Stella constellations

In this activity stellar constellations, their myths and histories are used in the exploration of global citizenship.

Using role play, students are asked to place themselves in the shoes of another and compare their reactions to a common situation. The activity also analyses changes in constellation culture throughout the years and looks at how this has been influenced by political factors.

Aspects of this activity can be easily applied to school astronomy.

Brief Outline
This 45 minute activity involves students working in two groups of six. One group will play the part of 'explorers' and the other will be 'natives'. Both groups will be provided with cultural artifacts, for example the explorers will be given a sextant, a flashlight and some binoculars and the natives will have some candles and headbands.

Each group will also be provided with some background information of what they are representing and will take part in a role play, using their cultural artifacts. They will then move to the optical observatory, which will be set up as a planetarium showing the stars. This is an environment that can be easily recreated in a darkened classroom by glow-in-the-dark stars.

Participants will then develop their own stellar constellations with associated stories. Both the native and explorer group will be given simplified star charts to help them out. It is important to note that both groups begin the activity with exactly the same stars.

Students will then present their work to the rest of the group and constellations will be discussed openly. The activity can be extended by including a presentation about interesting constellations.

Further information related to this activity can be found by following the links below:

• Star Stories
• Constellations and Politics
• Diversity in Constellation