Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion

Summer/Fall/Winter/Spring Constellations

Web Quest

Standard 4 Objective 2: Describe the appearance and apparent motion of

groups of stars in the night sky relative to Earth and how various cultures have understood and used them.a) Locate and identify stars that are grouped in patterns in the night

sky.b) Identify ways people have historically grouped stars in the night sky.c) Recognize that stars in a constellation are not all the same distance

from Earth.d) Relate the seasonal change in the appearance of the night’s sky to

Earth’s position

Introduction:Congratulations! You have been selected by NASA

to be part of a team of astronauts to be the first to explore our universe! I hope you’re ready for space food and weightlessness because this will be a long trip! NASA’s funds are limited and your team can only explore five of the eighty-eight constellations. Your assignment before you launch is to research one of the eighty-eight constellations and provide an argument on why NASA should visit that constellation!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you! Observers of have seen these patterns in the stars for generations and have even designed rich stories which incorporate the beliefs and traditions of their culture. These mythologies will guide you in our own exploration, they challenge you to see what was seen and then to look further. When looking at the stars…..what do you see?

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion

Task:You are going into deep cyber-space to explore one of our eighty-eight constellations! You will first be assigned to one of the major constellations .

Then you will: Find and draw out what the constellation looks like on black

construction paper. Find where it is in the sky, and when it is visible. Explore the myth that comes with the constellation. Find the names and distances of the major stars that make up the

pattern in the sky. Explore any additional facts and make sure you keep a record of all

of the information you discover on the black paper!

Finally, using the information gathered, create a twenty-five word advertisement to convince NASA to send you to explore this region. These advertisements will be video-taped by Miss Spangler.

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion

Process:First: To help you find out what it looks like….

http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/search?x=0&y=0&st1=Constellations&searchprop=WBS

http://www.coldwaterschools.org/lms/Planetarium/myth/index.html

http://space.about.com/od/starsplanetsgalaxies/ig/Constellations-Pictures/

Second: To discover the best time look for the constellation….http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/search?x=0&y=0&st1=Constellations&searchprop=WBS

Third: To help you explore the myths behind your constellation…http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/search?x=0&y=0&st1=Constellations&searchprop=WBS

http://www.coldwaterschools.org/lms/Planetarium/myth/index.html

Fourth: To help you discover the names of the stars…http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Andromeda.html

http://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/88const/

Fifth: If you still need to find more information! http://www.dibonsmith.com/constel.htm

http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/search?x=0&y=0&st1=Constellations&searchprop=WBS

http://88constellations.com/

http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/astro/asp/constellations.pre.html

Finally: Record your information on the black construction paper and prepare your script! Ready? Set? Action!

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion

Evaluation:After exploring

cyber-space and gathering your information you will be graded on the quality and completion of your research and script. Can your script convince NASA to send you into the actual space not be left behind in cyber-space? Make sure your research is recorded neatly and completely.

Rubric

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion

Conclusion:Well now that you’ve prepared your brains for deep-space travel, its time to prepare yourself physically! Make you are exercising daily, getting eight hours of sleep each night, eating fruits and veggies, and drinking milk!

In the mean time we will have to wait to hear from NASA to see if you have convinced them to let you go visit the constellation that you have now come to adore and love.

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion

AndromedaLibraGeminiCancerLeoHydraCanis MinorCanis MajorOrionTaurusPerseus

AriesVirgoCorvusScorpiusOphiuchusSagittariusAquilaCapricornusAquariusLyraPegasus

CygnusPiscesAurigaComa BernicesBootesCygnusDelphiniusCorona

Borealis

Constellations

Excellent Satisfactory Needs Improvement

Picture on black construction

paper

3 2 1

Location of constellation

3 2 1

Myth 3 2 1

Stars that make-up constellation

3 2 1

Three to four additional facts

3 2 1

Twenty-five word script

5 3 1

Total Points: /20

Rubric

Student Examples

Student Examples