Fun & Online Learning For students in texas
Includes outdoor activities
Instructions for In-person learning too!
Learn about our programs & tools
Your Choice: Online or In-Person Learning both with Outdoor Activities
DarkSky Texas, formerly IDA Texas, and Texas Night Sky Festival® are delighted to offer the Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night© light pollution training with program offerings on two levels. Training Level One is intended for elementary students or above and Training Level Two is intended for middle school students or above.
The Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night© training was created by Emma Schmidt as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project.
You can download the entire curriculum and activity sheets to guide you as you lead the training in-person. Or, you can download the activity sheets and follow the videos as Emma teaches the lessons for you.
The Dark Sky and Midnight Defender Fun Patches, created and copyrighted by C.L. Cassidy, may be earned by anyone at any age.
Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night ©
Download the activity handouts! Watch the videos or download the detailed curriculum if you to deliver in-person training!
This engaging training has videos and downloadable activity sheets for you to learn about light pollution, why you should care about it, and how to solve it. It even provides the complete curriculum with standards alignment if needed. Each lesson includes a lesson-specific activity with a culminating activity in the final lesson.You may also use the detailed curriculum and activity handouts to lead your own in-person lessons.
Lessons may be self-led or led by a teacher, volunteer, family member or friend.
Level One, for elementary level students, uses vocabulary and concepts appropriate for elementary students. It culminates with participation in the Globe at Night Citizen Science project.
Level Two, for middle school students to adults, has age appropriate vocabulary and concepts. Participants prepare a lighting inventory, assessment, retrofit plan and cost analysis for their culminating activity.
Download the handouts before you start the videos.
- Welcome Video
- Level One Downloadable Handouts
- L1L1: Human Connection to the Night Sky & Intro to Light Pollution
- L1L2: Ecological Issues with Light Pollution
- L1L3: How Does Light Pollution Affect People?
- L1L4: Non-ecological Problems from Light Pollution
- L1L4: Non-ecological Problems from Light Pollution
- L1L5: How Can Better Lighting Reduce Light Pollution?
- L1L6: How Can We Use this Knowledge to Help our Communities?
- L1L7: Culminating Activity: Globe at Night Citizen Science Campaign
- Detailed Level One Curriculum
- Level Two Downloadable Handouts
- L2L1: Human Connection to the Night Sky & Intro to Light Pollution
- L2L2: Ecological Issues with Light Pollution
- L2L3: Non-ecological Problems Created by Artificial Lighting Outdoors
- L2L4: How Can We Select Better Lighting to Reduce Light Pollution?
- L2L5: Lighting Assessment Details
- L2L6: Creating a Lighting Inventory and Evaluating each Fixture
- L2L7: The Lighting Assessment, Cost Analysis, & Report
- Level Two Inventory Spreadsheet
- Level Two Analysis Spreadsheet
- Detailed Level Two Curriculum
Dark Sky patch is copyrighted by C.L. Cassidy
Actual height of patch is approximately 2 ½ inches tall.
Dark Sky Fun Patch ©
Requirements to Earn a Dark Sky Fun Patch©
Connect with the natural night sky and learn about why and how to reduce light pollution. Anyone at any age may earn the Dark Sky Patch.
- Send a note with:
- The number of patches you are ordering
- Your payment method: Prepaid via Venmo or Paypal or inclose a check
- Payment account name
- AND a self addressed stamped envelope to:
TNSF Association
P.O. Box 177
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Midnight Defender Fun Patch ©
Requirements to Earn a Midnight Defender Fun Patch©
Connect with the natural night sky and learn about why and how to reduce light pollution. Then, take it one step further with a take action initiative. Anyone at any age may earn the Midnight Defender Fun Patch©.
- Complete Level Two of Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night (above) to earn the Midnight Defender Fun Patch ©
- Send a note with:
- The number of patches you are ordering
- Your payment method: Prepaid via Venmo or Paypal or enclose a check
- Payment account name
- AND a self addressed stamped envelope to:
TNSF Association
P.O. Box 177
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Dark Sky patch is copyrighted by C.L. Cassidy
Actual height of patch is approximately 2 ½ inches tall.
