Get Your Students Ready for An Eclipse

Educate Your Students about Eclipses

The best way to get your students ready for an eclipse is to let them know what will happen, why it happens, how to talk about it, and how to view it safely. Of course, that takes some preparation on your part.

Most of North America will experience a solar eclipse on April 8, 2044.  Depending on your location it will happen during school time. Check with your school district and admin to see if there are any special events planned for that time. Ask if you need parental permission to take your class outside to view the eclipse (stranger things have happened ~ am I right?) Consider inviting parent helpers to ensure that all your students view the eclipse safely and to share this exciting event with their children.

Things TO DO NOW!

• Find out the time of the eclipse in your area.
  • NASA 2024 Total Eclipse: Where and When
  • Total Solar Eclipse – April 8, 2024 National Solar Observatory NSO
  • 2024 Eclipse Maps National Eclipse – includes maps of select state

• GET ISO certified viewing glasses* for you, students, and volunteers.
  • • View an eclipse safely – ISO standards explained (USE THESE STANDARDS!!)
    • School Discounts – Eclipse Glasses USA
    • Special School Discount Program – American Paper Optics
    • Bulk Glasses for Schools – Sun Gaze Glasses
    • Brilliant Promos – Soluna
    • Your Local Library and SEAL – Make sure your library knows about this program
    • Grant Application for 25 pairs – Solar Eclipse US – SEND IN YESTERDAY

• Schedule eclipse viewing times, protocols, and outdoor location with admin and other teachers.

• Decide where and how to view the eclipse with your students if the weather is nice.

• Create a plan B for viewing the eclipse if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
  • Exploratorium live streaming and engaging information
  • Time and Date live stream info page
  • American Astrological Society live stream page (scroll down)

• Draft letter to parents or guardians, request permission to take photos of your class if needed.

• Consider getting some mementos of the event – before they sell out:
  • Affordable – not free
  • All sorts of stuff – Oriental Trading
  • Space sparkle stickers – Lakeshore Learning
  • Solar puzzles and models – Safari LTD

• What else would you add to this list?

 Two Months Before the Eclipse

• Collect educational materials and sort through them to find those best for your students:
  • Resources for lower elementary students.
  • Resources for upper elementary and middle school students.

• Teach students eclipse vocabulary early and use it often.
  • Solar Eclipse Glossary from American Astronomical Society
  • Sound Like and Expert Glossary from Astronomy (with ads and images)
  • Eclipse Terminology from Celestron (with images)
  • A Guide to Eclipse Vocabulary The Planetary Society

• Introduce STEM concepts that connect with eclipses.
  • geometry of the solar system
  • measuring vast distances
  • globes vs. maps (why the path of an eclipse is curved on a map)
  • scale and what ‘not to scale’ means
  • how the sun warms the earth
  • measuring air temperature

• Invite parent/guardian helpers as needed.
  • Depending on the age of your students
  • To ensure safe viewing of the eclipse
  • To calm young or special needs students when the sky gets dark, the air gets cold, and stars appear during the day

• Send informational letter home as needed.
  • Ask parents/guardians if their student might be unsettled during the event and why.
  • Explain how your class will view the event
  • Anticipate possible questions by including as much information as you can.

• What else would you add to this list?

Two Weeks Before an Eclipse

• Review safety rules with your students. If you view the eclipse outside consider locking your classroom door during the event.

• Share materials and activities that help students prepare for the eclipse.

• Count the days to April 8th!

Tuesday, April 9th and Beyond

Review and reflect on the event during the week that follows. Help students explain their experiences using academic language and an accurate understanding of the eclipse.

UnCommon Core LLC is not currently an affiliate marketer.

*UnCommon Core LLC does not recommend any of the above products or sites. I’m just putting together a list of items and experiences that teachers might want to investigate. Be sure to do your own research into the safety of any products, the appropriateness of any materials before using them with your students.