Anatomy of a Solar Eclipse
Spotlight on Strategies - EDIM 508
Background
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the definition and process of a solar eclipse. This lesson is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards - Earth's Place in the Universe, 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. The K-W-L strategy will be used to teach the shadow components of the eclipse (umbra and penumbra) along with the cyclic patterns of the eclipse. The K-W-L strategy will help to facilitate science learning by activating students' prior knowledge (K - what I KNOW), students will construct questions of personal interest to focus attention during reading (W - what I WANT to know), and summarizing and reflecting on what was learned and how the questions were answered (L - what I LEARNED). Students will record results on the K-W-L chart provided. After the lesson, students will discuss the ideas and questions with classmates and write a reflection by answering, "What questions do I still have?" This will help the teacher to identify if students mastered the concept and if any information is still lacking.
Example
- This drawing of a solar eclipse image will show the detailed list of components that students will be able to study:
http://astronomy.starrynight.com/media-gallery/detail/166/1301
- This image shows an actual solar eclipse in the full eclipse phase:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/amodiovalerioverde/275264321/in/photolist-qjNuz-pkme9h-pvhcLW-qL2GwC-c2zbpW-rH9zX9-rqQHQH-rqJbmy-6GZvis-dt8fYp-rLdUBr-rqFcfn-pvoihv-rET9Ts-rqN1nC-rxyZBm-97oWwt-rF4R8f-c2VehL-rGPqu9-qKTvzU-rGQNK2-c2REkS-rGRcNx-97pB6c-c2zhk9-uRQK54-dt8sTY-qL2GWq-c2PSQN-rH26s7-rqE56J-qLmHTh-rqkE31-bzHgc-c2RvQL-rqD4nx-rqiWHC-rF4Qdj-rEAXkj-qKYHvC-97tbQG-dt8sMU-6Hk3z4-97qrb7-c2BBgU-97c8GH-pvsjHm-c2Ctph-rF5cDL
- This video portrays an animated video of a solar eclipse. It has narration plus closed captioning for students that need the additional accommodation:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.eiu.totaleclipse/total-solar-eclipse-animation/
- This video has no narration but script with questions asked throughout the video as the solar eclipse process is explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1B3RLf1A1s
- Students will listen to a song about solar eclipses that will appeal to the musical multiple intelligence:
- Students will play a game that reinforces the components of a solar eclipse:
http://www.softschools.com/science/space/solar_eclipse_games/
Challenge
Credits/Citations
K-W-L Chart - ReadWriteThink. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2015, from http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/printouts/chart-a-30226.html
Study Guides and Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2015, from http://www.studygs.net/texred3.htm