ECLIPSES

S T E M

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

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Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5
Activity Page ▶ page 6
Practice Page ▶ pages 7 – 8
GRADE Homework Page
Answer Key
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page 9
page 10
 Classroom Procedure: Lesson Title: Eclipses: STEM Model

1. Begin by sharing the variable phrase sy+zy+gy. Explain Subject: Science

to students the variables each represent one of the celestial Approximate Grade Level: 4 – 6
objects that comprise an eclipse. Ask what celestial objects
Objectives: Students will define/explain an
are in sy+zy+gy with an eclipse. eclipse and identify the difference between a
2. While reading the content pages, reinforce vocabulary, solar and lunar eclipse. Students will create
a model of an eclipse, including the relative
and give students additional examples of Eclipses. Use the position of the sun, moon, and earth.
Additional Resources to enhance understanding.
State Educational Standards*
3. Introduce notes on Eclipses. NGSS.3-LS4-4, NGSS.5-ESS1-2, &
NGSS.MS-ESS1-3
4. Read these instructions or the directions on the Activity
page with students. Have each student get a Styrofoam ball Class Sessions (45 minutes): 3
on a stick, preferably the same size styrofoam ball. Place Teaching Materials/Worksheets: Eclipses
a lamp in the middle of the room on a desk to be about the Content Pages (2), Activity Page (1), Practice
same height as the students. Make the room as dark as Pages (2), Homework Pages (2)
possible. Turn on the lamp and remove the shade. Have Student Supplies: Pencils, pens, highlighters,
students hold their ball at arm’s length and move it around (For creating the model) Flashlight, Ruler,
their head to model the rotation of the moon. Have them Ball of clay, Orange or orange ball similar in
move the ball until it blocks their view of the lamp to create size to an orange, Styrofoam balls in assorted
a solar eclipse. Then have students put their ball on the sizes, and dowel rods or sticks (18 to 24 inches
in length)
opposite side to make a lunar eclipse.
Prepare Ahead of Time: Copies of
5. Distribute the Practice page. Check and review the worksheets, Styrofoam ball with a stick for
students’ responses as a class. each student, a Lamp without shade.
6. Distribute the Homework page. Have students share Options for Lesson: Visit a local planetarium
their drawings at the beginning of the next class to reinforce or science museum to see a solar eclipse. Show
their understanding. students a video of a real solar and lunar eclipse.
Create moon phases with Oreos. Order eclipse
7. In closing, ask students to share why it is important glasses for students to have during the next
to wear special glasses when looking at an eclipse. What eclipse. Create a classroom calendar that marks
the phases of the moon and highlights the next
has to happen for an eclipse to occur? Are eclipses rare or
eclipse. Throw an eclipse party in the classroom
frequent events? Why can some people in one part of the and create cereal box camera obscuras.
world see an eclipse and other people located in a different
part of the world cannot? How often do eclipses occur? *Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
Allow for responses and discussion. your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.

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 Teacher Notes
In this lesson, students learn about what happens when the earth, moon, and sun align. They learn about
solar and lunar eclipses through two hands-on experiments to demonstrate shadows. Students will also
solidify their knowledge by creating their own drawings of both types of eclipses. The lesson is a hands-on
STEM lesson designed to supplement the Clarendon Lesson, Eclipses.

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Eclipses: What is an eclipse?
An eclipse occurs when one celestial body (moon or
planet) moves into the shadow of another celestial
body. There are two ways an eclipse can happen:

1. One object goes in front

of the other 2. One object casts a shadow
over another object

An eclipse requires three objects to be in alignment with one another. This is called sy+zy+gy. Remember
that we live on planet Earth, so everything is from a human’s perspective and position on the earth! An
eclipse looks much different from space or standing on a different planet.
Two main types of eclipses can be observed from Earth: lunar and solar. In a solar eclipse, the moon is
between the sun and the earth. In a lunar eclipse, Earth is between the sun and the moon.

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Eclipses: What is an eclipse?
What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon, and earth are perfectly aligned. The moon blocks light from
the sun and casts a shadow on Earth. The small moon can block out the large sun because the moon is
much closer to the earth, making it appear more prominent to the eye. The eclipse is visible to anybody
within this shadow.

A solar eclipse can be either total or partial.

• Total solar eclipse = The sun, moon, and earth are perfectly aligned, and the moon covers the entire
disc of the sun.
• Partial solar eclipse = The sun, moon and earth are not perfectly aligned, so only part of the sun is
covered by the moon.
The moon’s shadow during an eclipse has three main parts:

1. Umbra: 2. Penumbra: 3. Antumbra:

Portion of the moon’s shadow Area of the shadow where only a Area of the shadow beyond the
where the moon completely portion of the moon is in front of point of the umbra where the
covers the sun the sun outline of the sun can be seen
around the shadow of the moon

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Eclipses: What is an eclipse?
There are three types of eclipses depending upon what part of the shadow you are standing in.
Remember that everyone is in a different part of the eclipse because we are all located somewhere
different on the planet.

1. Total: 2. Annular: 3. Partial:

Where the sun is entirely When the moon covers the sun When only a portion of the sun
covered by the moon in the but the sun can be seen around is blocked by the moon is the
umbra the edges of the moon In the penumbra
antumbra

WARNING! Never look directly at a solar eclipse! The

rays of the sun can damage your eyes, even though it appears
dark. You should always wear special glasses to look directly at a
solar eclipse.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth comes between the sun and the moon and part of or all of the moon
is shaded by Earth. Lunar eclipses can be seen by anybody on Earth for whom the moon is above the
horizon, which makes them much more common than solar eclipses. In fact, lunar eclipses happen about
5 times a year. And you don’t have to wear special glasses to see them!
Lunar eclipses has two of the same shadow parts as a solar eclipse, but they are never totally dark. The
moon will still reflect some of the sunlight, and sometimes the refracted light appears red in color.

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Follow the directions by your teacher or with a partner, follow the directions below.
Make sure you have your Styrofoam ball on a stick!

1. Place a styrofoam ball on a stick. Have a flashlight handy to help you navigate in the room when the
lights are turned off.
2. In the center of the room, place a lamp without a shade on it. Turn the light on the lamp on. The lamp
should be approximately the same height as the students in the classroom.
3. Turn off the lights and darken any areas where light may be shining through. Make the room as dark as
possible.
4. When your teacher tells you, walk to the lamp in the middle of the room.
5. Turn on the lamp.
6. Hold your stick with the styrofoam ball at arm’s length and move it around your head to model the
rotation of the moon.
7. Move the ball until it blocks their view of the lamp to create a solar eclipse.
8. Then put the ball on the opposite side to make a lunar eclipse.

How does this model explain how a solar and lunar eclipse work?
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Have a student observe the experiment from a different part of the room. How does changing your
position change what you observe?
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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Make sure you have collected your supplies. Follow the instructions.
SUPPLIES

Flashlight, Orange, Clay, Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Roll the clay into a ball.
2. Put the orange and clay ball 8 inches apart in a line on your desk. Measure using the ruler.
3. Stand 2 feet away (use the ruler!) from the desk.
4. Darken the room. Hold the flashlight at the same level as the orange and clay ball on the desk.
5. Shine the light from behind the clay ball.
6. Observe the shadow on the orange.

Which object is the earth, moon, and sun?

Earth = __________________
Moon = __________________
Sun = __________________

Explain what happened in the experiment?

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 Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Make sure you have collected your supplies. Follow the instructions.
SUPPLIES

Flashlight, Orange, Clay, Ruler

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Roll the clay into a ball.
2. Put the orange and clay ball 8 inches apart in a line on your desk. Measure using the ruler.
3. Stand 2 feet away (use the ruler!) from the desk.
4. Darken the room. Hold the flashlight at the same level as the orange and clay ball on the desk.
5. Shine the light from behind the clay ball.
6. Observe the shadow on the orange.

Which object is the earth, moon, and sun?

Earth = Orange
Moon = Clay
Sun = Flashlight

Explain what happened in the experiment?

Sample answer: When the moon blocks the sun’s light, it casts a shadow on the earth.________________
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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Draw a picture of a solar eclipse using two celestial bodies.

Draw a picture of a lunar eclipse using two celestial bodies.

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 Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Draw a picture of a solar eclipse using two celestial bodies.

Students can choose to be creative and draw a rocket ship, comet, alien space craft, etc.

Draw a picture of a lunar eclipse using two celestial bodies.

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