Create a Constellation and Writing Connection-Writing Mini-Lessons Included

Are your students learning about constellations? This activity is a great way to engage and extend their learning! This activity challenges students to:

• create a constellation using his or her first or last name (each letter represents a star in the constellation)
• use creativity to create a picture/constellation from the name used (connect the stars...pipe cleaners activity to make it fun!)
• create a story to explain how their constellation got into the sky (LOTS of writing mini-lessons included as well as background information about gods/goddesses to use in their stories)

The activity includes the following resources:

1. ONE Google Slides Constellation Toolkit-The toolkit has an introduction lesson about constellations (what they are, how they are used, etc). It also contains background information on 11 gods/goddesses for the students to explore and possibly use in their own creative stories. The kit also has 8 slides containing specific constellations in our night sky along with their myth. Lastly, the kit contains a link for a website with more myths about constellations.
2. Task 1-Create Your Constellation Directions and sample tips on a Google Doc (printable also)
3. Task 2-Writing a constellation story task and student samples on a Google Doc (printable also)
4. THREE writing mini-lessons on Google Slides (Mini-Lessons included are #1-Generating Ideas/Conventions, #2-Organization/Structure and Elaboration, #3-Word Choice
5. ONE Revising Your First Draft Google Slides-This slides includes a teacher-created constellation story where I go through and show the students how I used the mini-lessons taught to make changes in my story. Also included at the end of the slides is a revising checklist for student use on their own stories.
6. Rubric formatted for Google Classroom