Unit Plan 30 (Grade 5 Science): Seasonal Star Patterns

Focus: Use star maps, observations, and graphs to describe how constellations and stars in the night sky appear in seasonal patterns over the year.

Grade Level: 5

Subject Area: Science (Earth & Space Science — Space Systems)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students shift from daily patterns to seasonal patterns in the night sky. They explore how certain constellations are visible only during particular seasons, while others are visible most of the year. Using star charts, simulations, and (when possible) simple observation logs, students identify which constellations appear in different months and create graphs or data displays to show these patterns. They then connect these patterns to Earth’s orbit around the Sun and the tilt of its axis, explaining why the seasonal appearance of stars is predictable.

Essential Questions

• How do constellations in the night sky change with the seasons?
• What patterns can we see when we graph data about which stars or constellations appear at different times of year?
• How do Earth’s movement in space and our location on Earth explain the seasonal appearance of some stars?
• How can star charts, models, and graphs help us describe and communicate patterns in the night sky?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Use star maps or digital sky tools to identify several constellations visible from their location in different seasons (e.g., fall vs. winter vs. spring).
2. Record and organize data about when selected constellations are visible (months or seasons, approximate times of night).
3. Create graphs or tables that show seasonal patterns in the appearance of constellations or star groups.
4. Describe and explain patterns in their data (e.g., some constellations are visible only in certain seasons, some stay low/high in the sky).
5. Use models and diagrams to explain how Earth’s orbit and tilt lead to changes in what part of space we face at night, causing seasonal star patterns.

Standards Alignment — 5th Grade (NGSS-Aligned)

• 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.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can identify and name a few constellations that are visible in different seasons from where we live.
• I can collect or use data (star charts, simulations, observation logs) to show when certain constellations appear.
• I can make a graph or chart that shows seasonal patterns in the appearance of stars or constellations.
• I can explain how Earth’s movement in space causes some stars to be visible only in certain seasons.
• I can use evidence from my graphs and models when I explain why star patterns change over the year.