Group Activity Cards

Geometry Use groups of 4 or more. Materials: Reference books, tracing paper

It's in the Stars

Read the following passage. Then do the activity.

You probably know that a constellation is a pattern made up of a group of stars. In 1934, the International Astronomical Union recognized and defined the borders of 88 constellations. Prior to that time, various astronomers had identified and named many other constellations.

Find a star map in a reference book. Each group member traces the stars on the map. Each group member then draws line segments connecting the points representing stars to form constellations in the shape of the following polygons: pentagon, heptagon, octagon, decagon, and undecagon. Name each of the constellations you drew. Write each name beside the constellation and, if possible, label the stars that make up the pattern. Share your work with the other group members.