In this astronomy study guide, Form 2 students will be introduced to the universe and its stars, including the concept of star constellations. They will also become familiar with the observable patterns of motion of the sun, moon, and stars, and the brightness of the sun compared to other stars.

Spine Text

This study guide accompanies the living book Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2016 or before). The updated second edition is suggested but not required.

This book is available on Amazon, but for more extensive used copy search, try used.addall.com.

72 pages
Reading Level: 4-7 grade
Prerequisites: none

Author Bio:

Hans Augusto Reyersbach or H.A. Rey (1898-1977), grew up in Hamburg, Germany. Little Hans always had a sketchbook and pencil in hand, visiting the zoo so often that he was “more familiar with elephants and kangaroos than with cows or sheep”.

When 18, H.A. was drafted into the German army serving in the infantry and medical corps during World War 1. Throughout the dark nights of the war Hans furthered his interest in astronomy, studying the stars with using a pocket guidebook. This would become foundational for his later inventing a new system of star identification.

After the war Hans studied natural science, language, and philosophy. He married an artist, Margret, and they became the creators of a most beloved storybook character: the fun-loving, mischievous monkey, Curious George. After a suspenseful escape from the onslaught of Hitler and WWII, the Reys settled in the United States. Here Hans used his skills as an illustrator and amateur astronomer to write Find the Constellations, a book “written so simply that even adults can understand it.” (source)

Other Necessary Items to Complement This Course

Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock
Supply List

Schedule:

This study guide includes 33 morning lessons, three per week, each requiring approximately 20-30 minutes. Each week will include the following science lessons:

Weekly Lesson 1: Nature Lore
Weekly Lesson 2: Natural History Science Reading and sometimes an activity
Weekly Lesson 3: Special Studies Reading or Natural History Activity

Other necessary science and nature study should be done during afternoons or evenings, and may include the following:

Daily work outside exploring and investigating, making notes or drawings of their observations. Due to the subject matter of this study guide, some of this daily work will need to be done after sunset.
Additional reading on this science topic and nature topics according to individual desire and interest.

This guide uses the following tools and prompts: