1. cut a string 12 inches longer than your height. 2. tie one end of the string to a nail 3. on a clear night, lay your paper on the ground or pavement. 4. stand on the edge of the paper and point to a star in the big dipper constellation while holding the free end of the string, allowing the nail to hang freely. 5. ask a helper to mark a spot on the paper under the hanging nail. 6. while standing in place, point to each of the stars in the big dipper as your helper marks their position on the paper. 7. find and mark the position of the north star by drawing a straight line from the first star in the bowl of the dipper to the star in the handle of the little dipper constellation.