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If the constellations are not visible tonight, you can still study them by using this re-creation of the stars. Once you've found a book or encyclopedia with the constellations you want to study, it's easy to turn some plain construction paper into a starry night!

What You’ll Need

cereal box
decorative paper or paint
scissors
tape and/or glue
pictures of various constellations to copy design
dark blue or black construction paper
pencil
sharp nail or other type of punch
flashlight
Optional: star-shaped stickers or aluminum foil
or star-shaped paper punch

Instructions

1. Cut out a square or rectangle shape from the face of the cereal box to form a 'viewer', like a television screen. Remove the top flaps from cereal box. Now cover the cereal box with decorative paper or paint and embellish the cereal box with star-shaped stickers, or aluminum foil cut or punched with star shapes.

2. Cut sheets of dark blue or black paper to fit inside of the cereal box. Before you punch the holes, place paper inside cereal box and lightly trace the viewing area that was cut from the cereal box so you know where to punch your constellation.

3. Using the nail, punch out various constellations from the dark blue or black paper using your pictures as guides. (Place paper on top of several old magazines to get a good hole in paper for 'stars'.) Be sure you place your constellation on the paper inside the square you drew so you will see it through the viewing area. Place only one constellation on each sheet of paper.

4. To view a constellation, place a constellation sheet inside the cereal box. Shine a flashlight through the top of the cereal box behind the constellation sheet.

Submitted by Leximom