Safety
Never look directly at the Sun.
It's never safe to look directly at the Sun.
You may have some experience burning holes in paper by focusing the Sun's rays through a magnifying glass.
The lens in your eye is four times as powerful as a magnifying glass. Therefore, when you look at the Sun, you are focusing its strong energy on your retina (the back of your eye). That can burn a hole and cause blind spots.
Pinhole Cameras
To use these simple devices, kids stand with their backs to the Sun. For best results, practice using them before the eclipse.
This version uses two pieces of white card stock, aluminum foil, tape, and a pin or paper clip. Because you can hold the two pieces of paper at different distances from one another, you can make the image bigger.
Looking for a fun project? After building this version, kids can decorate it. Each child or group will ned a cereal (or other) box, aluminum foil, white card stock, scissors, and tape. For decorating, they'll need paper to cover the box and markers or crayons.
Glasses & Viewers
Kids and adults can use these glasses and viewers to safely observe the eclipse.
The American Astronomical Society has certified these vendors' products as safe to use.
Warning: Some vendors on marketplaces like Amazon and eBay may say their products are safe when they're not. Please check to make sure it's on this list before purchasing.