One of my favorite pastimes is gazing up at the stars with my little ones. But I’ve never taken the time to learn what’s up there. With 88 officially recognized constellations and the various myths that inspired them, there’s a lot to learn. A great way to learn some of these is by using constellation flash cards. These cards can be used to create crafts or as a reference when stargazing. However you choose to learn, these constellations and the stories behind them are perfect to share with your little ones.
An easy craft you can make is recreating the constellations using pins and string. Just insert the pins into a piece of cardboard or a block of Styrofoam in the pattern the stars would be. Then, take your string and wrap it around the pins to create the same shape as the constellation.
Another version of this craft includes pretzels and marshmallows. Let your marshmallows be the stars and use the pretzels to connect them. The best part about this craft is that it tastes great too!
If you would rather just find the stars in the night sky, then make sure you have some flash cards to reference. Just remember that some constellations aren’t always visible in all locations year round. Some, like Orion and Canis Major, are only visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the winter. Others, like Sagittarius and Cygnus can only be seen in the summer.
Whether you’re gazing up at the night sky or doing a craft with your little ones, make sure you have a good reference.
Enjoy this free download of 15 constellation flash cards. To learn the mythology behind each, check out Star Myths by Theoi Greek Mythology.
For more space themed crafts and games to do with your children, check out this article that includes 23 Space Themed Activities.
