Question: is the big dipper the same as the plough

Answer: Yes, The Big Dipper (US) or the Plough (UK) is an asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major; six of them are of second magnitude and one, Megrez (δ), of third magnitude. Four define a ``bowl'' or ``body'' and three define a ``handle'' or ``head''. It is recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures.