Extension+Activities

Select and complete one of the following activities as your class rotates through using the Internet Telescope.

1. ** Constellation Chart - Choose your zodiac sign or another constellation you are interested in. ** ==
 * Find Google Earth on your desktop. Open it.**
 * Click on the little yellow planet icon on the top of the page.**
 * Type the name of your constellation into the search box.**
 * Once you arrive at your constellation, draw it on your paper. Collect information about the objects in your constellation by clicking on the star or object.**
 * For this project ou must include the following on your chart: Name of constellation, the major stars of your constellation, and any deep space objects located in your constellation. Include the magnitude of the 2 brightest stars in your constellation and the distance they are from earth. Finally, add notes about your constellation and any interesting facts you learned. (See example below).**
 * The following webpages may be helpful.**
 * American Association of Amateur Astronomers Constallation Page**
 * International Astronomy Union Constellation page**
 * University of Wisconsin Constellation Page**

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2. Space History
Interested in the history of one our space programs - the Hubble Telescope, the International Space Station, the Apollo Missions, the Space Shuttle Program to name just a few. Use this Inspiration template to create a graphic that explains the program, it's purpose, it's successes and failures and the people who were involved in it.

Links to get you started: Hubble Telescope International Space Station Apollo Missions Space Shuttle

3A. Follow the Drinking Gourd - Polaris in His tor y
Polaris is one of the best known stars in the Northern Hemisphere. It is famous solely because of its position close to the north pole: this is the reason it is also known as the North Star. While not the brightest star in the sky, it IS the brightest star closest to the Pole. It has been used as a navigational star for hundreds of years. Since elementary school you have heard the story //Follow the Drinking Gourd,// which tells of a song that was a code to guide escaping slaves North to freedom. Explore the cultural history of this song as presented by Joel Bresler (an amatuer historian and musicologist) who has painstakingly researched the origins of the song. He claims that the song "could not possibly have been sung by escaping slaves, because it was written by Lee Hays eighty years after the end of the Civil War." After reviewing his research, write a paragraph explaining whether he has made a good case for this statement and what he has found or inferred that supports your opinion.

Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Cultural History