| Laura's Star |
| Grade: First Time: 45-50 mins. Objectives: 1. Listen to a story read aloud. 2. Respond, through writing, to an oraly presented story and space activity. 3. Explore and discuss natural phenomena of outer space. 4. Examine space by creating stars using flashlights in the classroom. Materials: Book: Laura's Star Flashlights with star, moon and sun covers (can cut stencils out on round black paper and cover top of flashlight) Space music (cassette tape, ex. star wars soundtrack) Writing paper (see example) Overview of lesson: Begin with short motivation for lesson. Ask what we might find in space? What is outer space? What do you already know about space? How far away do you think stars are? Do they go away during the day? Where do they go? Ask the students what it would be like to go into space and see the stars? Tell them to listen carefully to what happens to Laura's star in the story we are about to read. Read the story aloud. During the story take short breaks to discuss what might happen next. Also discuss why Laura cannot find her star during the day. Upon completing the story ask the students what they learned and what happened to Laura's star? Do stars go away during the day? Why can't we see them? Was Laura a good friend to the star? What would you have done differently? The students will be given an opportunity to create outer space in the classroom. Explain the directions and safety procedures. Make sure the students know that the lights will be turned off, so there is to be no moving around the room. Each student is given a flashlight and asked to spread out aroung the room. Turn on space music and turn off lights. Instruct studnets to turn on their flashlights and look at what happens to the ceiling. Have students move their flashlights to the beat of the music (slow/fast). Turn the lights on, instructing the students to leave the flashlights on. Ask the students were the stars went? Are they still there? Why can't we see them? Remind the students of what happened to Laura's star. Is it the same thing? Tell them we have just illustrated what happens to the stars during the night and day. Stars are still out in the day, but we cannot see them because the light from the sun is much stronger and closer, which over powers the light from the stars. Students are told to turn off lights and return to their desks. Hand out writing paper and have students write a journal entry on what they have experienced or what they have learned. As closure to the lesson you may want to discuss what scientists use to look at the stars and bring in a telescope to examine and use during center activties. |