Constellations Through the Seasons

5th Grade ScienceConstellations4 pages

About this worksheet

This 4-page 5th grade science worksheet starts with a table of when five constellations are best seen in the evening sky: Orion in winter, Leo in spring, Cygnus in summer, Pegasus in fall and the Big Dipper all year. Five questions ask which constellation shows on January, July and October evenings, why Orion is lost in July and why the Big Dipper never leaves. Part 2 shows Earth at two spots in its orbit, where students label winter or summer and say which side of Earth faces Orion. Page 4 holds the answers.

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Constellations Through the Seasons: Constellations - page 1

Constellations Through the Seasons: Constellations - page 2

Constellations Through the Seasons: Constellations - page 3

Constellations Through the Seasons: Constellations - page 4

Curriculum objectives covered

5-ESS1-2

“Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.”

The table and the Earth diagram show which stars appear in which season, and questions 4 and 5 ask students to explain two of the patterns.

What's inside this worksheet

Seasonal Star Guide

A five-row table pairs each constellation with its best evening season. Questions 1 and 2 ask which constellation could be seen on a January evening and on a July evening.

Questions 3 to 5

Question 3 asks for the constellation on an October evening. Questions 4 and 5 are written answers on why Orion cannot be seen in July evenings and why the Big Dipper can be seen all year from most of the United States.

Earth's Orbit and the Night Sky

A diagram shows the Sun with Earth at two spots, Orion on the left and Cygnus on the right. Students label positions 1 and 2 with Winter or Summer and write which side of Earth faces Orion at position 2.

Answers

Orion, Cygnus and Pegasus for the first three questions, with a note about the Big Dipper, the reasoning for questions 4 and 5, then Winter, Summer and the day side.

How teachers use it

Table first

Let students answer questions 1 to 3 from the table alone. Then ask one the sheet leaves out, such as which constellation fits an April evening. The Leo row answers it.

Lamp and ball

Before the diagram, put a lamp in the middle of the room as the Sun and walk a student around it holding a ball. Ask which wall the night side faces at each stop.

Exit slip

Question 4 works as an exit slip. The key says Orion is in the sky by day when the Sun is too bright, a good target for a full-sentence reply.

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