Astronomy Week 2: Stars

Classical Conversations Correlation: Cycle 2, Week 7

Reading

Book of Astronomy & Space, pg. 50-55

Classical Acts & Facts Science Cards #41

   

Vocabulary:

Telescope
Star

Videos:

Life & Death of a Star

Types of Stars

Activity 1: Build a Telescope

A telescope is a piece of equipment  that makes faraway things look closer.Astronomers use them to observe things in space. Build your own to become a space explorer!



Supplies Needed:
- paper towel roll or other cylindrical container
- paint
- marker
- Xacto knife
- sheet of acetate

Follow the instructions to build a fun telescope with a removable slide!

Activity 2: Why Do Stars Twinkle?

Supplies Needed:
- aluminum foil
- one piece black construction paper
- glass bowl
- flashlight
- scissors

1. Fill up 2/3rds of the glass bowl with water & set it aside.
2. Cut small pieces of aluminum foil and shape them into little stars.
3. Place the stars on top of the black card stock.
4. Place the glass bowl on top of the card stock and turn off the light.
5. Shine the flashlight on the bowl.
6. Tap the bowl to see what happens to the stars when the water moves.

When you shine light on aluminum while water is moving, the light travels through the water and makes the aluminum stars twinkle. Similarly, when the star light moves through the Earth's atmosphere at night, the air it passes through makes it appear to twinkle.

Photo:  www.theeducatedpreschooler.blogspot.com

Activity 3: Make Colorful Star Cookies

Follow the recipe on the website to make some yummy cookies you can actually see through!