#356: Make Up Your Own Constellation

A constellation is a group of stars with a story to go with them. Usually, if you look at the group of stars, you can also make a shape by connecting the stars. (See the Big Dipper below.)



The nice thing about winter is that it gets dark early, making it easier to stay up to see those stars. You will need a cloudless night away from streetlights in order to see the stars. Use your imagination to make your own constellation and make up your own story to go with it.

This is Cassiopeia.
She was a Greek queen who liked to brag about how beautiful she was.

Make this a family activity: See if you can convince your parents to drive out to a place without a lot of lights (like a large park or out of town) and make up your own constellations.

This activity promotes an awareness of the universe as well as imagination and storytelling (communication) skills.

#338: Watch the Northern Lights

On a cold night in the winter, sometimes you can see aurora borealis in the sky to the north.


Make this a family activity: Admire the northern lights together.

This activity promotes an awareness of the Earth's atmosphere and the beauty of nature.

#195: Look at the Stars

Take a look at the stars. If you don’t have a telescope, try binoculars.




Learn more about stars and planets at your local observatory (a place with a large, high-powered telescope—sometimes they have nights where the general public can come and look through their big telescopes), in an astronomy book or online. The best viewing is done away from big cities and towns where streetlights interfere with seeing the stars.


Make this a family activity: Have the whole family go out to look at the stars.

This activity promotes awareness about the universe and creates wonder.

#166: Watch Fireworks

Happy birthday, Canada! It's Canada Day today! Let's watch the fireworks display!




If you live in Canada, find out if your local city or town is having a fireworks display tonight. If you are in the United States, wait until July 4th (Independence Day) to see where and when the displays will be.

As well, at this time of year, sometimes there are fireworks competitions. This is amazing to see as fireworks specialists pull out their best fireworks and coordinate their fireworks to music. It is worth watching.


Make this a family activity: Gather up your family and head out to watch the fireworks display together.

This activity promotes appreciation for one's country and admiration for the visual display put on by fireworks specialists.

#95: Watch for a Shooting Star

Is it dark out? If you are somewhere dark and it isn't too cloudy, step outside and see if you can spot a shooting star.

According to NASA, shooting stars aren't really shooting stars. They are meteors which are bits of rock that have fallen off comets or asteroids. They are often very small (like a pebble or smaller). The reason we can see them is because they are burning up from entering the Earth's atmosphere. When they disappear, it is because they have burned up.

Bonus: The Lyrids Meteor shower is taking place tonight and tomorrow night. They are predicting about 20 meteors to fall an hour. That means one every five minutes!

(photo credit)


This activity promotes environment awareness and visual recognition skills.

#24: Howl at the Moon

Arrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooo!



It's a full moon tonight, perfect for a little moon howling.

Warm up your best howl, it's time!


This activity promotes enjoying the unusual.