The Glow-In-The-Dark Planetarium Book

by Annie Ingle

readability grade 3, read aloud grade 1

Unlike some “glow-in-the-dark” books this one actually has an educational purpose! While looking at it with the lights turned off, constellations such as Ursa Major, Leo, Taurus, and Orion magically appear along with planets and shooting stars. When the lights are on, the stories behind some of the stars and planets are ready to read as well as specific instructions to their locations so that you can look for them in the night sky. This book is a perfect book to use in a space/constellations unit since it is difficult for many of us to organize planetarium field trips or class gatherings at night.

Students will examine present constellation patterns as well as create their own.

What you need:

  • Sticky stars
  • Black construction paper
  • Flashlight
  • Two sample sheets of constellations for handouts.

What to do:

  1. Shut off classroom lights and cover/close windows
  2. Turn on flashlight and read The Glow-In-The-Dark Planetarium Book
  3. Turn off flashlight when finished each page to “reveal” constellations
  4. When completed book, turn on lights (obviously!) and hand out examples of constellations Get children to copy a few with sticky stars on black construction paper (might need glue for stars to stick properly)
  5. Ask children to create their own constellations
  6. Older grades may want to attach a story to their constellation for display