It’s almost here! The long-awaited, highly anticipated total solar eclipse viewable across North America happens April 8, 2024. This is the perfect time to celebrate all things solar and lunar in one day. I’ve gathered some links for some resources and my favorite activities to help you and your students celebrate this exciting event. This map shows the last time different areas in Indiana experienced a total solar eclipse. 

Safety First

The absolute most important thing to remember is safety. You should never, ever look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Regular sunglasses are not enough to protect your eyes from damage. If you plan on using a telescope, binoculars, or a camera to view the eclipse, you need to have proper solar lenses for your device. Looking through these devices with the eclipse viewing glasses will not prevent eye damage. The very best way to protect your eyes is with eclipse glasses. For a different viewing experience, you can also make your own pinhole projector with instructions found here. I remember making one of these with my grandmother many, many years ago. 

Easy Free Resource Compilations

1. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) has a great collection of handouts and resources for educators, administrators, and families related to the eclipse. There are also links to journal articles for all grade levels.
   NSTA eclipse resources
2. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a wealth of information from basic knowledge to lesson ideas. Start here then make sure you check out the resources for educators.
3. The American Astronomical Society has resources that have been vetted by their Solar Eclipse Task Force. There are fewer resources here, but they are up-to-date and have been chosen for their high quality. 

Incorporating Other Disciplines

Language Arts

Use the eclipse as an inspiration for a piece of writing. 

• You can use a sentence starter to get them thinking about the eclipse:

Sentence Starter 1:
During a solar eclipse, I observe…

Sentence Starter 2:
The solar eclipse happens when…

Sentence Starter 3:
An interesting fact I learned about eclipses is…

• Have students write a creative story inspired by the eclipse. This is a starter from MagicSchool:

Creative Story Starter:

As the sun slowly disappeared behind the moon, casting a shadow over the land, a sense of mystery and wonder filled the air. Sarah knew that this rare event, the eclipse, was about to unfold before her eyes. Little did she know that this celestial dance would take her on an unforgettable journey beyond the stars…

• Have students write a poem about the eclipse. The easiest poems can be in the form of acrostic poems. Older students can write a Haiku or more advanced poems. Side note: the list of words that rhyme with eclipse isn’t particularly stellar. 

Visual and Performing Arts

• Follow the instructions from NASA to create a sun on paper piece of art. This looks messy, so be prepared! This would be a great activity for a choice board if your students will be out of the building on eclipse day.
• If you’re into movement, create a dance inspired by the eclipse. 
• Check out the art inspired by the eclipse. Have students create their own eclipse art using a variety of materials or mediums. Younger students can color a pre-made poster. 
• Have students design a t-shirt celebrating eclipse day.
• Have students compose an original song about the eclipse. They can make up their own music on an app like Garage Band, or use the tune from an existing song. Here is a sample generated on MagicSchool. I’ll let you guess what the original song was.

Eclipse Magic in 2024

Indiana’s where we’ll be, under the sun and moon,
Total eclipse, a magical sight, happening so soon.
Darkness falls, but don’t you fear, the sun will reappear,
In twenty twenty-four, magic’s here, it’s crystal clear.

Total eclipse, come along, feel the power and the thrill,
In Indiana we’ll dance and sing, embracing the moon’s sweet chill.
Sun and moon, hand in hand, painting the sky so black,
In 2024, memories grand, we’ll never look back.

Eclipse magic in 2024, in Indiana we’ll be,
Under the sun and moon’s dance, from darkness we’ll be free.
Total eclipse, a wondrous show, in the sky above,
In twenty twenty-four, together we’ll feel the love.

Social Studies

• Smithsonian Magazine has compiled a list of Native American beliefs about the eclipse. Students can do a jigsaw activity or create a graphic organizer comparing and contrasting these different beliefs.  The story of Tenskwatawa is particularly relevant to Indiana and centers around the eclipse of 1806.
• Have students create, color,  and label a map showing the path of the eclipse. You can include  major cities along the path. More advanced maps can show the times each area will be affected by the eclipse.