Lunar eclipses happen at least twice a year, but most aren’t visible everywhere. If you’re fortunate enough to be in an area experiencing a lunar eclipse, take the kids to the darkest outdoor area possible. Provide children with binoculars or portable telescopes for more detailed viewing, as the earth’s shadow slowly covers the moon. Solar eclipses are rare events that captivate children. Use caution when allowing them to view solar eclipses, as looking directly at the sun at any time can cause permanent eye damage. Always view solar eclipses through an appropriate filter or surface projection method.
Making an eclipse model provides a hands-on opportunity for a young person to learn about eclipses. Kids can make simple solar eclipse models using household materials like flashlights and quarters. Using clay and paint to create the individual phases of lunar and solar eclipses is a common classroom activity. Kids can simulate total eclipses using Styrofoam balls and Earth globes. Whether you’re a parent or educator, maximize a child’s learning by having them explain the science that the model represents.
Numerous websites offer engaging eclipse activities for children. Online solar and lunar eclipse animation provides colorful graphics in a simulated landscape. Sites that feature eclipse stories, myths and legends from Ancient Egypt and other civilizations teach kids how past cultures interpreted eclipses. Online galleries display high-resolution photos and videos of recent eclipses. These sites are especially helpful for safely viewing solar eclipses without the risk of eye damage. Some textbook companies even offer free online chapters and self-check quizzes about eclipses.
With adult assistance, kids can help construct the projection devices needed to safely view solar eclipses. Successfully building eclipse-viewing devices gives children a sense of accomplishment and ownership. Kids can build a common pinhole projector using a long box, aluminum foil, a pin and white paper. Another projection method requires binoculars, a tripod and cardboard. The binoculars are for projection purposes only, so nobody should look through them to see the sun.