Spotting Constellations

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Space Exploration|Ages 5—7|ID: mt_BVpB5wyijZ

Recognise a few star patterns (constellations) in the night sky, starting with the Big Dipper (the Plough), and understand that the North Star (Polaris) can be found using the Big Dipper

Mastery Evidence

Identify or draw the Big Dipper (the Plough) as a pattern of seven stars
Explain that the two end stars of the Big Dipper's bowl point towards the North Star
State that constellations are patterns of stars that people have named

Assessment Prompt

“On a clear night, could [child] find the Big Dipper in the sky — or draw its shape from memory?”

Prerequisites1

Sun, Moon & Stars
hardAges 5—7

Show full prerequisite tree

Sun, Moon & Stars hard
Must know stars are sky objects before recognising patterns among them
- Why seasons change soft
  Curriculum daylight/seasons observation supports exploratory Sun/Moon/stars identification
  - Naming the Planets soft
    Relating daylight length to time of year draws on orbit and solar system vocabulary
  - Seasonal changes soft
    Seasonal changes observation supports daylight pattern recognition
    - Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
      Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
      - Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically

Unlocks1

Seasonal Constellations
hardAges 9—11