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Constellations

Students will use the Hummingbird Kit to create a model of a constellation.

Constellations

Programming Language

Any language supported by Hummingbird Duo

Subjects

History, Science

Grades

4-5, 6-8

Free Teacher Materials

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Objective & Learning Goals

  • The student will be able to create a model of the constellation of their choosing using a Hummingbird controller, associated components, and other materials.
  • The student will be able to describe the design process and any troubleshooting strategies in a laboratory journal.
  • The student will be able to cite the 3-4 brightest stars in a constellation of their choosing.
  • The student will be able to compare and contrast the characteristics of their constellation and the constellations chosen by other students.
  • The student will be able to explain the practical uses of their constellation to ancient civilizations and the mythology behind their constellation as told by ancient civilizations.

Standards

This projects meets Next Generation Science Standards concerning gravity, stars, and the solar system (5-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-1, and MS-ESS1-2). In addition, it can provide an opportunity to discuss how sound and light energy are transmitted by waves (4-PS4-1 and MS-PS4-1). This project is also aligned with Common Core ELA anchor standards that focus on informative writing and revision (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.2-5); research (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7-8,10); and speaking and listening (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4,6).

Photo Gallery

Students will be placed in groups of 4-5 and will choose a constellation to model. They will use at least 3 LEDs, 1 motor or servo motor, and 1 sensor. They will research the constellation and portray several facets of information that they have found. Students will keep a laboratory journal describing the astronomical attributes of the constellation (distance across in light years, type of stars, color of stars, age of stars, brightest to least brightest stars, when it appears in the Northern Hemisphere, etc.). The laboratory journal will also detail the design process of the group and any troubleshooting involved in the building/programming process. Students will write a report about the significance of the constellation with regards to mythology and history of ancient civilizations (did it signal planting season? what myths surround its form?). Students will portray the envisioned form of the constellation as seen by ancient civilizations (Orion is the hunter, etc.) and they will also show the position of stars in the constellation. Students will then input components (LEDs, motors, sensors, etc.) and program these components to significantly represent their constellation (intensity of one LED star as compared to another, the constellation moving on a servo to show its angled position at different times in night, etc.).

Lesson Procedures:

Procedures can be found in the PDF.