Today’s Walking Classroom podcast focuses on constellations and their Native American legends. Like many ancient peoples, Native Americans studied the night sky carefully, grouping stars into constellations and imagining pictures formed by the stars. Over time, tribal storytellers created legends and lore around the scenes, people, objects, and creatures depicted by the constellations.
Character Value: Creativity
Click for Standards Alignment
Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RL.4.7, RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RL.5.7, RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RL.6.2, RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RL.7.2, RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RL.8.2, RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Native American Constellations Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Native American Constellations Slide Deck
Provides an overview of a number of Navajo constellations in a student-created video.
Draw different constellations in this online activity from PBS.org, and learn about them too!
Make your own constellation in this activity.
Explore Native American constellations and their stories, then write and design personal constellations.
Search for terms related to Native American constellations.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Science
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Astronomy, Native Cultures