When our son told us he’d like constellations to be the theme of his 6th birthday party next month we didn’t think too much of it. Decorations, balloons, cake styles. The usual.
But when Dan began working with our son to plan the craft project, we knew there was something here from a travel perspective. Lots of connections to Greek mythology in constellations names and roles throughout history.
The birthday project
There are plenty of fun constellation activities. Our son was hoping for the flashlight through the toilet paper roll project (pin-pricked holes shined onto wall make constellation), but it’s a little difficult to see the shapes just by the stars alone. So Dan went online and found this great website. Stars, shapes, names, and mini-descriptions. Perfect for a bunch of 6 year olds to handle.
Materials
- 11 x 14 black foam board
- school glue
- plastic “jewels” from arts and craft store
- silver sharpies
- 12 printouts of constellation shapes (use photo paper)
- 12 printouts of constellation descriptions (use photo paper)
- set of 6” rulers
Dan tends to over plan and this was no except. He worked through his “lesson plan” to make sure the kids were a) able to have a good time and b) learn something. He thought a finished example would be helpful (it was) and even made two posters with all constellations choices, like a menu.
Basic steps
- kids to sit at plastic art-safe tables
- hand out black foam boards
- read out constellation choices
- have kids choose which one they want to build
- hand out shape + description
- kids glue shapes and descriptions, leaving large area for constellation
- kids plot stars of constellations using silver sharpies
- kids connect using rulers
- kids glue large plastic jewels on sharpie dots
- (optional) remaining little jewels glued on as background stars
Time to go outside and play for at least an hour for the constellation boards to dry…
Connections to Greece and Crete trip
Great opportunity to connect learning and birthday fun to upcoming trip planning.
The actual stories of Greek Gods are often violent and sexually suggestive to say the least so we keep it generalized (for older kids do what you think best). Orion (the hunter) and Leo (the lioness) are popular in our house and while the latter has connections to Hercules myth (he slays it), we focused on Taurus and Gemini twins. Zeus turns himself into a bull to take princess Europa from Crete and the Gemini twins were brothers to Helen of Troy (in Sparta). Our son also remembered “Gemini” from a book about the American space program, which was pretty impressive.
Leo the lioness (4 yr old) 
Orion the Hunter (6 yr old)
The main message is that things were still learn about today, like the stars in the sky, have roots in the past and much of that past (for western society) goes back to the Greeks. …And we’re going to go there to learn all about them!!!
Connections for your trip
The kids are learning about history, art, science, literature in school. Ask them what topics they’ve been studying recently. For big kids (10+), challenge them to think of connections between school topics they’re interested in and where the family might travel to.
Family Discussion topic: “So you liked learning about __________? Where could we go to learn more about that?
talk soon,
Dan & Betsy