If your kids are fascinated by the night sky, this simple hands‑on activity is a magical way to bring constellations to life. Using just black pipe cleaners and star beads, you can help them build well‑known constellations while learning how to recognize them in the sky. We’ve put together a quick video tutorial and included a free printable so you can follow along with ease.
Start with something simple like Orion’s Belt, which uses only three beads. Once they’ve mastered that, move on to Cassiopeia and challenge them to match bead colors to the constellation card. Feeling confident? Try the Big Dipper, a slightly more advanced shape that still uses the same inexpensive materials.
This entire activity costs just a few dollars and offers a fun, tactile way for kids to understand how stars form patterns across the night sky.
To make it even easier, we’ve created a set of printable constellation cards you can use as guides while you build.
