• The "Great American Solar Eclipse" will be viewable (weather permitting) from sites in WCCUSD on Monday August 21, 2017 from 9:01am to 11:37am.  From our vantage point in California, the moon will cover about 80% of the sun at its maximum at 10:15am. 

    summary  

    August 21 Total Solar Eclipse Fact Sheet (downloadable 2-sided pdf from www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov)

    fact sheet preview

    What is a solar eclipse?

    • The moon will pass directly between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the surface of Earth.
    • From Earth, we will see the moon pass in front of the sun.
    • The distance to the moon is about 1/400 the distance to the sun, and the diameter of the sun is about 400x the diameter of the moon, so in a total eclipse, the sun and moon appear exactly the same size.
    • Though the moon passes between the sun and Earth about once every month, its orbit is tilted, and it is usually a little above or below our view of the sun.

    solar eclipse model

     

    NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!!!

    Some options for safe solar eclipse viewing:

    • special eclipse glasses (sunglasses are not enough!)

              eclipse glasses

    • card with small hole in it, a distance from screen

              basic pinhole projector

    • look on the ground at the shadowns from a colander, or tree leaves, or crossed fingers, etc.

              through tree leaves

              crossed fingers

    Online Resources: 

    Our view from the East Bay:  https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/berkeley

    Eclipse simulation based on zip code (from www.time.com)

    Path of August 21 eclipse across United States (from www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov)

             eclipse2017USmap

    "Eclipse: Who? What? Where? When? How?" (from www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov)

    Eclipse Basics (from www.greatamericaneclipse.com)

    The three shadows of an eclipse: Umbra, Penumbra, Antumbra  (from www.timeanddate.com)

    Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)  MS-ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe

     

    Lessons and Concepts 

    Elementary

    • MYSTERYscience lesson  Short videos with discussion questions.
    • Explore size and distance. The moon is much smaller than both Earth and the sun. How can it block out our view of the sun? Explore using a ping pong ball and basketball. Can you block your view of a basketball using only a ping pong ball?
    • Sketch and label a diagram of a solar eclipse.  How does it look from Earth? How might it look from outer space?
    • How might the animal and plant world respond to a solar eclipse?

    Secondary

    • Modeling:  Sketch and label a diagram of a solar eclipse.  How does it look from Earth?  How might Earth look from outer space?
    • Asking Questions:  The moon orbits Earth about once every month.  Why isn't there an eclipse every month?
    • Compare and contrast:  What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?  Graphic Organizer
    • Ratios and Modeling:  Compare the ratios of size and distance for the moon and the sun. What relationship do you see? Can you create a model to demonstrate the relationship?
    • Social Sciences:  Explore beliefs, mythology, and superstitions about eclipses of other cultures, both in modern and historical times.
    • Physics:  How does a pinhole camera work?  How does light (and the image) travel through the pinhole and onto a screen?
    • Life:  How might the animal and plant world respond to a solar eclipse?