In just a few days, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, a rare event that won’t happen here for another 20 years! Even if you’re not in the path of totality (the area of shadow due to the moon passing directly in front of the sun), you can still have an amazing experience observing the partial eclipse.
Here are some ideas and activities for experiencing this incredible celestial event!
1. Make a pinhole viewer to view the eclipse
Pinhole cameras have been used for over a century to project images of objects. When it comes to the solar eclipse, pinhole cameras (and viewers) are a safe way to see the actual shape of the sun without directly looking at it (don’t do that!)
With a pinhole camera, light enters a small hole in a piece of paper, piece of cardboard or a box. When light from the sun enters the pinhole, it gets focused, is projected out of the other side of the hole, and reaches another surface. Once it reaches this surface, you’ll see a miniature (and upside down) projected image of the sun.
2. Make a solar eclipse flipbook
Here’s a fun way to see the progression of the solar eclipse, step by step! Just cut out the pages (there are two for each phase), stack them in order, bind them on the left-hand side with a binder clip, and flip away.
(Check out my Moon Phases Flipbook, too!)
3. Read about past eclipses that influenced history
Have you ever wondered what people centuries ago used to think when the mid-day sky suddenly turned dark? Or when the moon turned blood-red during a total lunar eclipse?
Read about past eclipses that inspired fear and even helped armies win battles.
4. View tiny eclipses through a colander
For a super simple yet satisfying way to safely view the solar eclipse, try this cool trick:
Grab a colander (the kind for straining pasta) and go outside during the eclipse, with your back to the sun. Hold the colander over a blank stretch of sidewalk, driveway or even a piece of cardboard. The holes in the colander will act as tiny pinhole cameras and you’ll see dozens of mini projections!
(Sorry, this won’t work if it’s cloudy!)
5. Draw the total eclipse with chalk
All you need for this activity is black construction paper and chalk (or chalk pastels). First, make a circle template by tracing a round object (like a bowl) onto a regular piece of printer paper. Cut out the paper and tape it to the black construction paper. With the chalk, outline the shape of the circle onto the black paper. Then use your finger to press and blend the chalk to create the sun’s corona. Remove the paper circle template and you’re finished!
6. Use a disco ball to view the eclipse
For a spectacular way to view the eclipse, simply hold or hang a disco ball up in direct sunlight. You should see lots of dazzling projections of the solar eclipse swirling all around you!
7. Keep track of the eclipse stages
Document the timeline of the solar eclipse where you are by tracking its phases!
Want a FREE Solar Eclipse Coloring Page? Download it for free!
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