Investigating stars can be difficult. The five-day unit presented in this article is designed for fifth graders to work toward Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS) performance expectation 5-ESS1-1, with each lesson lasting about 30 minutes. Students investigate the relationship between the brightness of light and distance, apply their investigations to stars, and analyze data of stars' apparent and actual magnitude. The authors leverage these activities to help students further their understanding of the nature of science and technology (NOST). NOST includes understanding how science works, what scientists are like, what technology is, technological trade-offs, and how technology shapes thinking and behavior. From these activities, students gain knowledge about factors that cause stars to appear with different brightness when observed from Earth. Students also learn how science works and about how technology develops, influences science, and changes behaviors.