Enslaved African Americans saw a path to freedom by spotting the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major, which means "Great Bear" in Latin.
Write an expository essay about Ursa Major. Explain why it's important in other cultures. To do so, you will need to do some research about this constellation. Here are some questions to guide your research:
Where and when can Ursa Major be seen?
What makes up this constellation?
Why is this constellation well-known?
What are some of the stories people have about Ursa Major?
Are you ready? Begin by visiting the Web sites in Step 2. Look for answers to the questions above, and write down what you learn in the boxes.
You may use search engines to research other Web sites. Or research Ursa Major and other constellations at the library. When you are ready, follow Steps 3 and 4 to write your report.
Step 2. Research
Research answers for the questions you were asked in Step 1. Visit these Web sites. Take notes about them on this page, too!
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