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Accompanied with an ELA lesson, assessment and response item analysis

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August 21, 2017 Simulation

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Total Solar Eclipse U.S.A. Aug 21st, 2017 (Simulation) ★★★★★

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For K-12 Educators

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NASA

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NASA: How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse - Solar Eclipse 2017

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It is never safe to look directly at the sun's rays - even if the sun is partly obscured. When watching a partial eclipse you must wear eclipse glasses at all times if you want to face the sun, or use an alternate indirect method.

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NASA

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Eclipse Miracle: The Sun is the Same Size as The Moon in The Sky

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Eclipse Miracle: The Sun is the Same Size as The Moon in The Sky

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Book Video

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Eclipse Miracle-The Sun is the Same Size as The Moon in the Sky

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By an amazing cosmic arrangement, the sun and moon appear the same size in the sky, which is the reason we have total solar eclipses. Take a trip around our beautiful earth and across the solar system to explore this secret of the moon and the sun.

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Eclipse Lesson

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By Clare Kaplan

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Solar Eclipse Party Memory Book- How to use resources in your Mini-School

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Teachers Pay Teachers ($5.20)

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Solar Eclipse 2017: Printables Reading Passages Task Cards Activities & More

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On August 21st a total solar eclipse will sweep its way across the continental United States for the first time in almost a century. This solar eclipse unit is filled to the brim with engaging activities across the content.

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Great Tennessee Eclipse Teacher Resources

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Great Tennessee Eclipse | Middle Tennessee State University

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The event, which will be in the yard in front of the new Science Building, will include a music stage featuring student bands from Match Records, the student label in the College of Media and Entertainment, from 11 a.m.

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K-5 Solar Eclipse Activities

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Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse.

This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.

This resource highlights a few of the many women who have impacted STEM fields- through important explorations, discoveries and/or contributions. It includes first-hand stories, a resource guide, and downloadable posters and postcards.

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Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse. This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S.

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By Ages and Subjects

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Use these resources to explore the science, math, and literature associated with the eclipse and general astronomy

Ages 4-11

Ages 10-14

Ages 13-18

Big Sun, Small Moon

Use a paper plate and coin to investigate how a much smaller moon can eclipse the large sun. (Lawrence Hall of Science, DIY sun Science)

Measuring Angular Size and Distance

Build a shoebox solar eclipse simulator. Explore distance and proportions between the Earth, moon, and sun and investigate angular size and paths of totality. Good math connections. (NASA CONNECT, Path of Totality)

Eclipses and Moon Phases

Investigate how Einstein needed a total eclipse in order to demonstrate how the sun's mass bends the light from a far away star. Good history connection and use of source documents - newspaper article from 1919. (NASA GSFC)

Ages 10-14

Ages 13-18

Ancient Eclipses and Length of Day

Math activity comparing track of a solar eclipse in Babylonian times to calculate the rate at which the day is lengthening over time. (NASA SpaceMath problem #7, see page 24 of PDF document).

Moon orbits the Sun

Construct a model to demonstrate the moon's orbit around the sun. Learners will also compare the strengths of the gravitational forces exerted on the moon by the sun and by the Earth.

(PUMAS)

Earth's Orbit activities

Build a pin-hole camera out of a shoe box to calculate the size of the sun (NASA's Eye on the sun, p 21)

Pinhole Projector

Construct a pinhole projector to project an image of the sun, observe and record the size of the projected image, and calculate the diameter of the sun using the measurements and a known distance to the sun. ( Touch the sun, Chabot Space Science Center, pg 64)

Our Star the Sun
Part of a larger unit on the sun, this site includes lots of activities about the sun with Language Arts and Math connections. Learners can construct a model of the sun, Earth, and moon motions, observe and manipulate the 3-D models, and simulate the movement of these bodies during an eclipse. Activities culminate with a book of all the student work - including wonderful art projects - great for portfolios. (University of California, Berkeley - Project FIRST)

Native American Folklore
Explore folklore about the sky from native America as language arts and history connections. Those specific to the sun include Raven and the sun, Three-legged Rabbit, Coyote and Eagle Steal the sun and moon, Boy and the sun, sun and Her Daughter, Spider and the sun, Little Brother Snares the sun, One Who Walks all Over the Sky, Fifth World.

Cultural Myths about the Sun and Moon
https://www.windows2universe.org/mythology/planets/Earth/moon.html
Many cultures around the world have interesting myths about the sun and the moon, reflecting their importance to daily life. Discover some of the interesting beliefs of early civilizations. Compare and find similarities between different myths and cultures.

Medicine Wheel Solar Calendar and other explorations in Archaeoastronomy
This collection from the Chabot Space Center offers great activities for the whole family- such as making an ancient calendar with sidewalk chalk. This resource introduces the basics of Earth and Sun motion and provides great connections to math, and Native American history (pages 15-30). Continue the activities throughout the year and track the equinox in September and March and the solstice in December. Additional activities include an Indoor Solar Calendar (pages 31-44) and Birthday Beam (pages 45-56). Both are great family activities for building a family birthday calendar.

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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Eclipse Lesson

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Solar Eclipse

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Great Tennessee Eclipse

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Great Tennessee Eclipse | Middle Tennessee State University

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The event, which will be in the yard in front of the new Science Building, will include a music stage featuring student bands from Match Records, the student label in the College of Media and Entertainment, from 11 a.m.

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The Yardstick Eclipse

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Ultraviolet Light Detectors

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Resources for the Elementary Classroom

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Eclipse 8.21.17 - Prescott South Elementary STEM-athon

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Size and Scale of the Solar System

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Phases of the Moon & Eclipses

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All Grades

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Pocket

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Make a Box Pinhole Projector for a Solar Eclipse

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A simple and safe way to watch a solar eclipse is with a DIY pinhole projector. It is easy to make with a cardboard box and ordinary household items.

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ECLIPSE 2D/3D Printable 'USA and STATE' PINHOLE PROJECTORS

The August 21, 2017 eclipse will be observable across America. While those in the path of totality will see a TOTAL solar eclipse, everyone will be treated to a PARTIAL eclipse! Where will you be? Why not celebrate the eclipse by making your own 2D/3D Printed Pinhole Projector in the shape of the USA and/or a US State?

Download and create your own 3D Printed Pinhole Projector in the shape of the USA and/or a US State.

If you don't have access to a 3D printer, download these pdf files to create your state or USA pinhole projector out of paper or card stock!

Capture the Moment: Ask a friend to take a picture of your shadow while holding your state's pinhole projector. The resulting image will be a once in a lifetime picture of your shadow, the shadow of your selected state and a projected image of the partial eclipse marking your location!

Share the Moment: Don't forget to share your best images with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and/or on our Solar Eclipse Flickr Group. Use #EclipseSelfie. Leave a 1-2 sentence description of your image/idea.

FUN IDEAS:

Take a picture of your shadow holding your state. Drill an additional pinhole to mark your location.

Print and glue a 'paper map' over your selected 3D printed state.

Use your 2D/3D printed state as a template to trace and cutout multiple cardboard versions.

Decorate your projector (cultural images/colors, state symbols, sports, etc.)

Place your 2D/3D projector on a lanyard or necklace for quick access.

Project onto a t-shirt and take a picture.

Secure your projector and make a timelapse movie.

Experiment with different pinhole sizes and shapes.

Learn how to 3D print a multicolored pinhole projector in the shape of the United States or your state!

Alternative Viewing Methods:

Use Your Hands: Create pinhole projections with your fingers. For example, cross the outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of the other. With your back to the sun, look at your hands' shadow on the ground. The little spaces between your fingers will project a grid of small images on the ground, showing the sun as a crescent during the partial phases of the eclipse.

Find a Tree: Trees make great pinhole projectors. Layers of leaves and branches tend to create thousands of little pinholes allowing sunlight to pass through to the ground. On a sunny day you'll notice thousands of circles of light projected onto the ground beneath the trees around you. During the partial phases of an eclipse, those projected circles of light actually turn into thousands of projected images of the eclipse. Keep your camera ready! To learn more about why this happens, visit Solar Viewing Projector.

3D Printed Pinhole Projection Cards: During the 2016 total solar eclipse in Micronesia, we tested a variety of pinhole sizes using 3D printed cards . We found that a 5 mm pinhole held 3-4 feet above the ground provided the strongest and clearest pinhole projection of a partial eclipse.

Be creative but be safe! NEVER look directly at the sun or through optical devices such as pinhole projectors, binoculars or telescopes!

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national aeronautics and space administration

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2D/3D Printable Pinhole Projectors | Total Solar Eclipse 2017

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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How fast is the solar eclipse? And 32 other questions answered

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How fast is the solar eclipse? And 32 other questions answered

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CLOSE

The biggest and best solar eclipse in American history is coming soon to a sky near you.

On Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible from coast to coast. It will be the first total eclipse visible only in the USA since the country's founding in 1776.

Here's everything you need to know about the spectacular event:

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. The moon appears to completely cover the disk of the sun. By blocking the sun's light, the moon casts a shadow that turns day into an eerie twilight here on Earth. Eclipses occur because of the special coincidence of the moon and the sun being the same size to our eyes. The sun is 400 times wider than the moon, but it is also 400 times farther away, so they appear to be the same size in the sky.

When is the solar eclipse?

August 21.

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse here in the U.S. will be on April 8, 2024, which will be visible from Texas to New England. More total eclipses in the U.S. will follow in 2044, 2045 and 2078. In other parts of the world, the next total solar eclipse will be visible in Chile and Argentina on July 2, 2019.

When was the most recent total solar eclipse?

In the U.S., it was on Feb. 26, 1979, in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, a day in which the weather was unfortunately " bleak." The August eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse that will be visible from coast to coast since June 1918. Elsewhere, the most recent total solar eclipse was in Indonesia on March 9, 2016.

Why is this called the "Great American Eclipse?"

This is the first total solar eclipse that's only visible in the U.S. and no other country. It will be the first total eclipse visible only in the USA since the country was founded in 1776.

Why is the total solar eclipse only visible in the U.S.?

Eclipses are only visible in parts of the world at any given time. This one just happens to be in the U.S.

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What time is the solar eclipse?

It depends on where you live. The eclipse will start on the West Coast in Oregon and trace a 67-mile wide path east across the country, finally exiting the East Coast in South Carolina. The total eclipse begins in Oregon at 10:16 a.m. PDT. (To be the first person on land to see the eclipse, be on the waterfront at Government Point, Ore., at 10:15:56.5 a.m. PDT.) The total eclipse will end near Charleston, S.C., at 2:48 p.m. EDT.

How long will the solar eclipse last?

At any given location, the total eclipse will last for around 2 or 3 minutes. But from the beginning of the eclipse in Oregon to the end of the eclipse in South Carolina, the eclipse will last about an hour and a half.

Where is the "path of totality?"

The path, in which the moon's shadow sweeps across the Earth's surface, will cross parts of 12 states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Some of the larger cities directly in the path include Nashville, Tenn.; and Greenville, Columbia and Charleston in South Carolina. Both Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo., are barely outside the path.

Smaller towns in the path include Salem, Ore.; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Casper, Wyo.; Grand Island and Lincoln, Neb.; St. Joseph and Columbia, Mo.; Bowling Green, Ky.,Clarksville and Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and Anderson, S.C.

How "fast" is the eclipse?

The average speed of the moon's shadow as it crosses the U.S. is nearly 1,700 mph. That's over two times faster than a supersonic jet.

How many people will be able see the total eclipse?

An estimated 12 million people live within the path of totality. The number of people within just one day's drive of the totality zone is around 200 million.

What will I see during a total solar eclipse?

During a total solar eclipse, the disk of the moon blocks out the last sliver of light from the sun, and the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. The corona isn't an indistinct haze; skywatchers report seeing great jets and ribbons of light, twisting and curling out into the sky.

What will happen during the total eclipse?

Plants and animals act as though night is falling, as flowers close up and birds return to roost. The temperature can drop 10 degrees or more.

Where will a partial solar eclipse be visible?

If you're not in the "path of totality," you'll still get a chance to see a partial eclipse, when only a part of the sun is blocked by the moon. A partial eclipse will be visible in all of North America, parts of South America, western Europe and Africa. While a partial eclipse is still cool, you won't notice your surroundings getting dark.

Could this be the most-viewed eclipse ever?

Astronomy magazine says yes, basing this proclamation on four factors: 1) The attention it will get from the media; 2) The superb coverage of the highway system in our country; 3) The typical weather on that date; and 4) The vast number of people who will have access to it from nearby large cities.

How can you look at the solar eclipse?

The only moment it's safe to look at the eclipse is during the 2-3 minutes when the sun is completely behind the moon. Before and after that - during the partial eclipse - special eclipse glasses, or welder's goggles, must be worn. That's because the sun's surface is so bright that if you stare at any portion of it, no matter how small, it produces enough light to permanently damage your retina. Our eyes never evolved to look at the sun without suffering severe damage. Regular sunglasses are also not safe to use.

Can you take a photo of the eclipse with your smartphone?

Yes, but the quality may be rather poor, as smartphones were never designed for sun and moon photography. The best thing to do is to cover the camera lens with a solar filter during the moments before (and after) the total eclipse when the sunlight is still blinding. Though it may be OK for a few moments, it's not wise to point your smartphone camera at the brilliant, un-eclipsed sun for an extended period of time without putting a filter over the lens. A telephoto lens system is absolutely a must-have for quality eclipse photography with a smartphone. Most of the best shots you'll see related of the eclipse will be taken with professional digital cameras on tripods, or shot through a telescope.

Will there be "eclipse tourists?"

Yes, the eclipse tourist hype is in full swing: Organizers of the Oregon SolarFest are calling it "a rare, mind-blowing cosmic experience," while Nashville promises visitors "a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event." Meanwhile, Carbondale, Ill., is promoting itself as the "Eclipse Crossroads of America," and Charleston, S.C., is planning a blues-and-barbecue harbor cruise during the eclipse.

Will traffic be bad on Aug. 21?

Yes, it could be one of the worst traffic days in U.S. history, some NASA representatives predict. Although about 12 million people live within the narrow band of totality, about 200 million reside within a day's drive of it. The agency has estimated that the population inside the path of totality may double on the day of the eclipse.

Why is the total solar eclipse only visible in the U.S.?

Eclipses are only visible in parts of the world at any given time. This one just happens to be in the U.S.

What cities have highest likelihood of clear viewing conditions?

Based on historical weather conditions, folks in Idaho, Wyoming and Nebraska will have the best chance of clear skies. Casper, Wyo., has an 88% chance of clear skies on Aug. 21.

What cities have highest likelihood of cloudy viewing conditions?

Both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts could see cloudy conditions. Increased cloud cover will also be possible as the eclipse travels across the country east of the Mississippi River. Both Nashville and Columbia have a 44% chance of clear skies.

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Do solar eclipses affect humans?

No, there's no evidence that eclipses have any physical effect on humans. However, throughout history, eclipses have been known to produce profound psychological effects. For millennia, they were sometimes interpreted as portents of doom by virtually every known civilization.

How can "citizen scientists" participate in the eclipse?

NASA has many opportunities for amateur astronomers and lifelong learners to get in on the fun of doing science during the eclipse.

Why are solar eclipses so rare?

It takes three celestial bodies (the sun, moon and Earth), all of which are on various orbital paths, to line up in the exact way at the right time to create an eclipse. On average, a total eclipse is visible from any one spot on Earth about once every 375 years. In the U.S., it takes about 1,000 years for every geographic location in the Lower 48 to be able to view a total solar eclipse. So you must be in just the right place at just the right time to observe a total solar eclipse.

How are eclipses predicted?

Astronomers first must work out the geometry and paths of the Earth and moon as they orbit around the sun, mathematically figuring out the motions of each of the three bodies in three-dimensional space. Astronomers then feed the current positions and speeds of the Earth, moon and sun into a computer, programming it to calculate their future paths in relation to one another and what will be the view from the vantage point of us down here on Earth. Eclipses are specific predictions of where the three bodies will be at an exact time and place. Current eclipse forecasts are accurate to less than a minute in time.

What are some misconceptions about eclipses?

Here is a partial list of what total solar eclipses DON'T do: Emit harmful rays, affect pregnant women, poison food, predict bad events or foretell major life changes.

How many people have seen a total solar eclipse?

Fewer than 1 in 1,000 people has ever seen a total eclipse of the sun.

How many total solar eclipses are there each year?

There is one somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months.

When was the first solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses have occurred for billions of years, but no one was here to see or record them. The earliest writings we have showing people paid attention to eclipses in any official way are around 5,000 years ago, based on some inscriptions on a monument in Ireland. Eclipses were also recorded in Ancient China, Babylonia, and Greece. In China, people would light fires or shoot arrows at the sun to try to make it catch fire again. After a total eclipse in 840, Emperor Louis of Bavaria was supposedly so terrified of the event that he died shortly afterwards.

What is an annular solar eclipse?

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun's center, leaving the sun's visible outer edge to form a "ring of fire" or "annulus" around the moon.

What is a hybrid solar eclipse?

A hybrid eclipse shifts between a total and annular eclipse: At certain points on the Earth, it's a total eclipse, whereas at other points it appears as annular.

What is a lunar eclipse?

It's when the Earth gets in between the sun and the moon. The Earth's shadow is cast on the moon.
Sources: NASA, NOAA, Astronomy.com, AstronomyToday.com, Sky and Telescope, Space.com, "Get Eclipsed" by Pat and Fred Espenak.
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2uNoyAN

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How fast is the solar eclipse? And 32 other questions, answered

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CLOSE The biggest and best solar eclipse in American history is coming soon to a sky near you. On Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible from coast to coast. It will be the first total eclipse visible only in the USA since the country's founding in 1776.

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Eclipse 101

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The last time most Americans experienced a total solar eclipse was 1991. In 2017, an estimated 500 million people will be able to observe the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse, in partial or total form: 391 million in the U.S., 35 million in Canada, and 119 million in Mexico (plus Central America and parts of South America and northwestern Europe) . This is a golden opportunity to observe one of nature's most exciting splendors and to engage and educate diverse audiences in the U.S. and internationally, using a backdrop of this amazing celestial event coupled with NASA unique assets.

Already there is great excitement and planning underway for the eclipse. A quick Google search on "eclipse 2017", for example, yielded over 35 million hits! Numerous planning meetings are now being held within universities, K-12 institutions, museums, civic groups, and amateur astronomy clubs around the nation and abroad. Where will you be on August 21, 2017? What will you be doing for the eclipse? This website has many suggestions for safe eclipse viewing, eclipse parties, activities, and experiments you can do.

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national aeronautics and space administration

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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Cookie Box Spectrometers

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Indirect Viewing Tips

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Solar Eclipse Video 3-Indirect Viewing Tips

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Tips and tricks for viewing a total solar eclipse with TSIN's own Billy Hix. This video gives great ideas for how to view a total solar eclipse with indirect viewing options. These indirect viewing options are great for lower grades.

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Solar Pizzas

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Measuring Light Levels and Temperature

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What to Expect & Direct Solar

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Solar Eclipse Video 1-What to Expect & Direct Solar Viewing

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DescriptionTips and tricks for viewing a total solar eclipse with TSIN's own Billy Hix. Billy discusses how to get your students excited about The Great American Solar Eclipse and what to expect when this awe-inspiring event occurs. This video also provides tips for direct solar viewing and where to get safe solar viewing glasses.

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On the 2017 Eclipse

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Welcome to NASA's Eyes, a way for you to learn about your home planet, our solar system, the universe beyond and the spacecraft exploring them.

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Videos & Images | Total Solar Eclipse 2017

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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Scientist Interviews | Total Solar Eclipse 2017

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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Eclipse Live Stream Archive | Total Solar Eclipse 2017

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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The Great American Eclipse Unit

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When the Sun Goes Dark by Andrew Fraknoi and Dennis Schatz

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When the Sun Goes Dark by Andrew Fraknoi and Dennis Schatz

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(Excerpt)

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Student Project: How to Make a Pinhole Camera | NASA/JPL Edu

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Learn how to make your very own pinhole camera to safely see a solar eclipse in action.

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A Model of The Earth & Moon’sOrbit of the Sun

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A Model of The Earth & Moon’sOrbit of the Sun

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Word Problems

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Pie Charts

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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Learn about total solar eclipses

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This site has been designed to give your class an overview of astronomy and help them understand why a Total Solar Eclipse can happen. Each section leads with a simple question which is answered through the use of words, pictures, animations and activities. Each section requires approximately 5 minutes, each activity varies.
How do the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon move?
This section explains the solar system and its movement with animation and fun.
What is an eclipse?
This section, with its activity using an orange, grape and flashlight, is a simple way to show how an eclipse happens.
What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse can happen only because of the unique size and distance measurements of our Moon and Sun. By using a beach ball and a tennis ball (or dodge ball and softball), this activity gives the opportunity to spell out our unique solar system.
What happens during a total solar eclipse?
With simple photographs, we see the various stages of a total solar eclipse.
What are the safety facts?
This section is full of warnings, but even with these, children will want to look directly at the Sun. Our activity on how to build a pinhole projector is easy and fun. The Materials needed are a rectangular cardboard box (any size, even a refrigerator box will work!), aluminum foil, scotch or masking tape and a razor blade knife (only to be used by an adult!) Many pages throughout are site are linked to this page. Safety must be stressed.
How do eclipses fit in myths, stories and history?
This section provides fun historical and mythical facts about eclipses. Use them to spark your students interest and have them write their own creative story about the eclipse. Let them share the stories with each other, and pick the best to share with us. We will post several on our site.
How much do you know about our Sun?
This section provides a graphic view with simple facts about our Sun to help the child understand why researchers are studying our solar system's central body.
How much do you know about our Moon?
This section provides a graphic view with simple facts about our Moon in the same way as the Sun section to help the child gain insight on our closest celestial neighbor.
What is a comet?
Basic information is provided on comets along with a beautiful photograph of the Hale-Bopp comet to show visually the gases that make up a comet's tail. We also present how a comet travels through our solar system and information is given on Halley's Comet with a question for the children to answer on when the comet will next visit the Earth.
What are asteroids and meteors?
Basic information is provided with pictures to explain the difference between asteroids and meteors. The teaching section ends with an activity on how to view the night sky.
Glossary of Astronomical Terms
Throughout the teaching section, we have provided links to a glossary page for the child's benefit. The links will take them directly to the word in question

Once you have taken your children through the teaching section, enter Eclipse99 and share experiences from the Millennial Eclipse in Europe, Asia and the Middle East written by kids on the Path of Totality. Then take the kids back to Aruba for the eclipse of 98 with a Caribbean party thrown in.

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This site has been designed to give your class an overview of astronomy and help them understand why a Total Solar Eclipse can happen. Each section leads with a simple question which is answered through the use of words, pictures, animations and activities. Each section requires approximately 5 minutes, each activity varies.

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6-8 Eclipse Lessons

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Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse.

This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.

This resource highlights a few of the many women who have impacted STEM fields- through important explorations, discoveries and/or contributions. It includes first-hand stories, a resource guide, and downloadable posters and postcards.

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Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse. This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S.

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Eclipse Lessons

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9-12 Eclipse Lessons

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Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse.

This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.

This resource highlights a few of the many women who have impacted STEM fields- through important explorations, discoveries and/or contributions. It includes first-hand stories, a resource guide, and downloadable posters and postcards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse. This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S.

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Lunar Math

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Informational Text

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Worksheet

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Myths and Superstitions Around Solar Eclipses

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Myths and Superstitions Around Solar Eclipses

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Solar eclipses have caused fear, inspired curiosity, and have been associated with myths, legends, and superstitions throughout history. Even today, an eclipse of the Sun is considered a bad omen in many cultures.

©bigstockphoto.com/wuttichok

Ancient Explanation for Solar Eclipse

Ancient cultures tried to understand why the Sun temporarily vanished from the sky, so they came up with various reasons for what caused a solar eclipse.

In many cultures, the legends surrounding solar eclipses involve mythical figures eating or stealing the Sun. Others interpreted the event as a sign of angry or quarreling gods.

Hungry Demons, Thieving Dogs

In Vietnam, people believed that a solar eclipse was caused by a giant frog devouring the Sun, while Norse cultures blamed wolves for eating the Sun.

In ancient China, a celestial dragon was thought to lunch on the Sun, causing a solar eclipse. In fact, the Chinese word of an eclipse, chih or shih, means to eat.

According to ancient Hindu mythology, the deity Rahu is beheaded by the gods for capturing and drinking Amrita, the gods' nectar. Rahu's head flies off into the sky and swallows the Sun causing an eclipse.

Korean folklore offers another ancient explanation for solar eclipses. It suggests that solar eclipses happen because mythical dogs are trying to steal the Sun.

Traditionally, people in many cultures get together to bang pots and pans and make loud noises during a solar eclipse. It is thought that making a noise scares the demon causing the eclipse away.

Native American Solar Eclipse Myths and Legends

The Pomo, an indigenous group of people who live in the northwestern United States, tell a story of a bear who started a fight with the Sun and took a bite out of it. In fact, the Pomo name for a solar eclipse is Sun got bit by a bear.

After taking a bite of the Sun and resolving their conflict, the bear, as the story goes, went on to meet the Moon and take a bite out of the Moon as well, causing a lunar eclipse. This story may have been their way of explaining why a solar eclipse happens about around 2 weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.

Angry Sun

The ancient Greeks believed that a solar eclipse was a sign of angry gods and that it was the beginning of disasters and destruction.
How superstition influenced the course of history
The Tewa tribe from New Mexico in the United States believed that a solar eclipse signaled an angry Sun who had left the skies to go to his house in the underworld.

Quarreling Sun and Moon

According to Inuit folklore, the Sun goddess Malina walked away after a fight with the Moon god Anningan. A solar eclipse happened when Anningan managed to catch up with his sister.

The Batammaliba, who live in Benin and Togo, used a solar eclipse as a teaching moment. According to their legends, an eclipse of the Sun meant that the Sun and the Moon were fighting and that the only way to stop them from hurting each other was for people on Earth to resolve all conflicts with each other.

Modern Day Sun Superstitions

Fear of solar eclipses still exists today. Many people around the world still see eclipses as evil omens that bring death, destruction, and disasters.

A popular misconception is that solar eclipses can be a danger to pregnant women and their unborn children. In many cultures, young children and pregnant women are asked to stay indoors during a solar eclipse.

In many parts of India, people fast during a solar eclipse due to the belief that any food cooked while an eclipse happens will be poisonous and unpure.

Not all superstitions surrounding solar eclipses are about doom. In Italy, for example, it is believed that flowers planted during a solar eclipse are brighter and more colorful than flowers planted any other time of the year.

No Scientific Basis

Scientists and astronomers around the world have debunked any such claims. There is no scientific evidence that solar eclipses can affect human behavior, health, or the environment. Scientists, however, do emphasize that anyone watching a solar eclipse must protect their eyes.
Make your own pinhole projector
Topics: Astronomy, Eclipses, Moon, Sun

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Solar eclipses have caused fear, inspired curiosity, and have been associated with myths, legends, and superstitions throughout history. Even today, an eclipse of the Sun is considered a bad omen in many cultures. Ancient cultures tried to understand why the Sun temporarily vanished from the sky, so they came up with various reasons for what caused a solar eclipse.

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Solar Eclipse Myths From Around the World

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Solar Eclipse Myths From Around the World

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Viking sky wolves, Korean fire dogs, and African versions of celestial reconciliation-these are only some of the many ways people around the world, and through the ages, have sought to explain solar eclipses.

People in equatorial Africa will be treated to a rare view of a total solar eclipse this Sunday, November 3. Those living on the eastern North American coast, northern South America, southern Europe, or the Middle East, will get to see a partial solar eclipse.

"If you do a worldwide survey of eclipse lore, the theme that constantly appears, with few exceptions, is it's always a disruption of the established order," said E. C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California. That's true of both solar and lunar eclipses.

"People depend on the sun's movement," Krupp said. "[It's] regular, dependable, you can't tamper with it. And then, all of a sudden, Shakespearean tragedy arrives and time is out of joint. The sun and moon do something that they shouldn't be doing."

What that disruption means depends on the culture, and not everyone views an eclipse as a bad thing, said Jarita Holbrook, a cultural astronomer at the University of the Western Cape in Bellville, South Africa.

Some see it as a time of terror, while others look at a solar eclipse as part of the natural order that deserves respect, or as a time of reflection and reconciliation. (Related:"Pictures: Solar Eclipse Creates Ring of Fire.")

Many cultures explain eclipses, both solar and lunar, as a time when demons or animals consume the sun or the moon, said Krupp.

"The Vikings saw a pair of sky wolves chasing the sun or the moon," said the Griffith Observatory astronomer. When one of the wolves caught either of the shining orbs, an eclipse would result. (Read "Vikings and Native Americans" in National Geographic magazine.)

"In Vietnam, a frog or a toad [eats] the moon or the sun," Krupp added, while people of the Kwakiutl tribe on the western coast of Canada believe that the mouth of heaven consumes the sun or the moon during an eclipse.

In fact, the earliest word for eclipse in Chinese, shih, means "to eat," he said.

In order to combat this devouring, people in many cultures made noise in order to scare the demon or animal away, said Nancy Maryboy, president of the Indigenous Education Institute on San Juan Island, Washington. She's currently working with NASA on bringing indigenous astronomy into mainstream awareness.

People banged pots and pans or played on drums to get whatever was swallowing the sun or the moon to go away, she explained.

Krupp orchestrates a modern version of this during lunar eclipses on the front lawn of the Griffith Observatory. He dons a wizard's outfit and leads the public on a march in front of the observatory while banging pots and pans to chase away whatever's eating the moon.

"We're always successful," Krupp said.

Other myths tell of deception and theft to explain the sun's disappearance during an eclipse. Korean eclipse mythology involves fire dogs that try to steal the sun or the moon, said Krupp.

On orders from a king, the mythical canines try their best to capture the fiery sun or the ice-cold moon. They always fail, but whenever they bite either orb, an eclipse results.

One of the more colorful stories in Krupp's opinion involves the Hindu demon Rahu, who disguises himself as a god in order to steal a taste of an elixir that grants immortality. The sun and moon see what Rahu is up to, and they report his crime to the god Vishnu.

"Vishnu slices off his head before [the elixr] can slide past his throat," said Krupp. As a consequence, Rahu's head turns immortal, but his body dies.

The demon's head continues to move through the sky, chasing the sun and the moon out of hatred. "Every now and then he catches them and swallows them," explained Krupp. But since Rahu has no throat, the sun and the moon fall out of the bottom of his head.

Nature and Reconciliation

"My favorite myth is from the Batammaliba people in Togo and Benin" in Africa, said Holbrook.

In this myth, the sun and the moon are fighting during an eclipse, she said. The people "encourage the sun and the moon to stop fighting."

"They see it as a time of coming together and resolving old feuds and anger," Holbrook said. "It's a myth that has held to this day."

A Navajo tradition regarding eclipses has also endured into the present day, notes Maryboy.

The Navajo regard the cosmic order of the universe as being all about balance, she said. "Something like an eclipse is just part of nature's law. You pause to acknowledge that that time is special, [and] you reflect on the cosmic order."

Maryboy explained that some Navajo still observe traditions associated with an eclipse by staying inside with their family, singing special songs, and refraining from eating, drinking, or sleeping.

You're not supposed to look at an eclipse either, she added. "They say if you look at the sun during an eclipse, it will affect your eyes later." A person who looks at the sun goes out of balance with the universe, leading to problems down the road. The same goes for eating and drinking during this time.

Modern Misunderstandings

As director of the Griffith Observatory, Krupp has heard his share of misunderstandings and fears regarding eclipses.

Perhaps one of the more persistent ones, according to Krupp, is that there is a danger to pregnant women and their unborn children during an eclipse.

"It seems irrational," he said, but they can get dozens of calls asking about it.

Another misconception is that people can't look at the sun when it's completely covered during a total eclipse. Both Krupp and Holbrook mention that of course people shouldn't look directly at the sun. Doing so can cause eye damage. But if the sun is completely covered, it's ok to look at, said Holbrook. "That's when you should be out there experiencing it," she added. ( Learn about how to view an eclipse.)

"It's an amazing experience, even though you know it's just the moon moving in front of the sun," Holbrook said. "That's why there are eclipse chasers." (Related:"Chasing the Total Solar Eclipse.")

Eclipses are certainly something Krupp experiences as often as he can. "I've gone after 13 total eclipses so far," he said.

"They're a chance to see the universe working," Krupp explained. It's "the solar system doing its thing right before your eyes, and it's a deep and personal pleasure."
Follow Jane J. Lee onTwitter.

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Solar Eclipse Myths From Around the World

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Viking sky wolves, Korean fire dogs, and African versions of celestial reconciliation-these are only some of the many ways people around the world, and through the ages, have sought to explain solar eclipses. People in equatorial Africa will be treated to a rare view of a total solar eclipse this Sunday, November 3.

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Windows to the Universe, at http://windows2universe.org/ from the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA). The Website was developed in part with the support of UCAR and NCAR, where it resided from 2000 - 2010. © 2012 National Earth Science Teachers Association. Windows to the Universe® is a registered trademark of NESTA.

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Geography Worksheet

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I am Itzamná, Maya Lord of Knowledge and Wisdom. I am here to tell you about my people, who were expert mathematicians.

The ancient Maya used mathematics to support many activities in their daily lives, from market transactions to predicting eclipses and making sophisticated calendar calculations. Maya mathematics is vigesimal, which means that instead of counting by tens, Maya math counts by twenties. Not long ago, traditional people in the Yucatán still used seeds, sticks and shells to make calculations.

Instead of the numbers 0 to 9,
Maya Math uses three symbols:

A dot represents the number 1

A stick represents the number 5

A shell represents the number 0

This system allows very large numbers to be written - and long periods of time to be recorded - and makes complex math possible. Now that you know something about Maya math, do you think you are ready for the challenge?

New at Maya math? Click here to learn the basics and receive help from me, Itzamná.

Are you ready?
Click here to accept my challenge.

Looking for an activity to do in the classroom? Click here to download a Maya math lesson.

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I am Itzamná, Maya Lord of Knowledge and Wisdom. I am here to tell you about my people, who were expert mathematicians. The ancient Maya used mathematics to support many activities in their daily lives, from market transactions to predicting eclipses and making sophisticated calendar calculations.

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Summary of Activity: NASA Space Math Website , where you can find many other astronomy-related math problems.

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DIY Pinhole Projector to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse

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One of the easiest and safe ways to watch a solar eclipse is with a DIY pinhole projector using 2 sheets of cardboard.

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Solar Eclipse Across America (AAS & NSF Resource List)

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Solar Eclipse Across America (AAS & NSF Resource List)

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Solar Eclipse Across America - August 21, 2017

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Here you'll find some of the best eclipse-related educational materials, as judged by members of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force. To avoid overwhelming you with too much information, we've intentionally weighted our listings toward resources that are relatively new, up to date, and/or especially relevant to the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse across America. We've also considered quality, of course; if an educational resource is listed here, we think it's of high quality. If it's not listed here, that doesn't mean it's not of high quality - it just means we can't list everything. If you have, or know of, a resource that you think belongs here, please contact us; we can't guarantee that we'll add the item to our website, but we will consider it.

Eclipse Education Websites

Free Online Course at Coursera

Eclipse Education PDFs

For All Educators:

For Elementary-School & Early-Learner Educators:

"Countdown to the Great American Eclipse" (Charles Fulco, Science & Children, February 2017, NSTA Press)

"Eclipses Across the Curriculum" (Charles Fulco, Science & Children, April/May 2017, NSTA Press)

"Eclipses & Eye Safety" (Charles Fulco, Science & Children, March 2017, NSTA Press)

"Get Ready for the Great American Eclipse!" (Charles Fulco, Science & Children, January 2017, NSTA Press)

"Preparing for the Eclipse: How to Safely Observe the Sun with Young Children" (A. Hurst, J. Plummer, S. Gurton & D. Schatz, Science & Children, March 2017, NSTA Press)

For Middle-School Educators:

For High-School Educators:

Eclipse Education Books

Educational Videos About Solar Eclipses

"2017 Eclipse & the Moon's Orbit" (Ernie Wright, NASA Science Visualization Studio)

"2017 Eclipse: Earth, Moon & Sun" (Ernie Wright, NASA Science Visualization Studio)

"2017 Eclipse Shadow Cones" (Ernie Wright, NASA Science Visualization Studio)

"2017 Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S." (Ernie Wright, NASA Science Visualization Studio)

"America's Coast-to-Coast Total Solar Eclipse" (Kelly Beatty, Sky & Telescope)

"August 21, 2017: Solar Eclipse Across America" (American Astronomical Society)

"August 21, 2017, Total Solar Eclipse as Seen from the Moon" (Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com)

"En Camino al Eclipse Total de Sol del 2017" (Ana Aceves, Sky & Telescope, en Español)

"Experiencing the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse" (Ana Aceves, Sky & Telescope)

"Eclipse FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions" (Doug Duncan, Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado)

"Getting to the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse" (Ana Aceves, Sky & Telescope)

"Great American Eclipse of 2017" (Fred Espenak at the Northeast Astronomy Forum)

"How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse" (American Astronomical Society)

"La Experiencia de Ver un Eclipse Total de Sol" (Ana Aceves, Sky & Telescope, en Español)

"People of Earth" Eclipse Promotional Video (Mark Bender / Eclipse Across America)

"Preparing for the Great American Eclipse" (Doug Duncan, Fiske Planetarium, University of Colorado)

"Total Eclipse, August 21, 2017, Video 1: Where Will You Be Watching?" (Jeffrey Bennett, Big Kid Science & Story Time from Space)

"Total Eclipse, August 21, 2017, Video 2: Understanding Eclipses" (Jeffrey Bennett, Big Kid Science & Story Time from Space)

"Tracing the 2017 Solar Eclipse" (Ernie Wright, NASA Science Visualization Studio)

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Here you'll find some of the best eclipse-related educational materials, as judged by members of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force. To avoid overwhelming you with too much information, we've intentionally weighted our listings toward resources that are relatively new, up to date, and/or especially relevant to the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse across America.

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Simulation for Smyrna, TN

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The Eclipse Megamovie Project will gather images of the 2017 total solar eclipse from over 1,000 volunteer photographers and amateur astronomers (citizen scientists), as well as many more members of the general public. We'll then stitch these media assets together to create an expanded and continuous view of the total eclipse as it crosses the United States.

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Simulation for Murfreesboro, TN

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The Eclipse Megamovie Project will gather images of the 2017 total solar eclipse from over 1,000 volunteer photographers and amateur astronomers (citizen scientists), as well as many more members of the general public. We'll then stitch these media assets together to create an expanded and continuous view of the total eclipse as it crosses the United States.

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Simulation for La Vergne, TN

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The Eclipse Megamovie Project will gather images of the 2017 total solar eclipse from over 1,000 volunteer photographers and amateur astronomers (citizen scientists), as well as many more members of the general public. We'll then stitch these media assets together to create an expanded and continuous view of the total eclipse as it crosses the United States.

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PE/Wellness

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national aeronautics and space administration

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Eclipse Art Projects | Total Solar Eclipse 2017

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature's most awe inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse.

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Why are people making such a big deal about the solar eclipse?

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Teach about the upcoming solar eclipse! If you have questions about the eclipse, read our eclipse FAQ.

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Dick Land
The Schepens Eye Research Institute
LAND@VISION.ERI.harvard.edu

OK, Look directly at a Total Solar Eclipse

There is no danger to the eye in looking directly at a total solar eclipse. However; looking directly at the smallest part of a partial eclipse, including any annular eclipse, is very dangerous and can result in retinal damage. Therefore, one must be careful just before totality and particularly as the total phase ends when watching this most wonderful phenomenon. Just after the first bright spot, the photosphere, reemerges from behind the moon, it is time to look away.

Whenever a solar eclipse is expected there is much uninformed fright about watching the event. It is correct to be especially cautious in advising children, as young eyes are most at risk during the partial eclipse, their lens and media is most clear, and the temptation to stare great.

Danger to the eye is from heat ( infrared radiation ), UV ( ultraviolet radiation ), and from excessive blue light. The heat risk is perhaps the best understood, since we are familiar with using a lens to focus the sun to burn paper. A momentary glance, such as we do occasionally on a sunny day, does indeed focus a very intense image of the sun on the transparent neural tissue at the back of the eye, the retina, and a highly absorbent layer just beyond, but we have a reflex to avert our eye and the heat buildup is brief and little damage results. If one closes the eye after such a chance event, one will note a series of bright 'after images' of the sun staggered irregularly, indicating the eye's protective motion during the glance. Since there is nothing novel to see, a simple disk, no specific fixation results. UV radiation can cause 'sunburn' to the cornea or outer surface of the eye, just like sunburn to the skin - same mechanism, similar damage, but for the eye it results in pain and vision loss. The retina is at risk from a very small part of the UV that is transmitted through the ocular media and lens. This risk is greatest for young eyes, and in general adults beyond 30 years of age have enough yellow in the lens and absorption in the media that UV after atmospheric absorption is less of a problem than the heat. The least well understood risk is from blue light that seems implicated in biochemical damage to receptor cells and their environment in the sensitive neural tissue. Documentation is growing that excessive exposure to blue light may, in most individuals, result in Macular Degeneration and blindness in people when they become older.

Again there is all this caution about viewing a solar eclipse because there are serious risks during the partial phases. The radiation to the eye during the total, or dark part of the eclipse, is less than when viewing the full moon, and that is safe for viewing for many minutes, and a total solar eclipse rarely lasts seven minutes. I am always asked why the partial eclipse is so special a hazard, since most days we can safely glance at the sun without care. The danger comes from the fact an eclipse changes the circular, too bright disk, into something interesting. The brightness is the same and still too great, but in eclipse there is a shape, a black part, and the crescent remaining of the sun. Now the normal safety feature of eye motion is defeated by the cognitive event of having a point to fixate. The two sharp cusps are points that the eye may focus upon and now the damaging image on the retina is stopped on the most sensitive neural tissue. This short stoppage begins damage from all mechanisms, too much blue light, too much UV, and too much heat. This damage is not recoverable.

The exact duration that will cause loss of sight in that area of the retina varies greatly from eye to eye. Again greatest risk is to the young eye, and least to the oldest eyes that absorb and scatter the damaging radiation.

To observe these bright partial phases of the eclipse a projected image is safest. There are many filter options, but great caution must be exercised in selection and use.

NO damage or risk to the eye is involved when looking at the total solar eclipse, even with optical aids, such as binoculars. BUT the bright disk, no matter how small or partial crescent, will cause damage, and optical aids must not be used unless special filters are used and informed supervision is on hand.

It is my greatest disappointment that so many have missed seeing one of natures most beautiful events - a total solar eclipse - because of misinformation. No photograph, no TV or other laboratory technique can represent or capture this unique physical phenomenon. The colors and contrast, the detail and structure of the image is beyond reproduction.

Even if this were not so there is a primitive human response to seeing the sun go dark, and blood red dots appear around the black, unlit, side of the moon, and brilliant silver green hair like streamers reaching outward on either side, the object seems to fill the sky. The many visual phenomena that come into play making a total solar eclipse so wonderful an event should not be missed.

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Dick Land The Schepens Eye Research Institute LAND@VISION.ERI.harvard.edu There is no danger to the eye in looking directly at a total solar eclipse. However; looking directly at the smallest part of a partial eclipse, including any annular eclipse, is very dangerous and can result in retinal damage.

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Math time fun time