View Content #8923
| Contentid | 8923 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | Making Stargazers out of Pringles Cans |
| Body | Last week’s InterCom featured an idea for Stargazing Night for classics students. As promised, here are instructions for making and using a Pringles can stargazer: PRINGLES STARGAZERS Supplies needed: Pringles can with lid (regular size - the longer ones with 25% more do not work!), Black construction paper, Tape, Star stickers and/or gel pens, Large push pin, Scissors, Copy paper with constellation patterns (1 per student) 1. Clean crumbs out of Pringles can! 2. Cut 1/4" off the long edge of standard size (9 x 12) piece of black construction paper (this will allow paper to wrap around can with nothing hanging off the edges). 3. Attach with tape the short edge of the black construction to the tube part of the Pringles can. Wrap construction paper around tube and secure other end with more tape. 4. Decorate black tube with star stickers and gel pens. (Have each student also write their names on theirs to avoid confusion.) 5. Cut out circular constellation patterns (prior to this activity, trace six circles the size of the Pringles lid onto a piece of copy paper. In each circle, draw with a black Sharpie one shape of the constellations: Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Cepheus, Perseus, Cetus and Pegasus. These can be found in any constellation book or most likely on the Internet. Be sure to mark the top of the constellation with a "T" inside the circle so they will know which way it goes.) 6. Using the large push pin, punch a hole in the center of the metal part on the bottom of the Pringles can. Once push pin has been inserted into can, twist it around to enlarge the hole a bit. 7. Once the can is decorated and punched and the circular patterns have been cut out, place circular constellations (one at a time) in the lid and put on Pringles can. 8. Point the stargazer at the light and look through the pin hole in the base of the Pringles can to see the constellation. Have each child store their constellation circles in their Pringles can. HELPFUL TIPS: 1. These constellations are of course in the fall night sky. If you want to stage a spring stargazing night, change the constellations to fit. Also, I provide a worksheet with the same constellations and clues about each one and let the students fill in the name of each one from a word bank. Just use the same shapes which you drew for the stargazers. 2. Before making our stargazers, my students research the story of Cassiopeia and Andromeda (I give them each a character and they come to class the next week ready to portray that character in our play). We usually do the play, make the stargazers and then the next week which is when our actual Stargazing Night is planned, they have the worksheet as part of their homework. Contact your local astronomers club and see if they would be willing to bring out their telescopes and share their expertise with you. Or ask parents to bring their telescopes. Madden, S. [Latinteach] Stargazers from Pringles can. The Teaching of the Latin Language listserv (latinteach@nxport.com, 15 Jan 2009). --- Another variation: Each child gets a soup/other (maybe even larger can) metal can. Leave the one end intact. Make sure the other end has no sharp edges. Assign a constellation to each child. Have the child mark the constellation on the intact outer end of the can with a black magic marker. With a hammer and a nail, punch a hole where each major star is marked on the can. Have a thick towel underneath the can when pounding. Usually one or two good or hefty taps with the hammer punctures the can. Each child needs a flashlight. If you want relative accuracy, arrange everyone according to a star chart for your area. Go into a room with no (or covered) windows. Have everyone stick the flashlight (turned on) into his/her own can. Turn off the lights in the room. The constellations should be projected on the ceiling. A. L. Re: [Latinteach] Stargazers from Pringles can. The Teaching of the Latin Language listserv (latinteach@nxport.com, 16 Jan 2009). |
| Source | Latinteach |
| Inputdate | 2009-01-24 07:12:31 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2009-01-24 07:12:31 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | 2009-01-26 00:00:00 |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
