DISCUSS:
What could make it get dark in the middle of the day?
CHALLENGE (for older students):
If you were an astronaut in space looking down at the United States during the eclipse, what would you see?
Activity: It's Time to Watch the Eclipse!
If you have eclipse glasses, discuss safety procedures before distributing the glasses. Then line up and head outside to watch the eclipse!
If you don’t have eclipse glasses, have your students follow these instructions to construct a pinhole projector.
If it’s cloudy, you can watch a live stream of the eclipse, courtesy of NASA & the Exploratorium.
Class Discussion / Wrap Up After Eclipse
Ask the students to explain & discuss what surprised them, what they found out that was new, and any misconceptions that were cleared up by completing the investigation. Ask them questions like:
What surprised you?
What did you find out that was new?
Was there anything you thought before, but learned something different after watching the video?
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & exploration which you just completed.
- Activity: Step-by-Step Instructions for having students make pinhole projectors
- Live Webcast: If it’s cloudy, you can watch a live stream of the eclipse, courtesy of NASA & the Exploratorium.
- Online resource: This interactive website allows students to see how many eclipses are left in their lifetimes.
- Readings: Two readings about the solar eclipse.
Readworks and Newsela offer readings free with registration. All include comprehension questions:
“Private Citizens Getting a Chance to Help NASA Study a Solar Eclipse”. This Common Core-aligned reading is free with registration on Newsela. It includes comprehension questions to be downloaded separately.
"Eclipses" This Common Core-aligned reading is free with registration on ReadWorks. It includes comprehension questions to be downloaded separately.
