Planning for the April 8th Total Solar Eclipse!

I’ve been completely speechless only a few times in my life. At the Grand Canyon, on top of Mount Washington, and when I observed the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. We were in Kansas City. After a few days of enjoying the sights and sampling lots of barbecue, we headed to a field for the big event. The partial phase was lovely, but then a few clouds came in. Panicking, we drove in and out of traffic, up and over fields, and found a hole in the clouds on a side road next to a farmer’s field. A few other cars joined us, and, when totality approached, the entire horizon – 360 degrees, glowed red in a sunset. The air temperature dropped. Birds stopped chirping and everything got eerily silent. The sky darkened and the farmers’ horses headed into the barn. We were plunged into darkness and stars became visible.

I couldn’t speak. To be honest, I still can’t find the words to describe this. It was overwhelming, amazing, and breathtaking. I will never miss a solar eclipse again.

There will be a total solar eclipse visible through a wide path of North America on Monday, April 8th, 2024. If you’re outside of the path of totality, you should be prepared for a partial eclipse. Here are some ways to help your students get excited for this event!

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, obscuring the Sun’s light from reaching specific locations on Earth. This alignment only happens during a new moon and results in a temporary dimming of the sky despite it being the middle of the day. Observers within the eclipse’s path can witness the Sun being completely covered, plunging the surroundings into a momentary twilight. Depending on your location on Earth, the eclipse may be seen as total in which the Moon completely blocks the Sun or partial in which the Moon only partially blocks the Sun making it appear crescent shaped.

First contact is when the edge of the Moon appears to touch the edge of the Sun. As the Moon passes over the Sun, the edges of shadows start to become sharper and change to crescents.

Just before totality, the Sun’s corona appears. The corona is the outer part of the Sun’s atmosphere. Because the Sun is so bright, the corona is normally not visible but during a solar eclipse, it appears as a glowing ring around the Sun. The diamond ring and Baily’s beads are two phenomena that occur immediately before and after totality. The diamond ring effect is the appearance of only a tiny portion of the Sun peaking out from a ring around the Moon. Baily’s beads are small bright spots around the ring of the Moon caused by the Sun peaking through craters and valleys on the Moon.

During totality is the only time, ever, that it is safe to directly observe the Sun without eclipse glasses.  Totality lasts only a few seconds in some places to a few minutes in others. Solar prominences may be visible around the Sun.

As the Moon continues to pass over the Sun, the diamond ring and Baily’s beads will appear again.

And within a few minutes after totality, nature will return to normal. Animals that were silent during the eclipse will return to their chatter. The eerie sky will go back to normal, but, if you’re anything like me, you won’t. You’ll carry the awe of this experience forever.

How to observe the eclipse with your students

Classroom activities to get ready for the eclipse

1. If you’re in the path of totality, be sure to buy your students eclipse glasses! Hold a bake sale or take the money out of the budget – whatever your district will allow!
   

   

2. Make a pinhole projector. This is a simple and fun activity that will enable students to “see” the eclipse without damaging their eyes.
3. Model eclipses using foam balls and a flashlight. Have students draw what they see from the Earth during lunar and solar eclipses.
4. Use timeanddate.com to identify how much of the eclipse will be visible in your location and what time it will be visible.
5. Participate in citizen science at the GLOBE Observer app. People all over North America will record and input data regarding clouds and air temperature during the eclipse.
6. Observe the wildlife around your during the eclipse and submit your audio recording at Eclipse Soundscapes.
7. Partner with your language arts department and have students describe their observations in the form of prose or poetry.