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Montessori-Inspired Star and Constellation Unit

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Star Lacing (Photo from Homeschool Escapade)

Star Lacing (Photo from Homeschool Escapade)

What summer would be complete without a bit of nighttime stargazing? I focused previously on Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities. Today, I want to focus more specifically on stars and constellations, a great unit study for the summer if you add some outdoor stargazing.

Here are some great resources from around the blogosphere for a Montessori-inspired star and constellation unit:

Constellation Pin Punching (Photo from Counting Coconuts)

Constellation Pin Punching (Photo from Counting Coconuts)

In a space-themed post, Counting Coconuts has activities for pouring star-shaped pasta, sweeping stars, tracing constellations, dot-to-dot constellations, star counting, and constellation pin punching/push pin work. Counting Coconuts also has a free Life Cycle of a Star printable. UPDATE: Even though Montessori schools and homeschools have been using push pins for pin punching for years, I think it’s time to change. Please read this sad post and consider an alternative to push pins, such as Montessori Services’ wood handled puncher.

Homeschool Escapade has star lacing for eye-hand coordination along with many other activities in a space unit (photo at the top of this post from Space Unit – Day 1).

Montessori for Everyone has free 3-part constellation cards.

Sun Nomenclature Book (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Sun Nomenclature Book (Image from Montessori Print Shop)

Montessori Print Shop has astronomy cards, sun nomenclature cards, and sun nomenclature book available for purchase.

Montessori Mom has free constellation and dot-to-dot printouts along with links to information about stars and constellations.

For Small Hands has a number of constellation materials that can be purchased, including constellation projection cards that you can use with a flashlight.

Astronomer Cards (Photo from Leptir)

Astronomer Cards (Photo from Leptir)

Leptir has lots of activities for a study of the universe, including astronomer cards and an idea for making a life cycle of a star booklet.

In its astronomy section, Wikisori has links to free printables for life cycle of a star, Libra constellation map, Virgo constellation map, Scorpius constellation map, and Sagittarius constellation map.

Have you been stargazing yet this summer?

UPDATE of my space posts: Astronaut Unit, Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities, and Montessori-Inspired Moon Unit


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Comments

  1. Oh this work looks like it would fit perfectly with my kids’ interests! DD6 has always loved punching work, and DS4 is very into astronomy right now. Thank you Deb! We’ll give a try!

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  3. Perfect timing, Deb, as the Perseid Meteor Showers have begun. They peak Aug. 12/13. Thanks for sharing the links and great ideas. Happy Thursday!

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