Platte County School District #1

In 5th Grade, students continue to grow as curious scientists, building both independence and collaborative skills. One of their recent learning opportunities involved recreating constellation models using light and shadows. This lab gave students the chance to connect their understanding of the stars in our night sky with hands-on exploration.

Students used constellation templates, cardboard, and the Sun to design models that project shadows resembling well-known star patterns. As they created and tested their models, they were encouraged to think about why some stars appear brighter than others, and how the Earth’s movement changes what we see in the sky over time.

The conversations that came out of this activity were both scientific and imaginative. Students not only practiced describing their observations but also explained patterns they noticed—such as how shadows shifted or how different constellations appeared when the light moved.

This lab also highlighted the balance between collaboration and independence. While groups worked together to assemble their models and share ideas, each student had the chance to observe, record, and reflect on what they were seeing. By the end, students walked away with a deeper appreciation for how models can help us better understand the patterns and changes we see in the sky, and how those patterns connect to the stars that have guided people for centuries