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Description

Beavers or Cubs go outside after dark to find real constellations in the night sky, using a printed spotting sheet. They tick off each one they find, learn how to use the Plough and Cassiopeia as guides, and make their own drawing or pin-prick model of a favourite constellation afterwards. This covers the Stars & Constellations requirement.

Resources

Printed Constellation Spotting Sheet (one per Cub or pair)
Pencils or pens, and clipboards or hard card to lean on
Red torches, or ordinary torches covered with red cellophane
Warm clothes, hats and gloves
A phone or tablet with a star app such as Stellarium (for leaders)
Binoculars (optional)
Black card, pins and Blu-Tack for the pin-prick constellation model (optional follow-up)
A clear sky: check the forecast the day before, and have an indoor backup such as looking at star pictures

Instructions

Before you go out: Tell the Cubs what they are looking for and show them the sheet. Explain that a fist held out at arm’s length is about 10° of sky, which helps with finding heights.
Safety: Choose a spot with open sky and no traffic. Keep the Cubs together, and brief them on where the boundary is. Have enough leaders to keep an eye on the group in the dark.
Let eyes adjust: Stand away from bright lights for 15 to 20 minutes. Use only red torches from now on, since white light ruins night vision.
Find north: Use the sheet or a phone compass to point out north. Start with the Plough and Polaris, then use Cassiopeia on the other side of Polaris.
Spot the constellations: Work through the sheet one by one. For each, say where to look and what shape or bright star to find. A Cub who spots one first can point it out to the group, then everyone ticks it off.
Share what you find: Ask each Cub to describe one constellation to a partner, such as its shape and where it is in the sky.
Back inside: Cubs draw their favourite constellation from memory, or make a pin-prick model on black card and hold it up to a torch.

If it’s cloudy, run the activity indoors using the sheet and the pin-prick models, and choose a clearer evening for the outdoor part.

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