The Upper Elementary Eclipse Experience

We spent the afternoons of the week before the eclipse learning the science behind eclipses, studying myths and preparing a play for classmates, studying the cultural stories surrounding eclipses as humans tried to explain the phenomena through time, and using Spanish vocabulary focused on the eclipse. We tried to imagine what it would be like to experience such an event without knowing the science. We also looked at how early knowledge and prediction of eclipses occurred in human history and some of the discoveries that were made during eclipses, such as the element helium. We practiced safety procedures and the students helped to make their "space alien" viewing glasses for added protection, using paper plates and NASA approved viewing glasses. 

The morning of the eclipse we shared our work from the previous immersion week and enjoyed a performance of the theater group's story of an eclipse myth and music created during immersion songwriting.

During the eclipse cycle itself, students observed, timed, and recorded observations of changes in temperature, wind speed, light, and barometric pressure.

At the moment of totality, everyone was outside and took off their glasses. Oohs, ahhs, and oh my goodness filled the air, and then there was complete awed silence as everyone took in the experience, listened for the silence of wildlife, and observed stars and planets revealed by the darkness.

Then it was time to put the glasses back on and allow the cycle to complete itself. It was an unbelievably moving event which was just the perfect introduction to our science focus on physical earth sciences this year.