1.

Overview: Constellation Creation, Constellations , Nicole Velez, 3rd Grade

2. Objectives/Justification/Standards

a) ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS / KEY IDEAS: What are constellations? Where can they
be found? How do they get their names and how were they used in the past? Understand some of
the stories behind some of the more well known constellations that can be seen from the northern
hemisphere. Create their own constellations and back stories with creative writing.

b) OBJECTIVE: Students will be able to (SWBAT):

● Students will be able to apply information from the “Super Stars” video to
demonstrate an understanding of constellations.
● Students will be able to design their own constellations within the night sky.
● Students will be able to craft an interesting backstory that justifies the
constellation they create.
● Video to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZffhapfOgg

c) Standards:
● NJCCCS Science 5.1.4.B.4
Communicate and justify explanations with reasonable and logical arguments.
● NJCCCS Science 5.1.4.D.1
Actively participate in discussions about student data, questions, and
understandings.
● CCSS ELA.3.SL.1D
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups,
and teacherled) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on
others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
d. Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
● CCSS ELA.3.W.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
● CCSS ELA.3.W.4
With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the
development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.
● NJCCCS-Visual and Performing Arts 1.3.P.D.2
Create two and three-dimensional works of art while exploring color, line, shape,
form, texture, and space.

d) Justification: According to third grade Earth Science curriculum, students will

understand what constellations are. Since the student will have been covering several Earth
 Science topics prior to this lesson, they will have some past knowledge about other bodies
and objects in space.

3. Assessment
a) Pre-Assessment: Students will rate their knowledge of constellations 1 to 3, 1 being
unfamiliar, 2 being maybe/unsure, and 3 being I could tell you about it.

b) Checking for understanding- Students will be asked to answer questions following the
video they watch about constellations. In addition to that, as students create their
constellations and their back stories, This will check the students’ understand of
constellations.

c) Post-Assessment- students will retake the pre assessment with a different writing utensil
than what was already used.

4. Learning Experience

a) Brief description of sequence of learning experiences:

Lesson will start with students having 5 minutes to complete the pre-assessment
questionnaire. From there they will gather on the rug to watch a crash course video on what
constellations are. After this brief introduction I will reinforce what a constellation is and
what it looks like. For this part, I will ask students to help me fill in answers on the
presentation. After this, I will go over three different constellations that are seen in the
Northern Hemisphere, their back stories and what they look like. After class discussion
regarding these constellations. Students will be given the opportunity to create their own
constellations in space and write a short creative writing type story that will be the
backstory of their constellation and justify why they will be immortalized in the night sky.
Closing will allow three students share their stories.

b) Effective teaching and differentiating instruction for diverse learners:

1. Individual, small group and whole group experiences: This lesson includes
individual and whole group experiences.
2. Interdisciplinary learning: Lesson includes both science and literacy learning.
3. Addressing higher level thinking skills and self-regulation:
4. Use of various autonomy levels: There are both student directed and teacher
directed experiences built into this lesson.
5. Feedback and continuous scaffolding: Students will participate in back and
forth discussion, modeling and input and feedback.
6. Multimodal experiences This lesson contains visual, verbal, print,
technology, audio and video aspects.
7. How will you support children’s approaches to learning
a. initiative, engagement, and persistence- Students will have to take
initiative throughout the lesson and activity. Keeping the students involved
throughout the lesson will keep them engaged and persistent in their
learning.
b. creativity and imagination- Students will be using imagination and
creativity in making their own constellations.
c. Children identify and solve problems- The students must identify the
aspects of a constellation and create their own while creating a story the
justifies why their constellation belongs in the sky.
d. Children apply what they have learned to new situations- Students
will apply what they learned about constellations into the creation of their
very own constellations.
8. Play and active construction of learning- NA
9. Home/community connections: NA