A few years ago, we took a trip to our local museum and watched a star show in the planetarium. As a mama who could spend hours staring up at the night sky, I am happy to report that my kids found it just as spectacular as I did! If you ever have the opportunity to visit a planetarium, I highly (highly) recommend it. That one outing spurred so much conversation and learning, and eventually, it resulted in the constellation cards I have for you today.

Stars and Constellations Family Unit Study

Before we get into the freebie and how you might choose to use it, I also wanted to share a bit about my Stars & Constellations Family Unit Study with you.

This unit study, like all of my unit studies, takes one big topic—Stars and Constellations—and breaks it down into 10 bite-sized subtopics. Each subtopic includes a hands-on activity, interesting facts, information to read, a curated YouTube video, a recommended book, a math or literacy enrichment question, and beautiful printables.

In fact, the Printable Constellation Cards & Myths I have to share with you today are from my Stars & Constellations Family Unit Study!

If you enjoy the freebie, you are going to love the unit study.

You can grab the Stars and Constellations Family Unit Study individually or as part of the Earth & Sky Explorers Bundle in the How Wee Learn shop right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/collections/family-unit-studies

FREE Printable Constellation Cards & Myths

There are lots of ways to learn and play with your constellation cards! They can be used with a flashlight to project the constellations on the wall, for storytelling, games, or simply as decoration while you learn about stars and constellations in your homeschool.

Download your FREE Printable Constellation Cards and Myths below, then keep reading for some fun ways to learn and play!

Ways to Learn and Play with Your Constellation Cards

#1 Project Constellations with a Flashlight

The constellation discs included with the printable are perfect for using with a flashlight to project the constellations on a wall. Simply cut out the discs and use a toothpick or a sharp pencil to poke a hole in each star. For little hands, I suggest gluing the discs to a piece of cardboard first to make them easier to hold.

Now, shine a flashlight through one of the discs to project the constellation on a wall! The room doesn’t need to be totally dark (but it is fun that way, too!). Play around with how far away you hold the flashlight from the disc and the disc from the wall to make your constellation bigger and smaller.

#2 Make Clay Constellation Discs or Ornaments

You can also use the discs as templates to create clay discs or even Christmas ornaments! If you don’t have air-dry clay, salt dough would also work well (this is my favorite salt dough recipe).

To make clay constellation discs, first cut out the printable template and use a toothpick or a sharp pencil to poke a hole in each star.

Next, roll out a thin layer of clay (ours was around 1/4″ thick), then lay the disc on top and use it as a template to poke holes through the clay.

Finally, use a butter knife, a cookie cutter, or a cup to cut out your discs. Leave them to try (ours took about a day to fully dry), then use them with a flashlight au naturel, or get crafty and paint them.

These would also look beautiful as Christmas ornaments! Just be sure to poke an extra hole in the top so you can thread a ribbon or string through when they’re dry. 

#3 Practice Storytelling with Constellation Myths

Now that your constellation discs are all ready to use, it’s time to add in a bit of storytelling!

If you’re not familiar with Greek constellation myths, some of them are a little, shall we say, intense. But don’t worry! The myths included with this constellation printable are simplified and kid-friendly.

As you dim the lights to shine your flashlight through your constellation cards, have fun storytelling with your children. Tell the stories in a creative way, really bringing them to life. After you have done this, encourage your child to retell the myths on their own.

This is excellent for language development, summarising skills, and imaginative thinking, too. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family! All four of my kids were sitting in a dark room tonight, shining a flashlight through the constellation cards while Madeline re-told the myths before bed. That makes this mama very happy.

#4 Play a Game of Constellation Match Me

You could also print two copies of the constellation cards and play Match Me! Shuffle the cards, then lay them face-down on the table. Take turns flipping over two cards at a time. If they match, you keep those cards! If not, put them back face-down. Continue taking turns flipping cards until all of the cards have been matched.

#5 Display the Constellation Cards

Last but not least, these cards are lovely to clip to a piece of twine with clothespins and display as you dive into learning about stars and constellations in your homeschool.

Remember, pop on over to the How Wee Learn shop for the complete Stars and Constellations Family Unit Study!

https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-stars-and-constellations

Thank you so much for reading, my friend. I hope you absolutely love your constellation cards!

xo
Sarah