This videotape recording shows students the many ways scientists look at the stars and how they can use what they see to answer questions such as What are stars made of?, How far away are they?, and How old are the stars? Students learn about the life span of stars and the various stages they pass through from protostar to main sequence star to red giant and eventually to white and black dwarfs. A hands-on activity shows students how to build their own spectroscope, which is used to analyze starlight. Contents include a teacher's guide designed to help science teachers in grades 5-8 by providing a brief synopsis of the program, pre-viewing and follow-up questions, activities, vocabulary, and additional resources. (CCM)