Group Size: 50 or more
Time Needed: 21+ minutes
Goal: People connect and work together to create a night sky
Audience: Couples, Teens, Parents, Children, Singles
Special Considerations: Some participants may not be familiar with constellations so you may need to present an overview at the beginning of the exercise. Some nationalities and cultures may have different names and significance for the constellations.
Resources Needed: One index card per participant, with a constellation listed on each card; a list of constellations on a board or flip chart to include the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Seven Sisters, Orion, Leo the Lion, and the Great Bear
For each constellation, make enough cards to match the number of stars included. For example, for the Seven Sisters you need to have seven cards with “Seven Sisters” on it. Make enough cards to allow at least one formation of each constellation. The group may be large enough to make several versions of the same constellation; plan the index cards accordingly.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Distribute a card to each participant. Explain to everyone that they are each a star and, together, they will form different constellations. Review the constellations.
- Instruct participants to move around the room to find other stars in their constellation. Their small group will be based on their constellation, and they will have 5 minutes to find their group.
- After the small groups have come together, ask each group to form their constellation for the larger group. The larger group will guess which constellation is being displayed.
Tips for Discussion and Processing
This is a fun activity that usually ends up with many laughs as people try to remember in their small groups what their constellation looks like. This activity requires some leadership and team skills to form the constellation. It can lead into a good discussion of how we each are our own “star,” but that we gather into different constellations such as family constellations, work constellations, and so forth. Discuss the importance of being able to relate to one another and how we can easily connect with others and allow each other to shine. This can also be used simply as a fun activity to energize the group during the day or after lunch.
Note: These activities can be modified to reflect a variety of skills.