Teacher Checklist: All teachers who are escorting students to view the eclipse must go over this checklist. Make sure you read it ahead of time to comply with all things on the checklist.
Student Safety Contract: All students should sign this safety contract. Schools should go about the best way to do this.
Parent/Guardian Permission Form: All students should have their parents/guardians sign this form and then turn it in.
Image Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser
At this age, students should build upon their knowledge of shadows and the presence of the Moon and Sun. They should understand that the direction of shadows changes throughout the day in an observable pattern. This is because the Sun seems to travel from east to west across the sky. In reality, it is the Earth that is rotating that causes this appearance. Further, students should realize that the distance that one object is from another will determine the shadow's size.
The lessons below are designed to integrate science, reading, and writing. They can be used as stand-alone lessons, or as a series to deepen learning before and after the eclipse. The first lesson is a review of shadows and temperature. This concept should have been mastered in kindergarten but is included here for review. There are directions for a shadow investigation to conduct prior to the eclipse, and also on the day of the eclipse allowing students to compare patterns.
The second lesson allows students to reflect on what they have witnessed with a solar eclipse reflection writing prompt. It allows students to become the primary source as they record their observations and thoughts from the eclipse. If you would like to dive deeper with students, check out the 6-12 lessons tab.
Feel free to also use this extra resource from Savvas: Take and Teach: The 2024 Solar Eclipse.
