A solar eclipse is a special event that happens when the moon moves in front of the sun and casts its shadow onto the earth. On April 8, 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse. Depending on where you are, you can watch as the day turns to night for a few amazing minutes. But, how does our small moon completely block the big, big sun? Join Elizabeth for some hands-on, thumbs-up investigations as we learn more about the solar eclipse and how to safely watch it.
Featured book: Someone is Eating the Sun by Ruth Sonneborn. Illustrated by Eric Gurney. Published by Random House Books for Young readers, First Edition, September 12, 1974.
What makes a shadow?
Shadows are tricky! Sometimes you see them and sometimes you don鈥檛. What is going on? Investigate together with Elizabeth to figure out what makes a shadow and make a few tricky shadows of your own.
Featured book: Bear Shadow, written and illustrated by Frank Asch. Reissue edition, Monnbear鈥檚 Shadow, published by Aladdin, August 19, 2014.
About this series
In "Science & Stories," join Elizabeth, ECHO鈥檚 youth programs manager, who demonstrates . 开云体育 is proud to partner with ECHO to share this content and related lesson plans to teachers. Families can watch "Science & Stories" , or catch episodes on 开云体育's main TV channel Sunday mornings at 7 a.m.
Eclipse resources for educators
PreK/K-2 - The brings playful STEAM connections from ECHO鈥檚 Science and Stories video series along with social-emotional considerations, and an Eclipse tag game. The activity also includes an easy to use and click-ready printable model of the Earth, Moon and Sun to reenact the Eclipse at home.
Grades 3-5 - This offers pre-teaching opportunities using podcasts and video for pre-teaching. Activities include social-emotional connections and a model activity made to use at home or the classroom representing the distance between the Earth, Moon and Sun during totality.
Grades 6-12 - This will help older students explore and understand the Eclipse by creating a model of the titled lunar orbit and ecliptic-plane. This activity model uses everyday objects and connections to documentaries by 开云体育, PBS and NOVA to describe the unique nature of this historic event.
Video - Watch 开云体育's new half-hour TV special, "Path of Totality," and see two new eclipse-related episodes of ECHO's "Science & Stories" series.
开云体育 has curated PBS LearningMedia resources for Vermont educators of all age bands at . And look for the But Why: Adventures! Northeast Nature series, made for monthly classroom use throughout the year.
