1. The document provides instructions for an activity where students observe stars in the night sky and identify unusually bright stars and stars with unusual colors like red or blue. 2. Students are asked to look for and describe stars that are brighter or have different colors than most stars, which appear white. 3. The brightness and color of stars depends on their magnitude, distance from Earth, and surface temperature, with blue stars being hottest and red stars being coolest.

1. Physical Setting 5.3.3 Observe the stars and identify stars that are unusually bright and those that have unusual colors , such as reddish or blueish. http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/sci/sci_5_3_starlight.pdf Elizabeth Heseman

2. Students will observe and describe that stars are like the sun, some being smaller and some being larger, and will identify stars that are unusually bright and have unusual color.

3. For each student: copy of Black Line Master Star Light, Star Bright; pencil; crayons or colored pencils.

4. Check the weather forecast. Plan for a clear, dark night, for students to observe stars.

5. 1. Ask students: “What do you know about the sun?” 2. Discuss their answers and discuss how the sun is a star. Define a star as a hot, bright ball of gas. 3. Say to students: “At night we can see thousands of stars ,but during the day the only star we see is the sun. Why?” 4. Discuss the students’ ideas and tell them that the sun is much closer to Earth than other stars. Explain that the sun is so close that its brightness keeps us from seeing other stars during the day. 5. Tell students that at nighttime, our position on Earth has rotated far enough away from the sun that it does not affect our view of other stars.

6. 6. Ask students if they enjoy looking at the stars at night. Ask themto share any interesting things they have seen in the night sky. 7. Say to students: “On a clear, dark night, have you ever noticed that most stars are white, but that some stars have different colors? Have you ever noticed that some stars seem brighter than others?” 8. Tell students they will investigate and discuss this further during an activity.

7. 1. Distribute a copy of the BLM Star Light, Star Bright to each student. 2. Tell students that they will observe the night sky and follow the directions on the BLM for homework. Direct students to turn in their BLMs the next day.

8. 1. Divide students into groups of three to four students and have them discuss their BLMs and observations with each other. 2. Monitor each group’s discussion and ask students questions such as: Did you notice any stars that were unusually bright? Why do you think stars appear to have different colors? 3. Write the following questions on the chalkboard and have students brainstorm the answers: How bright a star looks depends on two things. What do you think they are? How is the color of a star related to its surface temperature?

9. 4. Have each group share its ideas with the class. 5. Discuss with students that how bright a star looks to us dispendsion its magnitude, or brightness, and its distance from Earth. 6. Discuss with students how the color of a star is due to its surface temperature. Blue stars have the hottest surface temperatures, while red stars have the coolest.

10. After students have completed their star observations, ask questions such as…. Are all stars the same color? The same size? How do you know? Is the sun the biggest star? The brightest star? Explain why one star may appear brighter than another star, even if they both produce the same amount of light.