Summer Stargazing

Since summer is the perfect time to go stargazing, the OISE book display this month features materials that will suit astronomers of all ages!

Interested in learning more about constellations you can find in the night sky? You can find many books here at OISE Library to help you out! Get to know the night sky with books that combine the mythological story behind each constellation with practical tips on how to find it in the night skies above you. Books you might want to check out include: Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories of the Planets, The Kids Book of the Night Sky, and Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories in the Stars.If you’d like to read more constellation stories, have a look at our Children’s Literature Collection where you’ll find books such as Once Upon a Starry Night: A Book of Constellation Stories, All the Stars in the Sky: Native Stories from the Heavens and Coyote Places the Stars.

Junior astronomers wanting to explore the wider reaches of space can also find useful resources on OISE Library’s shelves! The Jumbo Book of Space is a comprehensive resource that delves into many secrets of the universe, from how far away stars are to where comets come from. This book also offers readers a history of space exploration as well as discussing more recent developments and discoveries. Those wanting to do some space investigations of their own can also find plenty of hands-on activities to try out. Why not try making your own telescope or building a balloon rocket?

Collins Stars and Planets is another fantastic resource to use when you’re preparing to do some serious night sky exploration. This guide provides information on stars and celestial objects visible in the night sky using a basic pair of binoculars or an average-sized telescope. It includes many valuable features such as sky charts, sky maps, diagrams, and photographs. A resource to use when you’d like to take your stargazing to the next level!

For a Canadian twist on space exploration, check out the book Maple Leaf in Space: Canada’s Astronauts. Author John Melady tells the stories of some of the Canadians who have made the voyage into space. The well-known Canadian astronauts profiled include the first Canadian in space, Marc Garneau; the first Canadian woman in space, Roberta Bondar; Chris Hadfield (who in 2013 became the first Canadian to command a spaceship); and Canada’s first space tourist, Guy Laliberté. Filled with fascinating stories and interesting and funny facts about life above Earth’s atmosphere, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to know what it’s like to travel into space!

For a lyrical take on space exploration that blends scientific information and creative storytelling, have a look at Night Wonders by Jane Ann Peddicord and A Long Way Away by Frank Viva. Peddicord takes readers across our galaxy and solar system as we catch a ride on a light beam, while Viva takes us from the floor of the ocean up into outer space. Other interesting fiction books you can find in OISE Library’s Children’s Literature Collection include Starry River of the Sky, Stars, Galileo’s Universe, and Skysisters.

OISE Library also has many fun manipulatives you can incorporate into your lessons and activities. Use the Earth, Moon, and Stars Kit to learn about the Earth’s movements, the constellations, and the phases of the moon, among many other topics! For all the stargazers out there, we have Sky Challenger: Guides and Games for Star Gazers which has activities and tools to help you learn about and find constellations in the night sky. Other items you might want to use to change up your lessons include OISE Library’s astronaut puppet or one of our space-related DVDs, such as 400 Years of the Telescope: A Journey of Science, Technology, and Thought and Heads Up! How Do I Become an Astronaut. And of course, we cannot forget to mention the Lunar Globe, an item which was recently featured as a new activity kit on this blog. Look for it in this month’s book display!

From hands-on activities to practical tips for star gazing to information about space and its exploration, OISE Library has all the resources you need to help make learning about the night sky an engaging experience for you and your students. All of these and many more materials can be found in the book display case on the Ground Floor of OISE Library. They are available for check out too! Simply speak with the Circulation staff at the Service Desk and they’ll help you out!

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