Constellation Viewer Craft

Awhile back we read, "Follow the Drinking Gourd" by Jeanette Winter. This story was written in 1928 and is about peg-leg sailor who aids slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. While working for plantation owners, Peg Leg Joe teaches the slaves a song about the drinking gourd (the Big Dipper). A  family makes their escape by following the song's directions.

 The kids loved this craft.

Bug even forgot about insects for awhile!

Supplies needed:

Pringle Can

Metal brads

Black Construction Paper

Light weight cardboard(Cereal box works well)

Tack

Tape

Star Stickers

Constellation Pattern

Something sharp to punch a hole in the bottom of the can. I used a nail punch

Scissors to put slits in the Pringles lid to for the metal brads

You are going to have to prepare most of this if you have younger kids.

I used a tack to punch the holes in the constellations. These store nicely in the Pringles can too. I put them in a sandwich baggie so they don't need to stick their hands all the way in the can.

 Make sure you punch your hole from the outside so no little fingers get cut from the punch hole.

Then have fun letting the kids decorate the can with stickers and crayons. 

The kids have taken them outside to see what they can find among the stars. They found finding the constellations easier in the can rather than among the stars!