Get Students Excited About Science With This Month's Total Solar Eclipse
This month marks the first time in 38 years that one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights, a total solar eclipse, will be visible from the continental United States. Every state in the US will have a chance to see at least a partial eclipse and 14 will have a chance to see the eclipse in totality – with the moon completely covering the disk of the sun.
It's a great opportunity to look at the sky and engage students in scientific observations and discovery.
Find out how a solar eclipse works, how to safely view one in action (remember to never look directly at the sun without certified eclipse glasses or a solar filter), and see how you can contribute to NASA science during the eclipse.
It's all in the latest Teachable Moment from NASA/JPL Education:
Check it out
And explore these standards-aligned math and science lessons all about the eclipse:
- Epic Eclipse – Students use the mathematical constant pi to approximate the area of land covered by the moon’s shadow during the eclipse.
- Pinhole Camera – Learn how to make your very own pinhole camera to safely see a solar eclipse in action from anywhere the eclipse is visible, partial or full!
- Moon Phases - Students learn about the phases of the Moon by acting them out. In 30 minutes, they will act out one complete, 30-day, moon cycle.
- NASA GLOBE Observer – Students can become citizen scientists and collect data for NASA’s GLOBE Program using this app available for iOS and Android devices (eclipse update available starting August 18, 2017).
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