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You are here: Home / Education / Teaching the solar eclipse – learning about sun, moon, earth

Teaching the solar eclipse – learning about sun, moon, earth

August 11, 2017 by Lisa Grable 11 Comments

A solar eclipse is a great learning opportunity for space systems and Earth-sun-moon. Humans have been observing eclipses for millennia, and they were often explained with dragons, omens, and disturbance of gods. We have learned enough about them to predict them and collect data!5 eclipse lessons use models to teach Earth-sun-moon system or pinhole cameras for viewing. Cardboard, balls, flashlights, and other household items are used.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. Eye protection is critically important during a solar eclipse. It is never safe for your eyes to look directly at the sun. Glasses for watching the eclipse will only be safe if they are marked with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.

Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

eclipseThese lesson plans include making models to enact an eclipse. Making a pinhole camera is an optics activity that can be used for viewing the eclipse.

  1. UNC-TV Science Solar Eclipse: Lesson Plan 
  2. Montana Eclipse Ballooning Project Eclipse Related Lesson Plans
  3. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education The Great American Eclipse
  4. University of California Eye on the Sky Eclipse: Using a Classroom Model to Explore the Moon’s Shadow
  5. Jet Propulsion Laboratory How to make a Pinhole Camera

eclipse-transitsAffiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Supplies

  • White cardstock 
  • Foil
  • Paper clip
  • Solar eclipse glasses 
  • Flashlight 
  • Wire
  • Styrofoam ball
  • Ping pong ball
  • Earth globe
  • Meter stick
  • Fishing line

eclipse-augustsolarWhat is the science?

Content: Earth and space sciences, Earth’s place in the universe, eclipses of the sun and moon, sun’s radiation, motion of orbiting objects; use, synthesize, and develop models

When the sun, moon, and earth line up just the right way, we see a shadow. There are lunar and solar eclipses. Total: the moon covers the sun and we can see the sun’s atmosphere. Partial: the moon partially covers the sun, so only a portion of the sun is covered. Annular: the moon is covering the sun, but because of the angles, the sun is not completely covered.eclipse-1901

Resource links for eclipse

  • https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/solar.html
    • NASA’s solar eclipse page has wonderful tools for past and future eclipses
  • https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/how-make-solar-eclipse-sun-viewer
    • How to make a sun viewer from NASA
  • https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how-to-view-eclipse
    • How to view a solar eclipse from Exploratorium
  • https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse
    • Eclipse page from Exploratorium
  • https://eclipse.aas.org/
    • Solar eclipse resources from American Astronomical Society
  • http://solar-center.stanford.edu/teachers/
    • For Educators from Stanford Solar Center

5 eclipse lessons use models to teach Earth-sun-moon system or pinhole cameras for viewing. Cardboard, balls, flashlights, and other household items are used.I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.

Images citation: Image Gallery. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA Total Eclipse, https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/image-gallery. See NASA Media Usage Guidelines https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines/index.html

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Filed Under: Education, Science Tagged With: eclipse activities, eclipse data, solar eclipse lesson plans, teaching eclipses

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. marilyn1998

    May 17, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

    Reply
  2. Jodie

    August 24, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    We loved watching the eclipse. It was not a full coverage here…but will be in 2024. We’re saving our glasses and ready for the next!!

    I hope we see you at the current Reader Tip Tuesday Party: http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/08/22/reader-tip-tuesday-party-crafts-recipes/
    It’s open all week & growing.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      August 24, 2017 at 3:06 pm

      Hey Jodie, Let us all know when you plan the big 2024 eclipse party! I’m sure we will all come! These eclipse lesson plans can be used any time to learn about the sun, moon, and earth. We are going to keep using our pin hole camera to look at the sun and learn about optics!

      Reply
  3. Katherines Corner

    August 21, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    thank you for sharing at TFT, pinned and featured. Hugs!

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      August 21, 2017 at 8:23 pm

      Hey Katherine, Hugs to you too! Hope you enjoyed the eclipse!

      Reply
  4. Beverly

    August 18, 2017 at 12:32 pm

    Great project for the kids. Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts at Over The Moon Party.
    See you next week.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      August 18, 2017 at 2:29 pm

      Hey Bev, Thanks for your kind words! I hope children will safely learn about the eclipse! Important solar glasses info: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters

      Reply
  5. Michele Morin

    August 15, 2017 at 7:29 am

    Such a helpful post! Thank you – I understand better myself!

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      August 16, 2017 at 6:41 am

      Hey Michele, Thanks so much for visiting! The full eclipse is fascinating and I hope folks will also celebrate partial eclipses and lunar eclipses in the future.

      Reply
  6. Kiersten Craven

    August 11, 2017 at 7:57 am

    I love this!!!!!! Going to do it at church this next week with our Wed night kids group while their parents are in Bible study! So excited! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      August 14, 2017 at 6:44 am

      Hey Kiersten, Thanks for coming by! I hope the children enjoy making models of the eclipse.

      Reply

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Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

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