Something very special will be happening in the sky on Monday, April 8th, 2024! It’s a solar eclipse – a truly magical event that we won’t experience again for 25 years! At The Summit, students and teachers are gearing up for an exciting adventure into space! They’re learning all about solar eclipses through hands-on exploration. It’s learning at its best!
But it’s not just about fun – students are also diving into the science behind the eclipse. They’re discovering why the sun, moon, and Earth line up just right to create this incredible shadow show. They are learning that a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight from reaching the Earth. This happens during the New Moon phase when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun. From the perspective of an observer on Earth, the Moon appears to cover the Sun completely, casting a shadow on certain regions of the Earth’s surface. We are lucky that Monday’s eclipse will cast a shadow right over our area! The Springfield area will be covered by greater than 90% totality. Check out the map below to see which cities are best for viewing the eclipse!
Today, Kindergarten, first and second graders worked together to paint eclipse shirts! Older students helped younger ones create their projects before making their own. Not only do our t-shirts depict what the eclipse will look like, they also glow in the dark! We will wear them at school on Friday, and then students will bring their shirts home to wear as they view the eclipse on Monday. We will continue to explore the eclipse through books, writing, experiments, videos and songs as the week goes on!
