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Eclipse Lesson Plan

The document outlines a lesson plan for grades 3-8 to teach students about eclipses by having them explore BrainPOP resources, make a concept map, and then construct their own pinhole cameras to safely view a solar eclipse. Students will learn what causes lunar and solar eclipses, why looking at the sun is dangerous, and how to make a pinhole camera to project the solar eclipse's image. The lesson aligns with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards and provides materials, procedures, and an extension activity.

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Lor Yen
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172 views

Eclipse Lesson Plan

The document outlines a lesson plan for grades 3-8 to teach students about eclipses by having them explore BrainPOP resources, make a concept map, and then construct their own pinhole cameras to safely view a solar eclipse. Students will learn what causes lunar and solar eclipses, why looking at the sun is dangerous, and how to make a pinhole camera to project the solar eclipse's image. The lesson aligns with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards and provides materials, procedures, and an extension activity.

Uploaded by

Lor Yen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Eclipse Lesson

Plan: Make a
Pinhole Camera
Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8
In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 3-8, students explore BrainPOP
resources to learn about what an eclipse is and what causes them. Then
they’ll make their own pinhole cameras (activity adapted from NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory) so that they can view a solar eclipse safely.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Lesson Plan Next Generation Science Standards Alignments

Students will:
1. Brainstorm what they know about eclipses.
2. Develop a concept map that identifies what an eclipse is, what causes a
lunar and solar eclipse, etc.
3. Identify why it is dangerous to look at the Sun and ways to look at a
solar eclipse safely.
4. Make a pinhole camera.

Materials:
 Internet access for BrainPOP
 Interactive whiteboard
 2 pieces of white card stock for each student
 Aluminum foil
 Tape
 Pin or paper clip for each student

Vocabulary:
atmosphere, eclipse, filter, lunar, orbit, solar, umbra

Preparation:
Preview the movie Eclipse to plan for any adaptations.

Lesson Procedure:
1. Display a KWL chart on the white board. Ask students what they know
about eclipses. You may want to prompt them by asking them under
what conditions they appear. Write their responses in the K column.
2. Tell students that today they will learn all about eclipses -- what they
are, the difference between solar and lunar eclipses, what causes them,
and why it’s important not to look directly at an eclipse. Ask what they
hope to learn about eclipses. Write their responses in the W column.
3. Show the Eclipse on an interactive whiteboard or other large display for
the whole class.
4. Now working either independently, have students open the Make-a-
Map feature within the movie. As they watch, have them construct a
concept map that identifies what eclipses are, what causes them to
appear, the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse, why they are
dangerous to look at directly, etc.
5. After everyone has watched the movie and completed the concept map,
distribute the following: 2 pieces of white card stock, aluminum foil,
tape, and pin or paperclip. Tell students they will now make their own
pinhole cameras so they can safely watch the next eclipse.
6. Have students follow these instructions:
 Cut a square hole in the center of one piece of the card
stock.
 Tape a piece of aluminum foil over the hole.
 Poke a small hole in the aluminum foil using the pin or
paper clip.
7. Try it out! Bring the class outside and model how to use the pinhole
camera. Put the uncut piece of cardstock on the ground and hold the
one with the foil above it with the foil facing up. Stand with the sun
behind you and view the projected image on the card stock below.
Show them how to enlarge the projected image by holding the camera
farther away. To define the projection, put the bottom card stock in a
shadowed area while holding the foil piece in the sunlight.

Extension Activities:
Invite students to poke more holes in the foil and see what happens. They’ll
discover that the holes create different shapes, patterns, and other cool
designs. Help them recognize that each hole turns into its own projection of
the eclipse.

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