Current:Home > StocksA family's guide to the total solar eclipse: Kids activities, crafts, podcast parties and more -Elevate Capital Network
A family's guide to the total solar eclipse: Kids activities, crafts, podcast parties and more
NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-10 16:29:04
Some lucky children will be able to catch a total solar eclipse April 8 alongside their parents in an incredible event that will not present itself again until 2044.
Families in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont New Hampshire and Maine, according to NASA, will have the opportunity to experience the moment when the moon completely blocks the sun. Families in parts of Tennessee and Michigan may also experience its full effect.
With many schools closing across the U.S. on the day of the eclipse, parents are left looking for ways to keep their kids busy, but also, ideas on how to make the day fun.
We've gathered some stellar leads, but first, a little on how to talk to kids about what to expect.
Solar eclipse information for kids
Michelle Nichols, director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago shares an easy way to explain the event to kids.
“At its very simplest, when the moon gets in between the Earth and the sun, and the moon appears to pass over the sun as seen from Earth, then we get a solar eclipse,” Nichols told Scientific American.
“If the moon partially covers the sun, we call it a partial solar eclipse. If it completely covers the sun, we call it a total solar eclipse.”
Other information that may be fun for older kids to digest would be how the solar eclipse phenomenon differs from the "new moon," Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist and senior education manager at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, told Scientific American.
The two are similar, yes, but the moon's orbit around the Earth "is not completely lined up with our planet’s orbit around the sun," Faherty said. It is actually tilted by about five degrees, so "when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, the three bodies are out of alignment."
"The moon doesn’t block the sun, and the shadow of the moon cast by the sun lands in space instead of on Earth’s surface."
Solar eclipse activities for kids
There were some creative ideas that surfaced during the 2017 solar eclipse that more families are trying out this time around. Here are some of the best.
Make a pinhole viewer
The Boy Scouts of America have an idea for how to get kids excited about the eclipse. Why not personalize a viewing box for the event?
You will need:
- A small box with a lid
- A small piece of aluminum foil
- A small sheet of white paper
- A utility knife or hobby knife
- Tape
- A needle or sharpened pencil
- Some art supplies to decorate your box
For instructions on how to make the pinhole viewer, visit Scout Life Magazine.
Create sun prints
Scholastic has a fun art project kids can engage in ahead of the eclipse.
"Human eyes can’t see ultraviolet light, but using construction paper, kids can create sun prints to see for themselves how the sun’s powerful UV rays break down dyes and bleach paper," Scholastic shares.
You will need:
- Colorful construction paper
- Clear plastic wrap, or a large piece of plexiglass
- Leaves, flowers, or other flat items
- Small rocks to use as weights
For instructions on how to create your sun print, visit Scholastic's blog.
Recreate a solar eclipse at home
A fun way to keep your kids busy and also increase their understanding around how a solar eclipse works is by creating your own eclipse at home.
Multiple parenting blogs suggest using an inflatable earth, tennis ball (or ball of a similar size), and a flashlight to experience an in-home solar eclipse.
Follow NASA's interactive map
Know the exact time the eclipse will pass over you by tracking it using NASA's eclipse map.
You will be able to see when the eclipse begins, when it will get to you and how much of the Sun will be covered during the event.
"Wow In The World": The Great Solar Eclipse Party Podcast
Another way to celebrate the event is with a fun podcast episode for the entire family to enjoy. The "Wow In The World" special eclipse episode will be available April 1 on the Wondery app and wherever you get your podcasts.
In the special episode, “The Great Solar Eclipse Party,” hosts of the show, Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, plan an eclipse celebration for their special friends. They explore the basic physics behind the event and discuss ways to stay safe while observing it. The party ends with a song called "Eclipse Party" by a kid band called "Moon 5."
"Wow In The World" is a the #1 science podcast for kids and their grown-ups, according to the show.
Solar eclipse glasses:Everything you need to know, including where to get them
Kids eclipse glasses
Amazon has plenty of options for solar eclipse glasses for kids. Including some really cool plastic pairs that look more like sunglasses and come in fun colors.
My Science Shop has wraparound solar glasses for smaller heads at risk of having them fall off, and Lunt Solar Systems has a really creative paper pack of four glasses for kids to enjoy.
veryGood! (58429)
Related
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- NCAA Tournament South Region predictions for group full of favorites and former champions
- U.S. government charter flight to evacuate Americans from Haiti, as hunger soars: There are a lot of desperate people
- Authorities had cause to take Maine gunman into custody before mass shooting, commission finds
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Rewilding Japan With Clearings in the Forest and Crowdfunding Campaigns
- Ohio State officially announces Jake Diebler as men’s basketball head coach
- Stanley Tucci’s Exclusive Cookware Collection Is So Gorgeous, You’ll Even Want Your Kitchen to Match
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Connecticut back at No. 1 in last USA TODAY Sports men's basketball before the NCAA Tournament
Ranking
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
- William calls Kate the arty one amid photo scandal, as he and Harry keep their distance at Princess Diana event
- NC State completes miracle run, punches March Madness ticket with first ACC title since 1987
- 1 dead, 5 injured in Indianapolis bar shooting; police search for suspects
- Average rate on 30
- For ESPN announcers on MLB's Korea series, pandemic memories come flooding back
- Authorities had cause to take Maine gunman into custody before mass shooting, commission finds
- As more states target disavowed ‘excited delirium’ diagnosis, police groups push back
Recommendation
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
NBA star Stephen Curry discusses how his new children's book inspires confidence: Find the courage
Brenda Song Shares Rare Insight Into Family Life With Macaulay Culkin
Shakira put her music career 'on hold' for Gerard Piqué: 'A lot of sacrifice for love'
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Michigan woman shot in face by stepdad is haunted in dreams, tortured with hypotheticals
Jon Bon Jovi says he's 'not in contact' with Richie Sambora despite upcoming documentary on band
Biden campaign has amassed $155M in cash on hand for 2024 campaign and raised $53M last month