Stars and the Constellation

"We need stars and the moon in the black area because it's night." - Jack, 5.5 years

So you guys were talking about putting the stars and the moon in the black area. What do we know about stars? Or do we know any stars? - Elyse
We can’t know stars. Stars are a circle with pointy stuff. - Jack, 5.6 years
But when you look at them, they look almost like dots because you can’t see the points. - Elle, 5.1 years 
Because they’re far away from the stars. If you go close to them you can see the points. - CC, 5.3 years
Why do the stars fly  up without wings? - Sylvie, 5.0 years
Because the world is spinning, so the earth can bring the stars up and bring it to the sky. - Reed, 4.10 years

Lucia

Giacomo

Reflecting with Melanie

“What is a constellation?” Melanie
“A group of stars that make a shape of someone from a long time ago.” Giacomo
“Makes the shape of something.” Lochie
“The lines are how the stars connect. The lines show the stars where they just move. It’s a monster how they kind of… and someone created it a hundred years ago. I looked in the book, and then each circle is a piece from the book. Then I made all of them and I connected them to make one big thing. Each circle, those are the stars.” Sylvie

Where do we find these constellations? Melanie
“We usually find them in the country.” Sylvie
“They live in outer space! And then, at night time, sometimes they come down and then they show the constellations.” Lucia 
“They don’t come down. They fell. As you can see, like the darks of things are stars! You can’t see the sites, but the sites are really there. It’s just that you are too far away. And shooting stars, they just have this like rocket that has blue, blue-violet coming out of them.” Giacomo

“Why are there constellations? Why do they exist?” Melanie
"It’s just to decorate the sky.” Sylvie

A Constellation for the Black Area

Materials were collected based on the linear qualities of the children's constellation drawings. The children are also familiar with the properties of wire and the ability to create connections with wire and other small materials, which relates to their idea about the connectedness of stars in a constellation. Their drawings were displayed in the atelier along with the materials and twine suspended above the table for hanging their pieces. 

CC's initial work reflected the drawings from her friends; it seemed almost a direct translation from the 2D drawings to 3D materials. She twisted the wire to keep the bead in place, while using the ends of the wire to create connections to the next piece. 

A few days later, the work moved into the black area. This allowed for the space to invite small groups to continue adding to the constellation. 

Lucia's First star and connection

As they worked, the children continued to discover new things they could do with the wire and properties of each wire that was available.  They quickly determined that the aluminum wire was the "easiest to bend", but the copper wire was "the stiff one".  As they used each of these, they found different uses for them; the copper wire was better for holding heavier objects, while the aluminum wire was easier for twisting (see two photos above). The brass wire was "medium hard", while the steel wire was rarely used. 

As the materials began to challenge the children's thinking about their abilities (bending, twisting, cutting wire, using pliers, etc.), the shape and design of stars, and the overall design of the constellation, you could see their minds working through their facial expressions. The shift in their faces communicated a problem solved or the evolution of a new idea. 

This project has been beautifully collaborative, as almost every child has spent some time working with the materials and "adding to" the constellation. They connected their own pieces to the work of their friends, and honestly, they began to lose track of "my piece" so that it has truly become a work of the whole Tucker Room collective. 

Do you know any names of constellations?
“Orion.” - Lucia 
“THe big dipper and the little didpper.” - Nora 
Maxon and Maxon mention a medium dipper 

Does our constellation need a name? 
“How about the ‘Giant Constellation’ like the one I drew.” - Sylvie 
“How about ‘The Constellation’.” - Reed
“The constellation needs to be connected even without the string because that makes a whole group of stars.” - Maxon
Nora continues to mention the “middle dipper” 
“The Rat Trapper” - Lucia ​

“The bigger it gets…the heavier it gets, the beautifuler it looks.” - Nora

Stay tuned for more on the constellation! 

Hint: It's not hanging so low anymore! And it might grow! And it might shine at night?!?!? 

Don't forget about our Night at School!  Tomorrow (Wednesday), 2/16 from 5:30 - 7:15. 
Drop off at the Blue Door at 5:30. Pick-up on the front lawn at 7:15. 
Dinner will be &Pizza (gluten free pizza will be offered). 
Don't forget your flashlight!