Spotting Constellations · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Spotting Constellations

Science · Space Exploration · ages 5-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What is a constellation?

    • A type of planet
    • A pattern of stars that people have named
    • A cloud in the sky

  2. Count the stars in this picture. How many are there?

    • 7
    • 5
    • 9

  3. The Big Dipper is a pattern of seven stars.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. You see seven stars shaped like a big spoon in the night sky. What have you found?

    • The Big Dipper
    • The Moon
    • A cloud

  5. Mia finds the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper's bowl and follows their line across the sky. What does their line lead her to?

    • The Moon
    • A shooting star
    • The North Star, the star that shows north

  6. The Big Dipper's bowl has 4 stars and its handle has 3 stars. How many stars in all?

    Answer: ______________

  7. You spot the Big Dipper but forget which way is north. What should you do?

    • Look only at the handle stars
    • Wait until morning to check
    • Follow the two end stars of the bowl to the North Star

  8. Sam says every bright star is a constellation. Is Sam right?

    • Yes, every bright star is a constellation
    • No, a constellation is a named pattern of stars
    • Only the North Star is a constellation
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_BVpB5wyijZ-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Spotting Constellations W1-mt_BVpB5wyijZ-s1

  1. A pattern of stars that people have named · People long ago named patterns of stars. Those patterns are constellations.
  2. 7 · Count each star once: 1 to 7. The Big Dipper has seven stars.
  3. True · The Big Dipper is always a pattern of seven stars.
  4. The Big Dipper · A spoon shape of seven stars in the sky is the Big Dipper.
  5. The North Star, the star that shows north · The two end stars of the bowl point in a line straight to the North Star.
  6. 7 · Four stars plus three stars makes seven stars in all.
  7. Follow the two end stars of the bowl to the North Star · Follow the line from the bowl's two end stars to find the North Star.
  8. No, a constellation is a named pattern of stars · A constellation is a specific named pattern, not just any bright star.
Worksheet · LightMySky