Teaching Guide: The Night Sky by Another Name Grades 4-5
Students will learn about myths and constellations and how different African cultures have understood the stars.
Star formation in the constellation Orion as photographed in infrared by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. Wikimedia Commons.
In this lesson, students will learn about the way different African cultures have understood what we know as the Orion constellation. This lesson helps students understand European and American worldviews of science and invites them to think about different ways to understand the Earth and the universe.
Grade level(s): 4-5
Guide subjects: Astronomy, History
Minority Group(s): African-American
In-class time: 40-45 minutes
Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Technology Requirements: Student web access not required, Audio not required, Audio/Video optional
Common Core Standards: Reading: Literature, Speaking & Listening
Next Generation Science Standards: Earth and Space Sciences, Earth’s Place in the Universe, Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science, Links Among Engineering, Technology, Science and Society