What is a Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is in a position that is directly between the Earth and the sun. This alignment causes the Earth’s shadow to temporarily dim the sun’s brightness from us, turning the day into night.

Date and Visibility

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the total eclipse will move across North America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. According to NASA, if you live in the United States the path of the eclipse will travel through, “Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.” These states will experience a total eclipse and a partial eclipse before and after.

Here is an example from NASA’s website if you were viewing from Buffalo, New York:

Partial begins: 2:04 p.m. EDT

Totality begins: 3:18 p.m. EDT

Maximum: 3:20 p.m. EDT

Totality ends: 3:22 p.m. EDT

Partial ends: 4:32 p.m. EDT

Classroom Activities

The solar eclipse is an excellent teaching moment, not just in science class. To further enrich students’ knowledge about the upcoming solar eclipse, consider these classroom activities that cover a broad range of curriculum topics.

Astronomy

Go back to the basics and begin by explaining or having students research what a solar eclipse is. Discuss the positions of the Earth, sun, and moon and how they align to create a solar eclipse. Discuss the different types of eclipses such as the total, partial, and annual, and have students research if the eclipse is visible where you live.

If you are in the path of totality or partial totality, organize a viewing event for your school. Be sure to discuss safety measures such as eclipse viewing glasses. If you are not in the viewing path, you can have students view a live stream from NASA on the day of the event.

Environmental Science

Solar eclipses affect the environment and animal behavior. The sudden shift of daylight to darkness can change temperature and animal behavior. For example, the temperature dropped 15 degrees Fahrenheit during the 2017 solar eclipse. Also, bats have been reported to be active during the day, and family pets have been seen displaying confusion or restlessness.

Ask students to observe these environmental and animal responses both before, during, and after the eclipse. After monitoring these shifts, have students explore the connections they’ve found. This will help deepen students’ understanding of the interconnectedness of the earth and its species and systems.

Mathematics

It takes mathematics to predict a solar eclipse. One of the concepts used to predict an eclipse is the Saros Cycle. Challenge students to predict when and where the next solar eclipse will happen by using this method. Discuss the geometry that’s involved in eclipse path such as the angles and different types of eclipses, this will help students understand the geometric principles.

You can also use the solar eclipse to teach students about measuring time and shadows. Students can observe and measure the shadows before, during, and after the eclipse. Then, students can compare their findings and better understand proportional reasoning.

Geography

The path of totality will span across the United States from Texas to Maine. Have students examine a map of the United States and answer specific questions on how different locations within the United States will experience the solar eclipse. You can modify NASA’s online lesson plan for grades sixth through eighth for younger or older students. Or, you can have students map out the path of totality themselves and research which countries and regions will experience the solar eclipse. This lesson can then lead to a history lesson about how other cultures view the eclipse.

English

The 2024 solar eclipse offers an opportunity for students to have a deeper appreciation of the solar event through creative writing and literature. Inspired by the solar eclipse students can create a poem or create a story about themselves or a character witnessing the eclipse. They can write a blog post, a journal entry, or even a persuasive essay about observing this celestial event. By integrating the solar eclipse into your English activities, you are encouraging creative and critical thinking skills and helping students make sense of this rare event.

Art

Unlock your students’ creativity and let the eclipse inspire young artists. Encourage students to explore their creative side by drawing, painting, creating digital art, or photographing the solar eclipse. If photographing, be sure to discuss the dangers of looking directly into an eclipse and how to capture the shot innovatively through the use of solar filters. Any artistic form of creative expression will only enhance students’ understanding of the solar eclipse and help to leave a lasting impact on this astonishing phenomenon.

The solar eclipse creates a unique learning opportunity where students can directly engage in their wonderment of the universe. The next solar eclipse won’t cross the United States again until 2044, so make this special event a focal point of learning and partake in these classroom activities because this experience is a rare phenomenon that will help to create a deeper understanding of the universe and beyond.

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As teachers work to rebuild their classrooms into a more familiar learning environment, not only are academics highly important in this current school year, but so are building relationships and having fun. Below are several fun science experiments for kids that are engaging, exciting, and just in time for Halloween.

Create Your Own Monster

When it comes to physics, work is defined as a force causing the movement of an object. In day-to-day life, work happens constantly. A student carrying their books and setting them on their locker shelf, weightlifting, shooting a basketball, or pushing a shopping cart, are all examples of work. For work to be able to occur, a force has to be exerted onto an object so that that object can move.

If a student is having explosive behavior in the hallway and trying to push a wall, that would not be considered work because the wall is not going to move. But if the upset student throws his book across the hall, that would be considered work because the boy’s force along with gravity causes the book to fall down. 

This Halloween activity explores both engineering and physics and is a perfect, creative science experiment for middle school during this time of year. Put students’ physics and engineering skills to the test by having them design and create a monster using items from your STEAM supplies or items brought in from home. This experiment can also be adjusted to be done online, or remotely, with the items students have at home, and by uploading pictures of their monster, or showing it off on Zoom, etc. The criteria for the student’s monster (which can be adapted to your choosing) are that it must be able to have movement, work, in some way.

Create other requirements for students such as the monster must include a cupcake liner, beads, googly eyes, or pipe cleaners. Rate the monsters based on best design, best physics monster that showcased work, and most spooky. The options for creativity are endless, and students are sure to love this hands-on, uncanny, science activity.

Do You Want to See My Blood?

The sight of blood may either make you squeamish or fascinate you. And this time of year, blood comes to mind more often with the entrance of vampires, goblins, and other spooky creatures. In this activity, students will learn what the components of blood are. They will observe how blood looks different under a microscope than under their eye.

Supplies needed:

• Microscope (a few per class is ideal, though this is also optional)
• Liquid corn starch
• Red food coloring
• Styrofoam balls (white and enough so each group has several)
• Straight erasers or an equivalent object (enough so each group has several)
• Clear glue
• Petri dishes (enough for each partner group)

Begin by mixing together slime using your favorite recipe or by following these steps. First, mix four ounces of glue, three ounces of water, and a few drops of food coloring into a container. Add four ounces liquid corn starch and stir until mixed. After stirring for about two minutes, the liquid should no longer be separated, and the slime should be coming together as fully bonded. Let the slime sit for two minutes so that it gels, then stretch and knead the slime with your fingers for another few minutes. This ensures that the stickiness is gone and helps you be able to pull the slime farther when manipulating it.

After creating your slime base for your blood model, mix in several Styrofoam balls (both red and white). Sprinkle the erasers, or other straight objects, on top. Place mixture in a petri dish for some added dramatization. Then, ask students to identify what is representing the red blood cells, the white blood cells, the platelets, and the plasma. Finally, if available, have students observe their blood underneath a microscope as they reflect on what scientists may be looking for when they observe blood samples.

Pumpkin Volcano

What better way to explore chemical reactions than by using Fall’s favorite produce: the pumpkin? In this experiment students will be given a small pumpkin. They should cut the top off (or do this ahead of time for them) and hollow out the inside. Then, place vinegar, liquid dish soap, food coloring (optional), and baking soda in front of each group. Ask them to make a prediction about what will happen when they combine these ingredients together inside the pumpkin. Additionally, ask them to explain their thoughts behind their prediction.

After predictions are made, have the students fill the inside of their pumpkin about halfway with vinegar. Add a squirt of dish soap (increases the size of the eruption) and a few drops of food coloring if you choose. Stir together the liquids and then step back to watch what happens!

Once the eruption is over, the students can repeat the experiment, try it with the lid on, or test out what happens when they add less or more of the ingredients. After cleaning up, revisit the students’ predictions and explanations for what they thought they would see. See if any students knew, otherwise teach them, that when vinegar and baking soda mix, they react to form carbon dioxide bubbles. Thus, the pumpkin erupted! Reflect on what happened with any groups who altered the ingredients.

As we continue to live in a world with the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressures of catching students up academically are ever increasing. However, nearly equally important, is letting kids re-acclimate to a school environment where they feel safe, valued, and loved. By adding fun into your school days, such as with science experiments for kids such like these, students will again find their spark and joy for learning.

The post Halloween Science Experiments: Middle School appeared first on TeachHUB.

Integrating subject matter also gives students opportunities to grow in each discipline while using the same overall theme. The list of options for integration is as great as the imagination of the teachers developing the concept. Integration also allows teachers to step out of “what they have always done” with fresh, innovative ideas and concepts.

Science and Math

Integration of science and math, for the most part, is a natural collaboration. From measurements to calculations, math is used in science in most areas. Here are a couple of lesson ideas to integrate science into the math curriculum.

States of Matter

In this study, students investigate matter using a particle viewer and check off on a chart solid, liquid, or gas for different items they come in contact with. After examining all the items presented, the students can then count their tallies for each category. This allows kindergarten, first, and second grade students to organize information and interpret from their data. This can stimulate deeper learning through the asking of questions in both the science and the mathematics field. This is an excellent lower elementary activity.

Newton’s Three Laws of Motion

Explanation and study of Newton’s Laws can be fun and exciting for students. While each of the three laws are detailed and specific, the overall concept of each tends to promote interest and desire for hands-on activities within the classroom. While the gist of Newton’s Laws is taught in science, a natural carryover into the mathematics classroom is easy to integrate.

Students can take the data from experiments in science into the mathematics classroom for further study. By integrating Newton’s Laws in mathematics, students will have more questions that lead to a deeper understanding.

Science and Reading/ELA

The concept of science and reading being integrated should be an obvious marriage. If one cannot read, studying science can become difficult. Therefore, as educators, we should strive to involve reading/ELA with our science whenever possible.

The reading/ELA classroom can support science by following up on reading materials assigned and interpreting data, as well as teaching and supporting nonfiction reading skills. Further, the English teacher can encourage students to write freely about their hands-on experiences while in science. Science can support ELA by encouraging students to think critically while reading science reports, graphs, and even documentaries.

Additionally, students that need some extra work in reading can be encouraged to read science materials based on their current studies in the science classroom. The hope here is that the student will be excited to read more about what they are doing in science which in turn supports more reading for comprehension.

Science and Social Studies

The age-old question from students in social studies is: why do we have to study things about the past? Science and social studies teachers can collaborate to bring interesting discussion to both classrooms simultaneously. As science teachers teach about past scientists and others that have contributed to the field, the social studies teacher can assign research and study about those people’s pasts.

Additionally, science teachers can also expound upon how some things used to be done by others and how they are done now because of technological advancements. By collaborating, the teachers can teach about the same topic, but with several interesting variables under the subject matter they are teaching.

Science teachers and social studies teachers can also teach about cultural differences within our world today across the curriculum. Focus on science in more developed countries is more of a priority, while in some third world countries, scientific development is not pursued on the same level. Both science and social studies classrooms can explore these differences and examine why this is as a part of their lesson plan. Additionally, critical thinking towards this subject can lead to excellent discussion in both classrooms.

Science and the Arts

While science and the arts, on the surface, might not seem to yield easy opportunities for integration, they can with some vision. Integration of science and the arts can be easily attained at the elementary level. Science teachers can teach about colors and mixtures. This easily excites elementary students when you allow them to play in the paints. Critical thinking comes into play when students are asked what colors will be created by mixing two colors. This can be integrated into the art class by taking the newly developed and the base colors from the science room into the art room to create elementary masterpieces that can be displayed in classrooms, hallways, and other public areas for all to see.

Science and P.E./Health

Science, P.E., and health are natural integrators, especially in the area of movement. One such idea might be Newton’s Laws of Motion. While the concept of Newton’s Three Laws of Motion is being described and shown in the science classroom, the physical education teacher can derive ways to show those laws in everyday movement. Also, a science and health lesson that describes the importance of exercise and movement would be easy for integration.

It is important to note that integrating across the curriculum in all subjects is crucial for driving deeper learning. When this is done, students tend to be excited about the subject area and the fact they are learning from different perspectives. Integrated teaching also promotes positive teacher collaboration.

*Updated October 2021

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