Get your students excited for the solar eclipse with these materials.
Materials for the solar eclipse including explanation, map, myths, and vocabulary.
This set was created to help you celebrate the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
About the eclipse
Eclipses have fascinated humans for millennia. They occur with the sun, Earth, and moon align. Specifically, when the moon blocks the sun’s light.
On April 8th, a path of people in the United States will experience this occurrence. This isn’t an ordinary event. It’s a total solar eclipse.
This eclipse is special for several reasons. It falls on a path across the U.S. All in the path of totality will experience near-total darkness midday. An eerie, twilight-like atmosphere will envelop them. This will last for a couple of minutes.
April’s eclipse is part of a larger cycle. It’s called the Saros cycle. This cycle repeats every 18 years, 11 days. But, each eclipse is unique. Weather and location greatly affect the experience. For Indiana, the timing couldn’t be better. The eclipse will occur in early afternoon. This provides optimal viewing conditions.
Safety is crucial during an eclipse. Never look directly at the sun. Use proper eclipse glasses. Or, project an image of the eclipse. This ensures a safe viewing experience.
Printables for learning about the Solar Eclipse
- About a solar eclipse: This page gives an explanation of a solar eclipse along with a diagram
- United States map: Students can research and draw the path of totality on the map
- Diagram: this page can be used for labeling and adding important notes to
- The Dragon that Eats the Sun
- The Hidden Sun
- Eclipse myths research: There are two versions of this page, one has lines and one does not. Students can research to learn about myths about eclipses from different cultures.
- Lined papers: This can be used for students to write their own myths or for any other eclipse writing.
- Eclipse vocabulary: This page contains words solar eclipse, corona, umbra, penumbra, and totality. You can print these on card stock and use at a center for students to sort.
You can download this set here:
You have permission to copy and use the materials for your classroom or homeschool. You may not sell any of these resources. You may not change and sell any of these resources.