The size and shape of the Big Dipper makes it very easy to find in the sky or on a star chart. Along with Orion and Cassiopeia, the Big Dipper is one of the first constellations that any amateur astronomer will learn. The Big Dipper comprises seven bright stars and the can be seen across most of the world at different points in the year. It is visible at all latitudes north of the Equator and is best seen at around 9 p.m. local time during April. The constellation is also at least partially visible as far south as the Tropic of Capricorn, but at this latitude, it will be very close to the horizon.
The stars of the Big Dipper are can be seen without the need for a telescope and are clearly marked on all star charts. Orientating the star chart so that it faces north will make it very easy to find the Big Dipper. The brightest stars are visible at around sundown, with progressively dimmer objects becoming visible as the sky darkens. An hour or two after dark, all of the stars should be visible, though it is important to choose an observation area away from street lighting.
Star charts are available in printed form, but there are also many free or cheap applications available for smart phones, tablets or personal computers. These applications are very easy for both teachers and students to use and contain a wealth of information about the position of stars, planets, other galaxies and even the International Space Station. Most of these applications will take advantage of the inbuilt compass and global positioning system features to automatically align the sky to the observer's exact position.
All of the stars stay at the same position relative to each other and only move because of the Earth's rotation. This means that many stars act as "pointers" to other stars: The Big Dipper acts as a pointer to the Polaris, also known as The Pole Star or the North Star. The two brightest stars of the Big Dipper, called Dubhe and Merak, form a line that points directly at Polaris. This line should be followed from Dubhe, the brightest of the two stars, upwards towards the overhead point of the sky.