Southeast Polk Community Schools: Preparing for the Solar Eclipse

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Preparing for the Solar Eclipse

The second part of an eclipse 'double-header' will be occurring on Monday, April 8th. The first one was on October 14, 2023 (annular or 'ring of fire' eclipse). The eclipse on Monday will be a total eclipse. This is a great opportunity to inspire curiosity and interest in earth and space science as well as deepen understanding of the science standards. Today's blog includes educational resources from our PK-12 Science Coordinator, Jim Pifer, and precautions to take to make sure that those who do observe the eclipse do so safely.

Iowa Core Science Standards

1-ESS1-1. Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.

5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.

MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons

HS-ESS1-4. Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.