With the right resources, observing the night sky children can be an exciting activity. Whether it is a celestial event like a meteor shower or lunar eclipse, or just regular stargazing, here are some of my favorite resources for learning astronomy.
These are my favorite resources and can be used in the classroom and out. However, its not always possible to get into the field with students. Maybe you only see the kids during the day, or city lights or weather prevent them from observing the night sky. Some of the digital resources in this post can help with that too!
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Free Resources for Understanding the Night Sky
You don't need expensive equipment to enjoy stargazing. A dark clear area is all you need, a decent pair of binoculars and a star wheel are a bonus.
If you are not feeling confident with your astronomy skills, here are some resources that will be helpful to you, and are also fairly kid-friendly.
Download and explore Stellarium. This is a free open-source planetarium. You can choose a location and time and see what the night sky in your area will look like. This is a powerful free resource for becoming familiar with astronomy. Encourage your students to have some free exploration of the software. They can turn on and off constellations, locate planets, "observe" moon phases, etc. It is especially useful when you are in a situation where observing the night sky is not possible.
When you look up at the night sky and notice a really bright object but have no idea what you are looking at, you need Google's free Sky Map app. Just point your device at that part of the sky and see it labeled on the app. This can be super handy. (Then once you have identified what you are looking at, turn off the device and enjoy nature!)
Download this free star wheel from Sky and Telescope and print it out. You can turn the wheel to the current date and find out what you should be able to see in the night sky in your area.
Observe and Track the Moon
A fabulous way to connect with the night sky is observing and tracking the phases and position of the moon. It is a great assignment for kids too. Observe what the moon looks like each night for a month, or even just a few times a week. You'll understand a piece of nature more fully and get some fresh air to boot!
Assign kids a moon observing and tracking project. Here are some printable downloads that make great hand-outs for this assignment:
Astronomy Books for the Science Library
There are tons of astronomy books out there, but here are the three I'd start with in my collection.
Chet Raymo's 365 Starry Nights : An Introduction to Astronomy for Every Night of the Year is the perfect opportunity to hone your amateur astronomy skills. Something to learn or observe each day of the year, illustrated and clearly explained.
H.A. Rey's The Stars and H.A. Rey's Find the Constellations are also indispensable classics. Kids will gravitate to the appealing illustrations.
Now get outside and LOOK UP! I think you'll be glad that you did!
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