Weather (and parents) permitting, plan a Sky Watchers’ Night excursion. Together, your students and parents can experience planets, constellations, and meteor showers that are visible in your vicinity. Those who join in will long remember the experience. (On a clear night during April 1996, several of my first graders joined me in locating the planet Venus with the naked eye. Upon returning to school the next day, they painted pictures and enthusiastically talked and wrote about it in class.)
Whether you have minimal or full-class trip participation, the spellbinding results are contagious and often spark independent study and observation on behalf of nonparticipating students. Binoculars, telescopes, a planisphere, the naked eye and a clear. chaperoned youngsters and a moonless night away from city lights are all you’ll need. Take photos or videotape your trek. Follow up with journal writing about the experience.
Note
: A schedule of planet, constellation and meteor shower appearances are often listed in non-specialized journals like
SKY AND TELESCOPE
and
ASTRONOMY
. These publications are available in the public library and specialty newsstands. Take advantage of these resources. Just in case you are as enthusiastic about experiencing a meteor shower as I am, here’s a quick reference meteor shower calendars:
RECURRING METEOR SHOWERS
____
FOUND NEAR
PEAK DATE
|
THE CONSTELLATION
|
January 4
|
Quadrantids
|
April 21
|
Lyrids
|
May 4
|
Eta Aquarids
|
July 28
|
Delta Aquarids
|
August 12
|
Perseids
|
October 21
|
Orionids
|
November 3, 1
|
South Taurids, Leonids
|
December 13, 22
|
Geminids, Ursids
|
Shared Reading:
The Man Who Lit The Stars
by Claude Clemente