Listen ya’ll for the past year or so, I have been excitedly waiting for the first solar first total solar eclipse in 99 years that will sweep across the USA on Monday, August 21.
What I’m most excited about is that our 9 year old will be old enough to understand the magnitude of this phenomenon! It’s when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth lineup. The Moon, directly between the Sun and Earth, casts a shadow on our planet. Here in South Carolina we will be in the dark part of that shadow (the umbra), you’ll see a total eclipse!
I’ve already bought our solar eclipse glasses (aff. link) and since there is no school on that day I will be staying with little one at home!
![Image source](http://<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tse20170821path.png">Creative Commons </a>){kind=link}
The total solar eclipse will come through Oregon and leave through South Carolina! Can I get a woot! woot!
In preparation for this total eclipse I have planned some fun activities for my 9 year old. However, if you’re living in a state where the eclipse will be passing through check your local areas for events or you can call your local astronomy club, planetarium, or science center. I’m choosing to stay home because they are calling for huge crowds over the weekend as people from all over the world are flocking to these states.
Here are some activities you can do with your kids:
- Read all about the safety tips on NASA’s Eclipse 101. Here you’ll find exactly when the eclipse will start, and when it’s safe to take the eclipse glasses off. You can also download NASA’s total eclipse kit here.
- Have your kids play earth, and space sciences games. You’ll have to register here (I registered as a homeschooler).
I’m all about hands-on activities and/or crafts!
- Have them make a solar eclipse craft from Books and Giggles.
- If you don’t have the eclipse glasses make a pinhole camera.
- For little ones this coffee filter solar eclipse craft is sure to be a hit from Look We’re Learning!
- A total solar eclipse painted paper plates from JDaniel4’s Mom.
- This Do-It-Yourself Solar Eclipse! is another fun activity to do with the kids.
- Have the kids learn the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.
- Download a solar and lunar eclipse worksheet for the older kids.
- Use cookies to explain the total lunar eclipse and moon lesson idea.
Will you be in the path of the total solar eclipse?