus is an upbeat catchy song the speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding strength and resilience in the beauty off the night sky. The lyrics repeat the phrase, “I’m gonna keep on dancing in the midnight sky.”
Poems:
1.Twas the Night Before Christmas
2.The Starlit Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins
3Stars I Have Seen them Fall by A.E. Housman
4.Firework Night by Enid Blyton
5.Five Little Rockets Standing in a Row (Rhyme)
6. Won’t it be Fun on Bonfire Night By Unknown Author
Art: Looking and responding:
Van Gogh: 1. Starry Night 2. Café Terrace at Night
Kandinsky – Moonlit Night
Monet – Seascape
Bonnard – Night Landscape
Elsheimer – The Flight into Egypt
Verschuier – The Great Comet of 1680 over Rotterdam
Some of my choices in songs:
“Sky Full of Stars” – Coldplay
“The Voyage” – Christy Moore
“Dancing in the Moonlight” – Toploader
“Dancing in the Moonlight” – Thin Lizzy
“Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
” Scaití ” – OneRepublic counting stars as GaeilgeSome of the Poems I’ve been exposed to which involve the night sky are:
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” – W.B. Yeats
“Stars” – Robert Frost
“To the Evening Star” – William Blake• “I’m a Star, The Stars Song” by StoryBots
• “Vincent” by Don McLean
• “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
• “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
• “Stars” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
• “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
• “As With The Night Sky” by Kyle McEvoy and Philip G Anderson (video)
• “The Big Sky” by Kate Bush (video scene where she is shining torch into the night – talking point )
• “Midnight Sky” by Miley Cyrus
• “Northern Sky” by Nick Drake (video)
• “Night Sky” by Faime (video) explore themes of passion, desire, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.
• “The Night Sky” by Keane (video)
• “The Night Sky” by Mostly Autumn
• “Same Night Sky” by 2AM Club -an anthem for anyone who has ever felt the ache of missing someone and the hope that comes with knowing that they are still out there, under the same night sky.
• “Airplanes” by B.o.B
• “Look Up at the Stars” by Shawn MendesArt – The most famous example that crops up on every search is Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”, housed in New York’s MoMA.
Websites that include Van Gogh and many other nightscapes include:
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/night-sky-paintings/ include:
• Edward Hopper – “Nighthawks”
• Vincent van Gogh – “Starry Night Over the Rhone”
• Adam Elsheimer – “The Flight into Egypt”
• James Whistler – “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket”
• Tarsila do Amaral – “The Moon”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/the-arts/5-most-beautiful-and-famous-paintings-of-the-night-sky/photostory/109073932.cms include:
• ‘Moonlight’ by Winslow Homer
• ‘Moonlit Shipwreck at Sea’ by Thomas Moran
• ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’ by van Gogh
https://artuk.org/discover/stories/the-night-sky-in-art include:
• Nebra sky disc (c.1800–1600 BC, copper & gold, Early Bronze Age Unetice culture)
• A Moonlit Wooded River Landscape by Aert van der Neer7 Pieces of Art Inspired by the Night Sky
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-artists-made-night-sky-muse include more recent artists, for example:
• Mara de Luca – “Cut Night Sky 1”
https://artfilemagazine.com/artworks/
worth a look at with older classes: https://feastcornwall.org/camelford-night-sky-art-installation/
if money and distance allows: https://media.ireland.com/en-ie/news-releases/global/stars,-stones-and-an-experience-of-the-dark-sky.aspxPoems/ rhymes –
• “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth
• “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” by Edward Lear
• “The Starlit Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
• “A Visit from St. Nicholas” By Clement Clarke Moore (‘twas the night before Christmas…)
• “The star” by Jane Taylor (‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’)
• “The Moon” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Technically a rhyming book “Adam’s amazing space adventure” by Benji Bennet is a fabulous resource for lower classes to be inspired by.
The children themselves may enjoy ‘researching’ night sky songs, poems, art by quizzing family members and maybe seeing which is the most popular! (statistics) -
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There are some great examples of references to the sky in the arts on this forum. I would like to focus on Starry Night by Van Gogh, and the connected song Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McClean.
The painting is so striking, with such wonderful swirls and loops. Children could examine the painting in small groups and pick out features. They could then use this as inspiration for their own painting of a night sky with a slight difference – perhaps the silhouette of iconic buildings from their own town in the foreground.
Before introducing the song I would explain a little about Van Gogh’s life to the children and how he was considered insane. We could then listen to the song and discuss its lyrics. Do they think Van Gogh have been treated in the same way in Ireland in 2024? Why/why not? What do they think the song writer is trying to say about Van Gogh’s life?The connecting feature in all this is that the sky is available to all of us, regardless of age, location, or year. Staring at the night sky is a shared human experience. It can calm, inspire, create a sense of awe and encourage creativity in all of us.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
I listened to Michael D Higgins “Stardust”. While I knew he was a poet, I didn’t realise how well-known and celebrated some of his poetry was. I was thinking, looking through my Spotify and Googling and these are the suggestions I have for art which connects to the night sky.
Classical Music:
– “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven
– “Clair de Lune” by Debussy
– “The Planets” by HolstSongs:
– “Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
– “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars
– “Fly me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
– “Supermassive Black Hole” by MusePaintings:
“Starry Night” by Van Gogh
“Starry Night and the Astronomers” by Alma Thomas
Work of Georgia O’Keeffe features sky themePoems
“When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt WhitmanChildren’s Books
“The Smeds and the Smoos” by Julia Donaldson
“Captain Starfish” by Davina Bell -
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Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night. For Example: Dúchas Folklore Commission
This is definitely a topic I would link with the theme Halloween in my class in the coming year. I found the presentation with Clodagh very interesting and loved learning about the traditions and piseogs linked to Halloween.
I would begin by asking the children about their own traditions at Halloween. (Begin KWL chart) We will then see if we can link these traditions to the olden days. I will explain to children that we will be researching the history of Halloween. Children will each be required to create their own project on Halloween. The Headings would be the following:
- Origin of Halloween
- History of Halloween costumes
- Trick or Treating
- Any other interesting stories/customs
- Interview with older person based on their traditions
- How I spend Halloween
Information would be gathered over the course of a week using Duachas, research on iPads and books, children will also be encouraged to ask parents/ grandparents about Halloween when they were young to use as a comparison to their own traditions.
Children will rpesent their projects to rest of class and KWL will be filled in.
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Module 5 assignment: The past, present and future of Ireland’s dark skies.
I chose to discuss the concept – Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
1. Introduction:
– I would begin by introducing the concept of dark sky places and the importance of reducing light pollution for stargazing and nocturnal species.
– Use visual aids such as pictures or videos, to engage students and provide context for the lesson.2. Discussion and research:
– I would facilitate a discussion on existing dark sky locations and their features.
– Encourage students to research and explore different aspects of dark sky sanctuaries, such as minimal artificial lighting, stargazing spots and habitats for nocturnal animals.3. Hands – on activity:
– I would then provide students with materials like posters, art supplies, Stellarium, tactile objects, and assistive technology if needed.
– Guide students in designing their now dark sky place.
– Offer support and adaptations based on individual needs, such as verbal descriptions, tactile cues or communication boards.4. Presentation:
– Allow each child to present their design to the class, promoting self expression and communication skills.
– Encourage peer interaction and feedback to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment.5. Reflection:
– Conclude the lesson by reflecting on the importance of dark sky spaces and the importance of light pollution on the environment.-
Nicole I love your outline of a lesson for Design your own Night Sky. The hands on activity allows pupils great scope for creativity with the materials provided. Once they have presented their pieces to the class, they could educate other class levels on The Night Sky with their designs as a prompt.
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I never really considered how much the night sky influences so many areas of the classroom. I regularly use the night sky for inspiration for different art and music lessons.
Here are some examples of how the night sky has influenced my art lessons.
‘Aurora Borealis’ – Using Tinfoil and markers you can create the Northern Lights by drawing on the tinfoil and pressing it onto a blank page. It leaves behind a fabulous array of colours. Then using charcoal you can sketch the foreground over it.‘Halloween Scene’- Using the colours of the setting sun you create a colourful background of vivid reds, oranges and yellows.
‘Starry Starry Night’ This is a wonderful way to allow children to look and respond to a well known piece of art.
As for my music lessons I have taught the following songs in the classroom. All of which make reference to the night sky and the children love.
‘Sky Full of Stars’ Coldplay/Sing 2
‘ALL Star’ Smash Mouth/Shrek
‘Counting Stars’ One Republic
‘Midnight Sky’ Miley Cyrus
‘All the Stars’ Kendrick Lamar
‘When you wish upon a star’ Stevie Wonder
‘Champagne Supernova’ Oasis
‘Waiting for a star to fall’ Boy Meets GirlI did not realise President Michael D Higgins was a poet and what a wonderful way to discover this. I will definately be teaching his poem to my class this year. There are many OTHER examples of poetry that explores the night sky
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’
‘Firework Night’ Enid Blyton
‘Daffodils’ William Wordsworth
‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’
‘ Hey Diddle Diddle@ -
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There are so many Songs / Poems / Art to do with the night sky, ranging from John Keat’s Bright Star, To Coleridge which both would have to be adapted for the primary classroom but still relevant.
I particularly enjoy a lesson I have been doing for years with Van Gogh’s Art piece Starry Night, I twin this with Don Mclean’s song Vincent about the piece and the artist. I know this was mentioned in the slides in the course but I love that lesson and it is something I have done for years. Keane also have some lovely songs but The Night Sky is a lovely piece about the night sky.
For the younger kids there are lots of cheeky songs by Peppa Pig.
I would have done before silhouette art to reflect the night sky and twin it maybe with one of the poems we had studied in English.
The night sky is massive in both what you can see and for lesson content and ideas, across many of the subjects. It is a great over-arching theme to employ.
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For a lesson on creating a ‘Dark Sky place,’ I’d start by engaging the class in a discussion about what makes such a location unique and why it’s important. I’d explain that a Dark Sky site is a special place where people can experience the night sky in all its glory, free from the interference of light pollution. To illustrate this, I’d show them videos of Ireland’s three designated Dark Sky sites.
We’d explore what makes these sites special and discuss what can be observed in the night sky on a clear evening. We’d also delve into the local wildlife found in these areas, incorporating drawing and creative writing exercises to help the students connect with the concept.
Next, I’d divide the students into groups and guide them through the process of designing their own Dark Sky site. We’d consider factors like light pollution, viewing spots, accessibility, nocturnal biodiversity, and safety. Role-playing different stakeholder perspectives would help them understand various viewpoints. Each group would represent a stakeholder—such as designers, stargazers, conservationists, or local residents—and discuss what features and information would enhance the visitor experience.
In the final part of the lesson, we’d review each group’s design, asking critical questions like whether the plan effectively protects the night sky, what resources or support would be needed, and if the design is practical. This approach will not only teach them about the importance of preserving dark skies but also help them develop critical thinking and collaborative skills.
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Hi Conor,
Thanks for your post. You have put together a great plan for creating a Dark Skies place that weaves together creativity, an appreciation for biodiversity, and drama to demonstrate the real-life challenge of conflicting points of view about lighting among various stakeholders. It provides learners with scope to reflect on the broader context of the societal reasons for lighting and how to forge a lighting plan that can work for all stakeholders.
It’s great to see a peer review process embedded in this activity of designing their own Dark Sky site to gently provide feedback and develop a broad range of skills and appreciation for dark skies.
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Design your own Dark Sky Place is an activity that children would be excited by. They would be drawn to the role-play aspect, so I believe this project would be both engaging and enjoyable for them. The example video from the school in Mayo showed how effective this type of project can be in helping students understand and appreciate the concept of Dark Sky places.
To start, I would introduce the children to the concept of Dark Sky places, explaining why they are important and what makes them special. I would also share information about the three designated Dark Sky locations in Ireland, highlighting what makes each one unique.
Next, I would have the students work in groups to brainstorm and come up with a list of essential elements for creating their own Dark Sky place. They would need to consider several factors, such as how to design the space, what materials and features would be necessary to reduce light pollution, and who the place would be designed for—whether it’s for stargazers, wildlife conservation, or educational purposes.
Each group would be encouraged to think creatively about the challenges they might face in creating their Dark Sky place, such as finding ways to minimize artificial light, ensuring safety, and making the area accessible to everyone. I would assign specific roles within each group, such as project manager, designer, researcher, and presenter, to ensure that every child is actively involved in the process.
Once the groups have developed their ideas, they would present their designs to the class. This would be an opportunity for them to explain their thought process, the features of their Dark Sky place, and how they addressed potential challenges. After all the presentations, the class could hold a vote to decide which project would be the most feasible or creative.
Finally, as a class, we could collaborate to create our own Dark Sky place, either within the classroom or somewhere on the school grounds. This could involve setting up a mock-up of the design. This activity would not only be a fun and educational experience for the students but also help them develop teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
I think this would be a great activity to carry out in school and can be modified for all classrooms and ages. It is something they would be very interested in and would allow plenty of integration such as art, science, maths, drama etc.
The children will have covered what dark sky places are, their importance, light pollution and nocturnal animals following from some of the ideas covered in the previous modules.
We would then explore the dark sky places of Ireland by researching them such as looking at their websites and for information online (can also look at other ones from around the world to gain more ideas).
The children will be split into groups in order to create a dark sky place for the school and will go through the steps of planning, designing and evaluating their dark skies place with an evaluation at the end. They will be prompted by the teacher to create maps, take photos, include information about the area.
The children will present their ideas to the classroom in their groups.
As a class we can then put our ideas together and create an area within our school grounds which is inspired by the ‘dark skies places’ and can be used as a teaching point with information on dark skies, nocturnal animals and light pollution. -
Prepare a school project to collect Piseógs/Traditions/Stories of the Night
To engage my students in exploring local folklore, I would start with a class discussion about piseógs, traditions, and stories related to the night. I’d share examples like beliefs about the moon or stories of nocturnal creatures to spark their interest. Then, I would ask the students to interview family members or neighbours to gather any night-related superstitions or stories, encouraging them to write down or record what they learn.
In class, I’d have them share these stories in a storytelling circle, where everyone could hear and discuss the diverse traditions they’ve uncovered. Afterward, I would guide them to creatively present their findings through illustrations, writing, or by acting out the stories in small groups. To culminate the project, I would organize an evening event where the students could showcase their work through storytelling, art displays, or performances, inviting parents and the school community to celebrate and appreciate these cultural traditions. This project would not only connect the students with their heritage but also foster creativity and a deeper understanding of cultural practices related to the night.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs, poems, and art activities can help children feel connected to the night sky. It was only while completing module 5 that I realised how many songs and poems there are about the night sky.
Songs
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
“A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
“Catch a Falling Star” by Perry Como
“Moon River” by Henry Mancini
“When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio
“Mr. Moon” by RaffiPoems
“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” by Edward Lear
“Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” by Eugene Field
“The Moon” by Robert Louis Stevenson
“Silver” by Walter de la Mare
“Stars” by Sara Teasdale
Art
“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
“The Starry Night over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh
“Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket” by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
“Starry Night” by Edvard Munch
“The Starry Night” by Georgia O’Keeffe
All of the above and more can be used as part of lessons across a number of curricular areas. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”.
There have been so many wonderful suggestions for songs and art that connect us to the night sky posted by other participants already. I have chosen to post excerpts of some of my favourite poetry referencing stars and the night sky.
My favourite WB Yeats’ poem – He wishes for the cloths of Heaven
He wishes for the cloths of Heaven
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.The Light of Stars by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“There is no light in earth or heaven But the cold light of stars; And the first watch of night is given To the red planet Mars.”
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art by John Keats
“Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art— Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night And watching, with eternal lids Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite,”
To a Star by Lucretia Maria Davidson
“Thou brightly-glittering star of even, Thou gem upon the brow of Heaven Oh! were this fluttering spirit free, How quick ‘t would spread its wings to thee.”
A Night-Piece by William Wordsworth
“…The sky is overcast With a continuous cloud of texture close, Heavy and wan, all whitened by the Moon, Which through that veil is indistinctly seen.”
Ah, Moon–and Star! by Emily Dickinson
“Ah, Moon — and Star! You are very far — But were no one Farther than you —”
Stars Over the Dordogne by Sylvia Plath
“Stars are dropping thick as stones into the twiggy Picket of trees whose silhouette is darker Than the dark of the sky because it is quite starless. The woods are a well. The stars drop silently.”
Nightpiece by James Joyce
“Gaunt in gloom, The pale stars their torches, Enshrouded, wave. Ghostfires from heaven’s far verges faint illume,”
The Starlight Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins
“Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies! O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air! The bright boroughs, the circle-citadels there! Down in dim woods the diamond delves! the elves’-eyes!”
The More Loving One by W.H. Auden
“Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast.”
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Describe how you could implement a version of ‘Design your own Dark Sky place’ in your school/ classroom?
• Firstly we should decide as class where we plan on locating our Dark Sky park. For the sake of this example I’m going to choose the National Park which is within walking distance of the school and where we visit regularly.
• I would get the learners to brainstorm the stakeholders and create a list of them.
• I would divide the class into small groups, each representing a stakeholder and get them to brainstorm the needs and concerns of each stakeholder and the report back to class.
• Review our lessons on light pollution and discuss in groups again how each stakeholder is affected by the light pollution.
• Discuss in groups what lighting is essential in the park and why? How can we minimise the effects of the necessary lighting.
• Design a map of the area highlighting the amenities we would include for each stakeholder group. Have each group reflect on ho well or not the design works for the stakeholders they represent.
• Make any necessary changes.
• To conclude I would have the learners design a brochure highlighting the amenities in our dark sky place and the measures we have taken to reduce light pollution.-
Hi Fiona
That sounds like a great step by step plan to design a dark sky place and a great way to recap on everything the children have learned about dark skies and put it into practice through discussing their dark sky place. You might also want to think about areas outside of the National Park that would be contributing to light pollution and ask the children to consider how they might engage with the local community.
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There are so many songs, Poems and Art that connect us to the sky. This theme lends itself so well for cross curricular and thematic planning. Some examples I found are listed below. The songs, poems and artwork lend themselves to a broad range of classes and can be differentiated and adapted for each class level.
Songs
Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Space Oddity” by David Bowie
All the stars by Kendrick Lamar ft, SZA
Midnight Sky Miley Cyrus
Look up at the Stars Shawn Mendez
”Across the Universe” by The Beatles
Reach for the Stars by S Club SevenTwinkle, twinkle little star
Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como
Poems
Stardust” by President Michael D. Higgins
Hey Diddle Diddle
Star Light, Star Bright
“Stars” by Robert Frost
“Bright Star” by John Keats’Art
Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Adam Elsheimer, The Flight into Egypt
Joseph Wright of Derby, Vesuvius in Eruption
J. M. W. Turner, Fishermen at Sea
Galileo’s Moon Drawings
The Moon by Amaral -
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
There are various ways to implement a version of design, your own dark sky place in the classroom. By now, the children will have learnt a lot about dark skies, nocturnal animals, and light pollution. The children will then use this knowledge towards creating a dark sky Place of their own. This will be a very inclusive lesson with a lot of hands-on learning and will allow the child to become a part of their own learning.
The lesson can begin by discussing various ways to design a dark sky place. The children will then be put into groups and given time to discuss and agree on a design for a dark sky place.
The children will then work in groups to design, plan and make their dark sky place. a science method template can be used for this also to write up their equipment, observations, and conclusions of the experiment. The children will then be able to test out their dark sky place and write up their observations. Each group can present these projects to the class and describe what went well/not well in the project.
A full class discussion can be hard after the presentations were the children can discuss each group project and share constructive criticism. I -
The night sky appears in lots of songs, poems and art. I didn’t fully realise how many there were until I researched it for this question. Children’s rhymes that would be familiar to me are Twinkle, twinkle little star and Hey Diddle Diddle. I would often say these at home without really recognising what connection they have to the night sky. Some songs that stand out are Coldplay’s Sky Full of Stars and Frank Sinatra’s Fly me to the Moon. They encourage thoughts about the night sky and the other planets. Reach for the Stars is another one that encourages people to dream big and believe in themselves that anything is possible. A particular poem whose imagery stood out to me since I learned it myself in primary school is The Listeners by Walter de la Mare. From the start of the poem when the traveller is knocking on the moonlit door, the picture that my mind creates of the dark place only lit by the moon still gives me shivers.
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Consider how many Songs/Poems/Art you can think of to connect us with the Night sky?
I think there are a multitude of songs, poems and art that link us with the night sky. The sky is something that influenced so many creative people and still does to this day. I love to integrate Art, music and poetry into any themes i am exploring with the children and here are some examples of what I would incorporate into my teaching when learning about the night sky.
Songs:
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Sky full of Stars, Coldplay (Also a version as Gaeilge on TV Lurgan)
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, The Beatles
Skyfall, Adele
The Moon and the SKy, Sade
Fly me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra
Poems:
The Moon – Robert Louis Stevenson
Stars by Gareth Lancaster
The Night Sky, Unknown:
All day long
The sun shines bright.
The moon and stars
Come out by night.
From twilight time
They line the skies
And watch the world
With quiet eyes.
Lots of thematic poems on this website:
https://www.kidspoetryclub.com/poems-about-sky
Art:
Starry Night, Van Gough
I would also let the children create art pieces based on the moon/Dark skies.
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I looked up the poem by President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”. I think it was printed in a Christmas card from Aras an Uachtarain one year. If there is one time of the year that resonates with Dark Sky it is Christmas as we think of the Star of Bethlehem and of course the magic of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange.
‘It is of stardust we are moulded by vapours and fragments from the making of galaxies. We are the broken bits of our cosmos moved by traces of embedded memory.’
These lines stand out for me from Michael D’s poem. The juxtaposition of our immediate, small and sometimes very messy lives against the hugeness of universal space is palpable and very profound in these words.
Shakespeare more than any other writer captures that sense of the profound mystery of life I feel looking up into the night sky. Romeo and Juliet is a story of the foolish love of youth and these lines tell of the innocence and overwhelming power of first love as Juliet fawns about Romeo in stellar terms.
“turn him into stars and form a constellation in his image. His face will make the heavens so beautiful that the world will fall in love with the night and forget about the garish sun.”
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Nighthawks on the other hand depicts the alienation of life in a large city and the anxiety of urban living as the American Dream takes on faustian and nightmarish proportions in Hopper’s painting. The loneliness and futility of the brightly lit room throwing stark and cold white light into the night expresses the concept of light pollution before it was ever a thing. Big city lights. No stars to guide anyone home in the sky above.
Edward Hopper: Nighthawks 1942
And finally as I think about our own culture and one of the most awesome and beautiful love songs of our time also has a Dark Sky theme. Rainy Night in Soho. I like this version recorded for a Christmas TV special in Campbell’s Tavern, Cloghanover a lovely country pub near Headford where on a clear winter’s night you can see all the stars you like in the sky above. Enjoy.
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Describe how you would complement a version of ‘Design your own Dark Sky Place’ in your school/classroom?
I would start with in the classroom for the younger kids. Maybe put a tent in a corner and get the children to design ways to make it an even darker space by adding more blankets, black sugar paper etc they would design. I would add star constellations to the roof and leave torches and lamps in that space to show light pollution…do we add more lamps? How can we alter the lamps to have less light pollution. Then I would divide the class into groups, the stars, the moon, the nocturnal animals and have them investigate how a dark sky can help them. It would be at the next stage I would bring it to our school grounds and have the children map the area and locate the light sources at night. We could check the ground cameras for any activity from animals at night and if so what areas of the school did they visit? Was there many artificial light sources etc then we could revisit our classroom tent and make adjustments based on our research and knowledge. It would be an ongoing project best done in the darker months.
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Hi Annette
I love the idea of the tent and getting the children to come up with ways to make it darker. The constellations added to the roof and the torches are a great way to do a range of investigations on light pollution and reducing its effects and I’m sure the children will love taking turns to enter the tent to try out their investigations. This classroom investigation and the group research and discussion are a great lead up to the mapping exercise in the yard as the children will already be tuned in to the effects of light pollution and what to look out for.
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2. Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
There are lots of opportunities for integration with other subjects such as Literacy, Art, Music through the use of songs, poems and art when exploring the theme of the Night Sky.
Although story wasn’t mentioned in this question, I also think it would be a lovely idea to use picturebooks to connect us with the Night Sky. e.g ‘Here We Are’ by Oliver Jeffers, ‘When the Stars Come Out: Exploring the Magic and Mysteries of the Night-Time’ by Nicola Edwards and Lucy Cartwright, also ‘The Usborne Book of Night Time’ is a lovely one.
Music: A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Skyfall by Adele, Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra,
Poems: A Night-Piece by William Wordsworth. There’s also lots of Night Sky poetry here: https://allpoetry.com/poems/about/night-sky
Art: A Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh is obviously a very famous night sky painting which would be lovely to study with the children. I think it would be great to ask the children to recreate ‘A starry Night’ except I would ask them to imagine what Vincent Van Gogh would have painted if he was surrounded in a light polluted area? Would the sky be as elegant and beautiful?
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
Music
A Sky Full of Stars Coldplay
Midnight Sky Miley CyrusPoems
We Grow Accustomed to the Dark Emily Dickinson
The Starlight Night Hopkins
A Night Piece WordsworthArt
Starry NightThere are many songs, poems and art that come to mind when I think of the dark night and its’ inspiration. Those are some I could think of offhand but a quick Google search produces lots of inspiration. I think this could easily be incorporated into a lesson for a class of senior level. I would provide a number of pre researched websites for them to explore. I think the art, poems or songs would serve as great inspiration for an art project. There are some fantastic samples of art. Also the poetry could provide inspiration for creation of poetry through creative writing lessons. There are such wonderful ideas for integrated learning across the curriculum. I enjoyed reading the forum again for ideas and inspiration.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
A Sky Full Of Stars” by Coldplay
The Big Sky by Kate Bush
Moon and Stars By Town4kids
Day and Night By kids Zone
Sun, Moon and Stars by The Singing Walrus
Frank Sinatra Fly me to the MoonPoems:
The Starlit Night By Gerard Manley Hopkins
Stars I have Seen them Fall by A.E Housman
I am the Night Sky by Clive Blake
Secrets of the Night Sky by Nnenna Okonkwo
The Wound at the Side of the House by John O’ DonohoeArt Ideas:
Looking and responding:
– Van Gogh Starry Night
-kandindsky Moonlit Night
-Moonlight By Winslow Homer
-Moonlit Shipwreck At Sea by Thomas Moran
-The Meteor of 1860 By Frederic Edwin ChurchThere are so many poems, songs and artwork inspired by the Night Sky. All the example above help with integration of the Night Sky topic in subjects like English, SESE, Art and Music. The examples above could be used as a starter activity when
introducing the topic of the Night Sky to a class. -
To implement a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project in my classroom, I would probably start by teaching students about dark sky places and the importance of preserving night skies from light pollution. Introduce the concept through videos or virtual tours of existing dark sky parks.
I would then have the children work in groups to design their own dark sky place. They could draw maps, build models, or use digital tools to create their designs. This could be a free choice activity to promote as much creativity as possible. Encourage them to think about the location, how they would reduce light pollution, and the types of wildlife that would benefit.
To finish off, the children can present their designs to the class, explaining their choices and how their dark sky place would protect biodiversity and allow for stargazing. To deepen the learning experience, it would be lovely to have an environmental expert to discuss the importance of dark sky preservation. This project encourages creativity, teamwork, and environmental awareness, making it a hands-on learning experience.
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Preparing a school project to collect Piseógs, traditions, and stories of the night can be a valuable way to connect students with their cultural heritage while enhancing their understanding of local folklore. Drawing inspiration from the Dúchas Folklore Commission, this project would involve students in gathering stories from their families and communities, focusing on beliefs and practices related to nighttime, such as superstitions, tales of mythical creatures, and old traditions.
To start, I would introduce students to the concept of Piseógs and their significance in Irish culture, using resources like the Dúchas archives to provide examples. Students would then be tasked with interviewing older family members or neighbors to collect stories, ensuring they document the details accurately. This could be done through audio recordings, written accounts, or even video interviews.
In addition to preserving cultural heritage, this project would develop students’ research and communication skills. It would also foster a deeper appreciation for the oral traditions that have shaped their communities. Finally, compiling these stories into a school archive or presentation would create a lasting resource that honors the rich tapestry of local folklore. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
1. “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
2. “Starry, Starry Night” by Don McLean
3. “Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
4. “Drops of Jupiter” by Train
5. “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
6. “Midnight Sky” by Miley Cyrus
7. “Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn
Poems:
1. “The Star” by Jane Taylor
2. “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman
3. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” by Jane Taylor
4. “A Clear Midnight” by Walt Whitman
5. “The Night” by Hilaire Belloc
Art:
1. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
2. Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
3. Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
These songs, poems and art pieces capture the wonder and awe inspired by the night sky. They can evoke a sense of connection to the universe and the mysteries it holds.
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Here are a few examples that came to my mind when thinking of the night sky:
The Stolen Child by WB Yates
She Moved Through the Fair
Rihanna Diamonds
Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy
Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night (I know this was one of the first slides but it was what I instantly thought of when I saw the assignment prompt)
To the Moon by Percy Bysshe Shelleyy
Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. by Chopin
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
A Sky Full Of Stars by Coldplay
Mr. Sandman
Moon River
The Meeting on the Turret Stairs” by Frederic William Burton (Not necessarily the night sky but could be great to bring children to the national gallery and this painting evokes a moody romantic feeling of dusk or twilight)
In The Evening by William Leech (Another gorgeous painting in the national gallery that reflects the last moments of light before falling into the darkness of night)
This poem by Gabriel Rosenstock called The Stars would be a lovely poem to use as an introduction to the topic of the night sky:The stars shine bright in the midnight sky,
Twinkling above as the night drifts by.
They tell us tales from long ago,
Of dreams and wishes that still glow. -
Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky – I found this a lovely activity and I know that the children would absolutely love to do this too, so many ways for different learners to connect with the night sky, musically and visually.
Songs:
Star Star by The Frames
Riverdance Uisce Beatha by Bill Whelan
Dancing in the moonlight by Toploader
Rocketman by Elton John
Sky full of Star by Coldplay
Moondance by Van Morrison
The Star of the County Down
“She Moved Through the Fair”
Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
Talking to the Moon” by Bruno MarsPoems:
The Stolen Child”by W.B. Yeats:
To the Moon by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Under the Moon by James Joyce:.
He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W.B. Yeats:
The Comet” by William Wordsworth
Art:
The Starry Night over the Rhône Van Gogh,
Night Fishing at Antibes by Pablo Picassco -
In my classroom, I would implement the “Design Your Own Dark Sky Park” lesson by dividing students into groups of four or five, each assigned a different area in Ireland to base their dark sky park. Using iPads, students will research their region, focusing on aspects like local biodiversity, light pollution levels, and ideal stargazing locations. Children will take on a stakeholder role within their groups (e.g., Lighting Planners, Conservation Rangers), ensuring a variety of perspectives.
Students will compile their findings and ideas using Google Slides or Padlet, creating a digital presentation. They will design a map and a brochure, highlighting their dark sky park’s features, such as viewing sites, safety measures, and nocturnal wildlife. This project encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and digital literacy, while connecting students to Ireland’s unique natural heritage and the importance of preserving dark skies. The final presentations will be shared with the class, fostering discussion and peer feedback.
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Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
In our school we have hallways which is based on a theme of the month for different classes. For example my 5th class would decorate the hallway based on new material they learned. For something like this the children could create a space which they feel represents Ireland’s Dark Skies, based on the location of the school, which is an urban area with many street lights.
The children could create the dark skies with the reflections of the light pollution, the little stars in the sky and the moon.
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There are SO many songs, poems and art to connect us with the night sky, that the class library could be turned over to just that topic
and the walls lined with pictures for a month.
It would also be a great research question for the pupils. We pair the senior pupils with the junior pupils for reading – this would be a lovely way to introduce the Night Sky and Biodiversity to the younger classes. The older boys could select materials to bring to the younger classes and start the discussion with their reading buddy. It would also give the older boys a certain amount of responsibility too.BOOKS:
Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?
How High is the Sky
The Light in the Night
Little Red Hen (falling sky)
Why is the Sky Blue
Good Night Moon
Full Moon and the Napping House
Peace at Last
Owl Moon
When the Moon Forgot
The Star that Fell
Indian/Celtic/Dreamtime stories of how the stars, moon and skies were madePOEMS
Twinkle, Twinkle
Star Light, Star Bright
Ah Moon …and Star! E.Dickinson
Catch A Falling Star
Night Dreams
The Wishing Star
Fireflies in the Garden
Christmas Star
When You Wish Upon a Star
Like Catching A Falling StarART
Starry Night and Starry Night over the Rhone – Van Gogh
Starry Night – Munch
Moonlight – Homer
Nocturn in Black & Gold – Whistler
Fishermen at Sea – Turner
Moonlit Shipwreck a Sea – Moran
Starlight Night – G.O’Keeffe-
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for sharing this comprehensive list of poems and art along with picture books that link with the night sky. I really like your idea to buddy up with the younger pupils for reading and learning about the night sky and biodiversity. I have teamed up with younger classes in my school for different events this year also and I found my own class loved the responsibility and it gave them confidence. Younger pupils also engage and can respond more when working with older pupils. It would be a lovely way to introduce the night sky during Space Week and build on collaborative work. Well done and I hope this goes well for you in the new school year.
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Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky
The night sky has always been a huge source of inspiration for artists, poets, and musicians. There’s something about those twinkling stars and the vastness of space that sparks the imagination.
Take President Michael D. Higgins’ poem “Stardust,” for example. It’s a beautiful reflection on our place in the universe and how we’re all made of the same cosmic material. It’s pretty cool to think about, right? Then there’s Van Gogh’s iconic painting Starry Night, which captures the swirling energy of the night sky in a way that almost makes you feel like you’re there, standing under it.
In music, there’s a ton of songs that draw from the night sky. Think of Don McLean’s “Vincent,” which is inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Or “Space Oddity” by David Bowie, where Major Tom drifts off into space, capturing that feeling of wonder and isolation.
Even in pop music, we’ve got Coldplay’s “A Sky Full of Stars,” which is all about the overwhelming beauty of the sky and the emotions it stirs up. And if you’re into something a bit more classic, there’s “Clair de Lune” by Debussy, which isn’t about stars specifically but totally captures the dreamy vibe of a moonlit night.
It’s like the night sky is a canvas that artists across all mediums keep coming back to, each time finding something new to express.
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Design Your Own Dark Sky Space in the classroom: This would be a great way of getting children interested in light pollution and the preserving of natural nightscapes. I would divide the children into small groups so they could research different dark sky places around the world to give them an idea of the initiative. I would then encourage the children to pick an area within or near the school to turn into a dark sky place. Children could then create posters and digital presentations that discuss the importance of natural nightscapes. Each group could then present their findings to the rest of the class and in turn there would be bank of knowledge and resources about reducing light pollution and hownto preserve the night sky.
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I agree Shane.. I think that creating your own dark sky space in the classroom is an excellent way of getting the children interested in light pollution. I also think that it is a very visual way that they will learn about it! Lessons like this are incredibly child centered and will always motivate the children. I like your idea of the children’s creating posters and presentations. A great way to develop the lesson.
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To implement a “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project in the classroom, I would begin with a lesson on light pollution and the importance of Dark Sky Places, showing examples to inspire students. Then, in small groups, students would research key elements like lighting regulations and wildlife protection.
Each group would select a location—either on school grounds or a hypothetical local area—and design a plan to reduce light pollution. This includes creating a map or model showing proposed changes, such as installing shielded lighting and preserving natural habitats.
Students would present their designs to the class, explaining how their Dark Sky Place would benefit the environment and the community. We’d conclude with a discussion on what they learned and how their ideas could be applied in real life. This project fosters creativity, environmental stewardship, and a deeper understanding of the impacts of light pollution.
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I love the idea of using Songs/poems/ art to connect us to the Night Sky. There Night Sky inspires so much wonder and deep thought but is also so unknown and mysterious. Once you move on from the wonderful Twinkle, twinkle you realise how many people have used The Night Sky for inspiration.
Songs I liked about the Night Sky:-Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
– Vincent by Don McLean – I didn’t realise that this song was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”
– Space Oddity by David Bowie
– A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
– Look up at the Stars by Shawn Mendes
– Midnight Sky by Miley CyrusPoems about the Night Sky : (once you go looking you realise that There are so many beautiful poems about the night sky, these are just a few)
– The Starlight Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins
– The Stars are Mansions Built by Nature’s Hands by William Wordsworth
– Silver by Walter De La Mare
– The Star by Henry Vaughan
– Firework Night by Enid BlytonArt Inspired by the Night Sky : (art is an area I really love and the Night Sky has inspired so many wonderful artworks)
– The Starry Nightby Vincent Van Gogh
– Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket” by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
-Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent Van GoghI really love how the Australian Aboriginal people use the Night Sky to tell stories and feel these would also be great artworks to use here.
From a more modern point of view photography is a great source of imagery that can form connections with the Night Sky. Images from the recent Northern Lights sightings in Ireland, satellite photos and images from the ISS would all be great ways to allow the children to form connections and inspire wonder and curiosity in the Night Sky. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Songs:
Twinkle twinkl
Moon River
A sky full of stars by coldplayArtwork:
Starry night – Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh quote “For my part I know nothing about certainty, but the sight of stars makes me want to dream!”
Verschuier – The Great Comet of 1680 over RotterdamPoems:
Five little rockets standing in a row
“The Starlit Night” by Gerard Manley HopkinsI would also consider showing the children photography on the night sky! There are some beautiful photos online which would show the children just how the night sky can look without so much light pollution!
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The night sky has long been a source of inspiration for artists, musicians, and poets. Here are some songs, poems, and artworks that connect us to the beauty and mystery of the night sky:
Songs:
1. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie – A song that explores the vastness of space and the sense of isolation and wonder it can bring.
2. “Vincent (Starry Starry Night)” by Don McLean – Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting “The Starry Night,” this song reflects on the artist’s life and his connection to the night sky.
3. “Starman” by David Bowie – A song about a mysterious figure from the stars who brings a message of hope.
4. “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars – A heartfelt song about longing and connection, using the moon as a metaphor.
5. “Rocket Man” by Elton John – A song that expresses the loneliness and wonder of space travel.
6. “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay – speaks of feeling lost and alone but finding hope and beauty in the vastness of the night sky.
Poems:
1. “The Star” by Jane Taylor (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star) – A classic children’s poem that marvels at the stars.
2. “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman – A poem about the awe of experiencing the night sky directly rather than through scientific analysis.
3. “To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley – A poem that reflects on the changing and mysterious nature of the moon.
4. “The Moon” by Robert Louis Stevenson – A simple and lyrical poem that captures the beauty of the moon in the night sky.
5. “Stars” by Sara Teasdale – A poem that expresses the timeless beauty and serenity of the stars.Artworks:
1. “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh – One of the most famous paintings in the world, it captures the swirling energy of the night sky.
2. “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket” by James Abbott McNeill Whistler – A moody, atmospheric painting that depicts the night sky and fireworks.
3. “The Falling Star” by J.M.W. Turner – A painting that captures the drama and beauty of a falling star. -
Consider how many songs/ poems/ art can you think of to connect us with the night sky?
Songs:
‘A sky full of stars’ coldplay
‘Fly me to the moon’ Frank Sinatra
‘Counting stars’ One Republic
‘Stairway to heaven’ Led Zeppelin
‘Starman’ David Bowie
‘Yellow’ Coldplay
‘Space Oddity ‘ David Bowie
‘Wishing on a star’ Rose Royce
Theme from Star Wars Hank Marvin
‘Vincent’ Don McLean
‘Bennie and the jets’ Elton John
‘When you wish upon a star’
‘Starlight’ Muse
‘We are all made of stars’ MobyPoems
‘A little Boy’s Dream’ Katherine Mansfield
‘A Slash of Blue’ Emily Dickenson
‘I Must Go Down To The Sea Again’ Spike Milligan
‘Twinkle twinkle’
‘Ah, Moon and Star!’ Emily Dickenson
‘A Night-Piece’ William Wordsworth
‘The Light of Stars’ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
‘Bright star, would I were as stedfast as thou art’ John Keats
‘The Lamp once out’ Natsume Soseki
‘Stars’ Sara TeasdaleART
The starry night, Vincent Van Gough
Amsterdam, Aert Van der Neer
Moonlight, a study at Millbank, Turner
Fishermen at sea, Turner -
Prepare a school project to collect piséogs/ traditions/ stories of the night
As I will be teaching sixth class I would use the children in the class to record such stories. I would encourage the children in the school to go home and ask their parents and especially their grandparents about any tales they know from the past. It would be something that I would link with Grandparents Day and it would allow children in younger classes to get involved also. Kids in the younger classes could then retell stories orally or even handwrite them for the children in my class. I would encourage the children in my class to spend time illustrating some key parts of the stories and we would then put the stories together. I would then get the children to compile these stories into a school book – our storybook. I think this project would be very beneficial as it would be a means of recording stories from our past so that they are not lost with the older generations and so they can be passed down through generations.
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Hi Michael
Thanks for sharing your ideas on piséogs. It is a great idea to link with Grandparents Day and get the wider school community involved. It would also integrated with History of the local area. I like how you plan to put these in a book also so that it can be a record of history in the local area and shared with other classes too.
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Here’s a list of songs, poems, and art that beautifully connect us with the night sky:
Songs:
“Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” by Don McLean
“Moon River” by Henry Mancini
“Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy (instrumental)
“Space Oddity” by David Bowie
“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
“Talking to the Moon” by Bruno MarsPoems:
“The Star” by Jane Taylor (commonly known as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)
“To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” by Walt Whitman
“Silver” by Walter de la Mare
“The Moon” by Robert Louis Stevenson
“Bright Star” by John Keats
“A Clear Midnight” by Walt Whitman
“The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” by Francis William Bourdillon
“Nocturne” by Thomas Hood
“To Night” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Art:
“The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
“Starry Night Over the Rhône” by Vincent van Gogh
“Lovers Under the Moon” by Marc Chagall -
Consider how many songs? poems/art you can think of to connect us to the dark sky.
Songs
‘A sky full of stars’ by Coldplay
My little one is obsesses and the movie Sing 2 which is all about space and is very relevant to the young children.The Greatest Showman – A million dreams or Rewrite the stars
All of the Stars by Ed Sheeran
S Club 7- Reach for the stars
Fly me to the moon by Frank Sinatra
Starman by David Bowie
Poems
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Make their own Acoustic poem on ‘Sky’ or ‘Dark Sky’
Aim High to the Sky by James McDonald
The star by Jane taylorAh Moon and Star by Emily Dickenson
The starry night by van gogh
The Christmas Nativity sceneStory books about the sky…
One of my all time favourites is
Owl babies by Martin Wadell
Can’t you sleep little bear by Martin Waddell
Peace at Last by Jill Murphy
Whatever Next by Jill Murphy
How to catch a star by Oliver Jaffers
The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield also comes with lots of lessons for 1st class
Or
The Owl who is afraid of the dark by Jill Tomlinson -
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Songs:
1. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star – A classic nursery rhyme and lullaby about a star.
2. A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay – A song with uplifting lyrics about the stars.
3. Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como – A fun, lighthearted song about stars.
4. When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio – A hopeful song about stars and wishes.
5. Starman by David Bowie – A song about hope.Poems:
1. The Star by Jane Taylor – The poem that inspired “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
2. Star Light, Star Bright – A traditional English nursery rhyme.
3. The Moon and the Stars by Douglas Florian – A poem from a collection of child-friendly celestial poems.Artwork:
1. Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh – A vibrant painting of a star-filled night sky.
2. Moon and Stars by Henri Rousseau – A whimsical painting depicting the night sky.
3. A Child’s World by Thomas Kinkade – Features a dreamy night sky that appeals to children. -
Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
I think I would only attempt this with senior classes. I would link the project to work on OS maps in Geography before looking at a case study of the dark sky reserves in Kerry and Mayo. From here I would present the project to the class and instigate a number of drama lessons where we would role play the different stakeholders which would include visiting star gazers, animals and maybe some aliens. Once we had a strong idea for the need then I would look at how this could be a business venture which could serve as funding for more dark sky reserves. I’d like to see the pupils treat the realistic side of such a project such as health and safety and budget concerns. Finally we would put a dragons den style plan together and pick the best one. Each plan would need a 3D model and sketches of key areas.
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Describe how you could implement a version of ‘Design your own Dark Skies Place’ in your school/classroom.
I would begin by revising topics previously visited regarding light pollution and biodiversity. I would ask the child to tell me what a dark sky is and have they ever seen one. We would then look at various online resources such as Dark sky reserves such as Kerry international dark sky reserve, Mayo and Davagh Forest Park. We would together brainstorm reasons why these areas make good dark sky areas. We would then consider light pollution and the effects it has on our night sky. We would discuss the factors affecting light pollution and ways we could combat this such as using warm light, angle light downwards, use only when needed and direct light to be used only when needed. I would then use the worksheet guidelines from ‘The Dark Skies Assessment Guide'(module 3) to help direct our plan. We would choose an area of the school by surveying and mapping the area around the school and doing an inventory of how many street light, lights from the school building, outside sensor lights, cars etc are around. We would then choose a space that we think has the least amount of lighting. We could then brainstorm ways to improve this area so it creates a more dark sky friendly approach. We could look at things such as wattage of bulbs, quality of fixtures, turning off lights when not needed. When we have our research complete and have decided on a plan of action we would set about putting it into place. The children could be divided into groups and have responsibility for things like making posters and sharing awareness, speaking to the school and getting everyone on board, involving parents and the wider community. A night time camera could be used to test the results of our work and we could use it to monitor the sky at various times of the year.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
The night sky is surely something that connects us all, connects us to our ancestors and connects humankind in a shared appreciation for its beauty. It is no wonder there’s so much art, music and literature that has been inspired by the night sky.
In terms of art ‘cafe terrace at night’s and ‘starry night’ by Vincent Van Gogh immediately spring to mind. I find van goghs style and energy so appealing to children and always makes for a fun study in school! I love how Van goghs night sky paintings have been given a new lease of life in recent years such as the 360° view ( https://kuula.co/post/79QMS ) / 3d animations/ immersive experiences and films too.
Even the markings of newgrange or other neolithic markings around Ireland could be interpreted to be symbols of space or the skies…. Swirls and spirals are plentiful in this early artwork.
In terms of music, so many songs spring to mind , Neil Young’s ‘harvest moon’, ‘moon river’ by Audrey Hepburn, and ‘ fly me to the moon’ by Frank Sinatra. More modern songs such as ‘counting stars’ by one Republic and ‘a sky full of stars’ by coldplay would also be really fun to explore in the classroom or have playing in the background during a night sky art lesson!
Kate Bush song ‘the big sky’ is another beautiful song inspired by the skies. Space Oddity by David Bowie and rocket man by Elton John are 2 more classics to add to the playlist!
Stardust by president Higgins is a beautiful poem, one I was unaware of before this course.
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ is another striking and well known poem that has beautiful imagery about the skies. (“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills….Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.” This is a poem I learned myself in 5th class and I’ve never forgotten it. I loved it!-
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for sharing a comprehensive list of ideas to explore the night sky in visual arts and poetry. I wasn’t aware of the resource to explore Van Gogh’s art in 360 degree view and it is something I will use with my own class this year. I also covered The Daffodils with my own class last year, I too learned it in primary school and always remember it. So many great ideas here.
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The arts are such a fun way for students to be able to engage with a topic. It would be interesting to pose the question ‘How many songs, poems, or works of art can you think of that mention the sky?’ to them and see how many they are able to come up with.
Some of the songs I was able to think of are:
- Airplanes by B.o.B and Hayley Williams: Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin’ stars
- A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay: Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of stars
- All of the Stars by Ed Sheeran: I’m staring at the moon
I saw a shooting star and thought of you, But I can see the stars from America, All of these stars will guide us home - Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra: Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why
- Midnight Sky by Miley Cyrus: The midnight sky is the road I’m takin’
Some paintings I was able to think of were:
- Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
- Starry Night Over the Rhone by Vincent Van Gogh
- Witches’ Sabbath by Francisco Goya
- Night Snow by Utagawa Hiroshige
- Starlight Night by Georgia O’Keeffe
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Hi Robyn!
That’s a pretty impressive array of songs and paintings about the night sky. Not a Ed Sheerin, Coldplay or Miley Cyrus fan myself more David Bowie ‘Starman’ – different generation I guess. But Starry Night by Van Gogh is one of my favourite paintings. An vast amount of art on the night sky.
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ASSIGNMENT 5
I would implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in our school by using the information given on the slides in module 5. The children will ultimately explore, plan, make and evaluate in the process of designing their own dark place in our school.
Students through active learning and discovery with the resource lesson plan and its many activities (Module 5 ‘Discover Primary Science and Maths – Design your own Dark Sky Place lesson plan’) would reach their learning objectives of designing a dark place in our school area. The lesson would be cross curricular with drama and literacy. The lesson would include two activities.
Activity 1: investigation using role-play
Children will create their own Dark Sky Place in our school area from discussions undertaken by them during role play. This requires input and information from the different users of a Dark Sky Park area. The students will represent the interests of different stakeholders with a meeting to investigate the key requirements for establishing a dark sky site at their school. The students will be assigned one of the following stakeholder groups to represent their views: • Lighting Planners • Visiting Stargazers • Conservation Rangers and school leadership • Residents (students and teachers)
The views of stakeholders will be considered and presented at the end of the session. The results will then the design of a map and brochure providing information on the attractions within the site and useful information for the visitor.Activity 2: Engage using questioning and brainstorming
I would use Trigger questions to engage the students such as the ones given in the resource:
What is a Dark Sky Place? [Show pictures of Dark Sky Park / Reserve in Ireland]
Why are they special?
What can we see in the sky on a clear night?Get children to wonder about their Design
Who would visit a Dark Sky Place? (leading to stakeholder groups)
Who would benefit from a Dark Sky Place? a list or a drawing of people/animals
What do you think of when you look at the stars? – Drawings and Freewriting
What kind of animals live in a Dark Sky Park (what might be special about them)?
How can we assess the quality of a dark sky park.Getting children to explore their ideas:
What is Light Pollution?
Why is darkness important?
Where are the best places for visitors go at night to experience a dark sky free from light pollution. What kind of lighting could be Dark Sky Friendly?The plan for the design would have to consider key factors such as:
1. Light pollution
2. Viewing sites and access
3. Biodiversity at night
4. Safety
5. Information on astronomy
The children would then make a map using photos or drawings to create a collage of your dark sky place with information on nocturnal wildlife and create a brochure for visitors to inform them of what to expect. They would also have an equipment list for stargazers.
Then children would evaluate the design by answering key questions:
1. Have we considered all the issues?
2. Will our plan help protect the night sky in the future?
3. What supports do we need?
4. Is our plan realistic?
5. Does it have a positive impact on our environment? -
I made a list of the songs and poems I could think of I also used Suno AI to create a song using AI. This could be fun to do with your class . https://suno.com/song/10639fbb-0949-48e3-8516-b62c08a9d24c
Songs:
1. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
2. “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
3. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie
4. “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay
5. “When You Wish Upon a Star” from *Pinocchio
6. “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy
7. “Starman” by David Bowie
8. “Catch a Falling Star” by Perry Como
9. “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars
10. “Under the Stars” from *The Lion King* (musical)Poems:
1. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” by Jane Taylor
2. “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
3. “The Star” by Ann Taylor**
4.”Bright Star” by John Keats
5. “The Starlight Night” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
6.”Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
7.”Night” by Langston Hughes
8.”Silver” by Walter de la Mare
9.”To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
10.”The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” by Francis William Bourdillon -
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
I made a list of a variety of songs and poems relating to and connected with the night sky that will help junior students understand it in a fun way. Many of these songs have actions and are interactive for the child to remember and engage with. They also are sung to themes that the children are already familiar with.
Twinkle twinkle little star
Hey diddle diddle
Sing a song of sunshine
Four little stars
Climb aboard the spaceship
We’re flying
Stars finger play
The planets go spinning
The arts are a fun and interactive way for the students to learn and understand a topic. The students can use their imaginations to make a display of a night sky in groups. Each sky will be different as the students interpretations will be different.
YouTube is also a great resource to find songs and poems for the students to listen to.
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Poem: Nursery rhyme – Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might Have the wish I wish tonight. This connects younger children to the idea of making a wish on the first star they see in the sky at night.Art: Northern Lights oil pastels. Aurora Borealis – I did this art activity with my First Class the last two years and they loved exploring the direction of the colours in their art work and the vibrant colours using the pastels. We watched online videos of the lights first and this year many of the children got to see them in Ireland when they were visible here.
Songs: Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay. We watched Sing 2 and the children loved this song so we learnt it as a class. It’s an uplifting song and Chris Martin got his inspiration for this song looking up at a clear sky full of stars in Sydney which made him feel joyful and happy. The children could respond to this song through dance or drawing in art.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Considering songs, poems and art which connect us to the Night Sky supports integration between SESE and English, Gaeilge, Visual Arts and Music.
Songs:
Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Twinkle Twinkle
Rule the World by Take That
Starlight by Westlife
Starman by David Bowie
Reach for the Stars by S Club 7
If I Build a Home on the Moon by Picture This
Counting Stars by One Republic
Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra
Drops of Jupiter by Train
Starry Starry Night by Don McClean
Galileo (Someone Like You) by Declan O’Rourke
Rocket man by Elton JohnArt:
The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
The Great Comet of 1680 over Rotterdam by Lieve Verschuier
Astronomy
The Meteor of 1680 by Frederick Edwin Church
Starlight Night by Georgia O’Keeffe
Starry Night by Edvard Munch
Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket by James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Northern Lights activity with chalk pastelsPoems:
The Starry Night by Anne Sexton
He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W.B. Yeats
A Clear Midnight by Walt Whitman
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes by Francis William Bourdillon
The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson
When You Are Old by W.B. Yeats -
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Module 5 assignment
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
The night sky art ideas
– create constellations using tinfoil, string and paper as suggested in an earlier module,
– create planets, constellations, the moon or the sun using clay,
– create a starry night using black paper and white paint, flicking the paint brush to splash onto the paper.
– use glow in the dark paint to transition your picture from a day image in the light to a night sky when the lights are turned off.
– on cardboard paint an night scene with light sources/light pollution – after a lesson on light and creating circuits – the children could puncture the cardboard and push small bulbs through. This can be used to demonstrate to younger classes how light pollution affects the night sky etc.
– create a sun, moon and earth orbit model
– create a night sky using scratch art technique
– create the planets, moon & sun using paper mache -
In implementing the “Design Your Own Dark Sky Place” project in my classroom, I would start by introducing the concept of dark skies and light pollution. We’d have an engaging discussion about the importance of dark skies for both stargazing and environmental protection. I’d share pictures of Ireland’s dark sky parks and invite students to share their thoughts on the value of preserving the night sky. Then, the children will be split into groups, with each student representing a different stakeholder – local artists, historians, and sports fans. Each group will brainstorm their stakeholder’s unique needs and concerns regarding the creation of a dark sky site on our school pitch.
To promote interdisciplinary learning, each group will then dive into specific activities. The artists will sketch proposed layouts and illustrate what the night sky might look like without light pollution. Our historians will research and present on how ancient civilizations viewed the night sky, creating a timeline of astronomical discoveries, linking it to our history lessons. Meanwhile, the sports enthusiasts will propose safe, low-impact lighting options for night time sports activities, integrating physical education by ensuring safety and minimal disruption to the dark sky. New groups would then be formed with a least 1 student from each stakeholder group, creating mixed groups with each student able to bring insight from their stakeholder group. These new groups will role play scenes to highlight their learning and the importance of our dark sky space.
We’ll conclude the project with the groups working on a presentation where they will share their findings, sketches, and proposals with the class. -
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Songs, art, poems connected to the Night Sky
The sky at night seemes to be a strong source of inpsiration for artists, and provides a sense of hope, curiosity & reassurance. We look to it for ‘the answers’ sometimes. We consider our dreams, remember loved ones, reflect on our existence and take it a prompt for reflection & deeper thinking.
Some examples I can think of:Music:
Imelda May: Meet you at the Moon
Ella Fitzgerald: Dream a little dream of me
Ryan Adams: When the stars turn blue
Pink Floyd’s album Dark side of the Moon exploring themes of human existence
David Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust who a was sent to Earth to save it from disaster
Kate Bush: The Big Sky
Elton John: Rocketman
Nick Drake: Northern Sky
Emperor: The magic of the Night Sky
Niall Young: Harvest moon
Myles Smyth: StargazingPoems:
Rocket-Jack Prelutsky….a good one for planet exploration
Star Songs- Liz Brownlee
The Moon- Robert Louis Stevenson
Moon, O Moon in the Empty SKy, Leroy F. Jackson
Night, William BlakeArt:
The Starry Night- Vincent Van Gogh
Starry Night over the Rhone- Vincent Van Gogh
Moonlit Shipwreck at Sea- Thomas Moran
The Meteor of 1860- Frederic Eden ChurchThere are ample opportunities to link the theme of the night sky across te curriculum and link with historical events such as Mount Vesuvius erupting on a moonlit night, or how the monks on Skellig Michael looked to the skies for the answers, and believed that the Gods showed themselves in the form of storms, lightning, thunder etc. Children would have a great time exploring the themes that come up and would link them to the magical and mysterious.
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Songs, poems, and art have long been used as powerful mediums to connect humanity with the beauty and mystery of the dark night sky. Here are some examples that evoke the beauty of the night sky –
Songs:
• ‘Stargazing’ by Kygo ft. Justin Jesso – This song captures the sense of wonder and exploration that comes with admiring the stars in a clear night sky.
• ‘Starry, Starry Night’ by Don McLean – Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s iconic painting, this song encapsulates the emotional connection between art and the night sky.Poems:
• A short poem ‘A Clear Midnight’ by Walt Whitman, the poet reflects on the timeless presence of the night sky as a source of solace and inspiration after the day, allowing an opportunity to see the expanse sky and the possibility of life.Art:
• ‘The Starry Night’ by Vincent van Gogh – This famous painting illustrates the beauty of the stars free from light pollution. I believe it shows the beauty of nature in one of finest moments – during the night.
• The contemporary light installation “The Pool” by Jen Lewin offers a unique interactive experience that reminds me of the the night sky as it is a field of illuminated orbs. This exhibition has been moved around to many large cities like Hong Kong, Istanbul and Sydney. Viewers can create their own combination by stepping on the orbs and creating a sequences. This reminds me of the bright stars in the night sky. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
The night sky has inspired countless works of art, music, and poetry, reflecting its mystery, beauty, and vastness. President Michael D. Higgins’ poem “Stardust” explores the human connection to the cosmos, emphasizing our shared origins with the stars. Similarly, Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” captures the swirling, luminous beauty of the night sky and is a very useful resource for an art lesson, students enjoy creating their own versions.
Songs such as Coldplay ‘Sky Full of Stars’, Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’, David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, Muse’s ‘Starlight’ and Madonna’s ‘Lucky Star’ are all inspired in some way by the stars and the night sky. Poems such as ‘The Light of Stars’ by Henry Longfellow, ‘Bright Star’ by John Keats and ‘A Night-Piece’ by William Wordsworth were similarly inspired by the night sky and its vastness and beauty.
There are also rhymes passed down through the generations that are inspired by the night sky, such as ‘red sky at night, shepherd’s delight, red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning’.
These examples, among many others, highlight how the night sky connects us to something larger, stirring emotions ranging from awe to introspection, and reminding us of our place in the universe
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To design a dark sky in the classroom I would do the following:
We have a hall which we use next to the school and the lighting is poor. I would set up an area in the hall maybe a corner where we can black out some of the windows. Alternatively I would use the sensory room in the school as we already have blacked out the window.
I would link in with art lessons to create a “night sky” on the ceiling of the hall or sensory room.
Children can be asked to observe the night sky in their area and then represent what they have seen through drawing and art. These drawings can be displayed in the dark sky area of the room. -
Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “Stardust”
Paintings:
“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh – A swirling night sky filled with stars over a quiet town.
“The Night Café” by Vincent van Gogh – Depicts a café under a dimly lit sky.
“Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket” by James Whistler – A depiction of fireworks in a dark night sky.
“The Colliding Galaxy of the Cosmic Bridge” by Aelita Andre – A modern abstract representation of the cosmos.
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (Night Version) by Katsushika Hokusai – A reinterpretation featuring a starry sky backdrop.Songs:
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” – Traditional
“Starry Starry Night” – Don McLean
“Talking to the Moon” – Bruno Mars
“Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra
“A Sky Full of Stars” – Coldplay
“Moon River” – Henry Mancini
“Written in the Stars” – Tinie Tempah feat. Eric Turner
“Blue Moon” – Billie HolidayBooks/Poems:
“The Moon” Robert Louis Stevenson
“Windy Nights” Robert Louis Stevenson.
Plenty of options for incorporating into English, SESE and the arts.
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Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky?
Using the arts of song/music, visual art and poetry can instill an interest and sense of exploration in the children. It sparks an interest that can be explored through role play, drama and of course, the curiosity leads to questions being asked and lots of exploration taking place.
Useful songs include but not limited to:
Twinkle twinkle
Spaceman – Babylon zoo
Starman – David Bowie
Stargazing – myles smith
The planet song – youtube
The solar system song – kids tv
Moon River – Andy Williams
Dancing in the moonlight – toploader
Reach for the stars – s club 7
Sky full of stars, Cold play
Midnight sky – Miley Cyrus.
Lots of feelings and questions can be discussed with the use of these songs .
Some Poems:
T’was the night before Christmas
Stardust- Michael D Higgins
Bright Star – John Keats
The moon – Robert Louise Stevenson.
Art samples:
Starry night, Vincent Van Gogh
Moonlit night, Kandinsky
Seascape.
Observation and exploration of these pieces of visual art will enable our children to create their own pieces of art work to represent the night sky as they see it in their own areas.
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5. Consider how many Songs / Poems /Art can you think of to connect us with the Night Sky? For example: Look up President Michael D Higgins’ “StardustSongs: I have to say that I struggled with thinking or being familiar with songs that connect us to the night sky. I thought of ‘Twinkle Twinkle’, one of the first songs children are taught at home, The Planet Song, A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay and made more famous recently by Johnny from Sing the movie!. Another participant mentioned S-Club 7 – Reach for the stars, a lovely catchy number! “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra, Catch a falling star and out it in your pocket and at Christmas ‘Silent Night’.
Poems:
‘Star light , star bright’,
Stardust by Michael D. Higgins ‘Stardust’, read by President Michael D. Higgins – YouTube
Art: Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
The Starry Night Over the Rhône by Vincent van Gogh
Different version of the northern lights which can be recreated in class. -
Describe how you could implement a version of ‘Design your own Dark sky place’ in your school/classroom?
Within groups, I would get the students to research what an area would look like if they designed their own dark sky place in our school or classroom. I would encourage the groups to compile a list of items and design a plan that would assist them in developing this area. Following a survey within the school of the best location, the groups would get the opportunity to add items or suggestions from their original research to develop this area. We have a lovely library space in our school that has sky lights and a telescope already, I think this area would appeal to students in their decision of the best space. I would encourage the groups to educate the whole school through posters, presentations and work with our green schools committee to make students aware of the importance of limiting light pollution and what our beautiful night sky has to offer.
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Hi Orla.
How lucky are you to have a library in your school! I’m sure your pupils enjoy the experience, especially with sky lights and a telescope in situ. Unfortunately we don’t have a library but I do have a large area outside my classroom that is currently used as a sensory area. I wonder how expensive telescopes are and if it would be possible for our school to purchase on e for this area. It would work really well I think. You could display some information about the constellations or planes on laminated cards and display them in the area.
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Create your own dark sky in the classroom.
I choose this assignment because I think my 6th class pupils would really enjoy this project. We would begin by discussing dark sky places. I visited Ayers Rock a few years ago and had the privilege of looking at the stars from that place. It was truly amazing. I would show the pupils images of dark sky places in Ireland and abroad as a trigger to get them thinking about the night sky. We would explore how we would go about creating our own night sky in the classroom.
I would put the pupils into groups and each group would be responsible for researching and creating displays for our classroom night sky. Groups could consist of Nocturnal animals in this area and how they are affected by light pollution, I would have an interactive area where one group would use the Stellarium app to showotherpupils how to find tne Northstar, another group would create visuals on the major constellations explaining how Orion and Casseopia gotthenames. These visuals could be displayed on the ceiling or even under tables. Another group would be responsible for creating a brochure for the project, outlining what to look for when you visit each group or station. I would then choose pupils to go to the younger classes and show them the brochure and invite them to our class to visit our night sky.
I think this project would suit all the pupils in the class as it has links to art, oral language, science etc and the whole class would enjoy this project!
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