The Great American Eclipse is happening on April 8, 2024. It’s the only solar eclipse to cross the United States for the next seven years, and it’s a fantastic teachable moment. The eclipse will hit North America in Mexico and travel through northern Mexico into the United States. First, watch a video of the path of the eclipse to learn if you are in its direct path. Then, whether you’re in the path of the eclipse or not, here are 15 solar eclipse activities to get kids excited and learning.
1. DIY eclipse viewer
Eye protection is key when looking at a solar eclipse. Teach students about the eclipse as you make your own viewer. Watch the video and follow along with the step-by-step instructions and a free printable observation worksheet for students.
Help students answer the question of how the small moon hides the huge sun by modeling what happens during an eclipse with a Styrofoam ball moon and larger sun.
Use everyday objects to create solar prints on colored paper. Put the objects on paper and leave them in the sun. At the end of the day, check to see how the sun created designs on the paper.
Show students how the sun, moon, and Earth line up, and draw the system in chalk. The sidewalk or playground turns into a teaching tool while you’re outside waiting for the eclipse.
Have students go outside on a sunny morning and record how long their shadows are. Then, have them predict if their shadows will change, and how, as the day goes on. In the afternoon, go back outside and record how their shadows changed. It’s the entire scientific process all in one school day!
Teach students how the sun moves and how to track time using shadows. Find a sunny space in your garden or playground, and create a sun dial using sticks and stones.
Teach students about the size of the sun compared to Earth by creating a model to scale. Cut out the sun and Earth, then stand apart to show how far the Earth is from the sun.
Read the book Moonbear’s Shadow and use a flashlight and other objects to show how shadows change as they move around things, like the moon. This is a great introduction to shadows and the eclipse for younger students.
