Name ____________________________________________________________________________________
Constellations WebQuest Worksheet
This WebQuest addresses the following Utah 6th Grade Science Standards:
Standard IV, Objective 2: Describe the appearance and apparent motion of groups of stars in the night sky
relative to Earth and how various cultures have understood and used them.
a. Locate and identify stars that are grouped in patterns in the night sky.
b. Identify ways people have historically grouped stars in the night sky.
d. Relate the seasonal change in the appearance of the night sky to Earth’s
position.
e. Describe ways that familiar groups of stars may be used for navigation and
calendars.
1. Read “What is a Constellation?” After you have read that section, define constellation.
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2. Read “Where Do Constellations Come From?” After you have read that section, explain how we got constellations.
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3. In the boxes, draw these winter constellations.
Ursa Major
the Great Bear
Orion
the Hunter
Draco
the Dragon
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Canis Major
the Big Dog
Gemini
the Twins
Taurus
the Bull
The Myths
Most constellations in the northern hemisphere have myths linked with them. Select two constellations and tell their
myths in your own words.
4. Constellation ____________________________________________________________
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5. Constellation ____________________________________________________________
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6. Using the “Alphabetical Listing of Constellations,” complete the table. (Note: On the web page, select the constellation from
the list. To find the brightest star, go to the “Named Star List.” The first star on this list is the brightest star [listed as Alpha …].
“Month Best Seen” is found under “Position in the Sky.”)
Constellation
Translation
Brightest Star
Month Best Seen
Aquila
Boötes
Cygnus
Gemini
Hercules
Lyra
Ophiuchus
Scorpius
Ursa Minor
Virgo
Using the star charts on the WebQuest page, answer the next four questions.
7. List the names of four constellations you can see during winter.
1.
2.
3.
4.
8. List the names of four constellations you can see during spring.
1.
2.
3.
4.
9. List the names of four constellations you can see during summer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
10. List the names of four constellations you can see during fall
1.
2.
3.
4.
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I must go down to the sea again
To the lonely sea and sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
And a star to steer her by.
-Sea Fever by John Masefield
Latitude and the North Star - Part 1
Latitude tells you how far north or south of the equator you are. The North Star can also help you find your
latitude. For example, Kansas City, Missouri is at 39o N latitude. That means it is 39o north of the equator. To find
the North Star, would look north, 39o above the Horizon. Using the Key Latitudes, complete the table.
Location
Latitude (° N or ° S)
Location
North Pole
Tropic of Cancer
Equator
Arctic Circle
London, England
Washington, D.C.
Helsinki, Finland
Ottawa, Canada
Latitude (° N or ° S)
Latitude and the North Star – Part 2
Knowing that the North Star can identify your latitude, identify the latitude of the ship in each diagram.
Latitude of Ship _________°
The North Star
Horizon
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Latitude of Ship _________°
The North Star
Horizon
Latitude of Ship _________°
Horizon
The North Star
Explain what happened to the North Star as it approaches 0° (The Equator).
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If your boat sailed to 20° S (below the Equator), would you be able to see the North Star? Why?
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Ancient Time
Answer the following questions as you learn about time! Start with the Aztecs.
1. Whose face is at the center of the stone?
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2. How long was an Aztec year? ________________________________________________________________
3. What was an “unlucky day”? _________________________________________________________________
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4. What did the Aztecs use to determine the time of day? ____________________________________________
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Go to the bottom of the page and click on Chinese.
1. The Chinese calendar aligns perfectly with the cycle of the ________________.
2. List your birthday (month/year), your Chinese Zodiac sign, & Chinese year you were born.
a. Birthday – ___________________________________________________
c. Year – ______________________________________________________
b. Sign – ______________________________________________________
Go to the bottom of the page and click on Egypt.
5. What star did the Egyptians use to tell them the Nile was going to flood? ______________________________
6. The Egyptians most accurate calendar was based on the ______________.
7. The ancient Egyptians learned to keep track of time at night using an instrument called a
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