A fun summer activity is to learn about star gazing. Learn and map the summer constellations such as Hercules, Pegasus, Scorpio, Cygnus, Sagittarius, Cassiopeia, and the Big and Little Dippers.

Summer is the perfect time of year for star gazing. We all like to stay up a bit later, and it’s fun and relaxing to sit around outside in the evening and gaze at the stars.

One of the best books to start you on the activity is Star Gazing, Comet Tracking and Sky Mapping.

Supplies needed:

• Book about stars
• Black felt squares
• Star stickers (plain, sparkly, or glow-in-the-dark)

What to do:

1. Show your children a star map of the summer constellations (Hercules, Pegasus, Scorpio, Cygnus, Sagittarius, Cassiopeia, and the Big and Little Dippers) in this book.
2. Ask them to look at each constellation and count the number of stars in that constellation.
3. Give each child a black felt square. A 6” x 6” size is acceptable, but I like to use the felt squares precut from the craft stores. Cpe Decorator- 9 X 12 Inch - Black - Pack of 25
4. Encourage each child to stick stars on the felt square to make three or four summer constellations.

An additional activity would be to take your children outside and show them where to find the constellations in the evening sky. Encourage them to find the constellations they made on their felt squares.

I like to use these Eureka Presto-Stick(R) Foil Stars, 3/4", Silver, Pack Of 175 for this activity, but any Teacher Created Resources Gold Stars Foil Stickers, Gold (1276), silver or Avery 0.5-Inch DiameterAssorted Foil Star Labels, Pack of 440 (6007)star stickers can be used.
If after doing this activity there is an interest in making constellations on the ceiling I recommend using these 4M Glow-In-The-Dark Mini Stars - Pack of 60

Related books:
How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend (Sandpiper Houghton Mifflin Books), The Sky Is Full of Stars (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2), and The Usborne Internet-Linked Book of Astronomy & Space (Complete Books)