Agenda: WB 116-119
Bellwork: Create the web in
your journal (turn your page
sideways to maximize use of
space). Fill in any blanks that
you already know.
Today’s Journey
SP-I Can! 507.6.3:
Identify methods and tools for finding
star patterns.
 I can:
Research a star pattern using a chart.

What are constellations?
This is one of our 5th grade academic vocabulary words.
Talk with your team.

What are constellations?
Create a definition of
constellations based on what
you know in the web. Beside it
add the following.


Name a constellation that
you know of.
Name what you might use
to find a constellation.
(Write this in a complete
thought.)
Draw an example of a
constellation if you know
one.
What are constellations?
Let’s see how you did. Add “bright ideas” to
your notes.

Constellations – a group of
stars in the night sky that forms
a pattern. These star patterns
usually have a myth or legend
to explain how they came to
be.
Examples:
 Ursa Major (Big Dipper is part
of this)
 Ursa Minor
 Orion
 Scorpius
 Pegasus
 Many more 

Draw an example of a
constellation.
Star Chart- a chart/map
showing the positions of
the stars in the sky each
day of the year.
When might constellations
have been useful during our
history? Why do you think
this?
Table share time! Talk to your
neighbor about what you think
and why.
How Constellations are Useful
Agriculture
 Navigation

One example of constellations
being used for navigation
happened during the Civil
War. What might have
happened during this time that
constellations were helpful
with?
Video for “Follow the Drinking
Gourd”--Constellations used
for the Underground Railroad
Constellations along the
Underground Railroad

Slaves would use the “Drinking Gourd” or Big
Dipper constellation (star pattern) to help them
know where to look for Polaris or the North Star.
“Drinking Gourd” Big Dipper

Part of the larger constellation known as Ursa Major.
Our Constantly Changing Night Sky
Due to Earth’s revolution around the sun,
constellations are only visible during
certain parts of the year.
 When the sun is blocking some
constellations from view, the constellations
on the other side of the galaxy are visible.

Star Charts
In order to know what constellations we
can see during a certain part of the year,
we use star charts.
 Star charts are maps of the night sky.


These charts allow you to find constellations
and stars that are visible and figure out what
times of the year they are visible.

Use the star chart with your team to find
the “Drinking Gourd”

What do you notice about its location during
the year?
Circumpolar Constellations: around either pole without slipping
below the horizon.
Circumpolar Constellations
The Big Dipper is visible for the this area
of the Northern Hemisphere all year long!
 This is because the Big Dipper is known
as a “Circumpolar Constellation”
 Circumpolar- stars or constellations that
are above the North Pole and are visible to
people North of the Equator all year long.

Since the Big Dipper is in the North
Circumpolar Region, at 40 degrees
latitude this constellation and other
circumpolar stars/constellations are visible
all night long. However, south of the
equator, these stars are never visible.
 Slaves used this star as a compass for
navigation to the north while traveling the
Underground Railroad.

Look at your note web. Take a moment to see if you can complete the information on the
web based on today’s lesson.
Wrap Up
Groups of stars that
form a pattern
star
chart
Underground
Railroad
Slaves traveling the
Underground Railroad
would use the Big Dipper
(“Drinking Gourd”) to find
the North Star so that they
could navigate their way.
circumpolar
constellation
Ursa
Major
long
all year
Using a star chart, you can see that
Ursa Major never dips below the
horizon line. It is located above the
North Pole so it is always visible.
Wrap Up
SP-I Can! 507.6.3:
Identify methods and tools for finding
star patterns.
 I can:
Research a star pattern using a chart.
