Are scholars in the dark about eclipses? Shed some light on the subject! Learners explore the sun-moon-Earth system with an interactive lesson from PBS's Space series. Teaching materials include a printable passage, discussion questions, and helpful teaching tips.

Concepts

eclipses, lunar eclipse, solar eclipses, the earth, the sun, the moon, the full moon, the new moon, orbiting, the earth's orbit

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Open class by asking learners to write down why they think eclipses happen, or sketch what happens during a lunar or solar eclipse
• Have individuals share personal eclipse experiences
  

Classroom Considerations

• Plan a quick review of moon phases before beginning the lesson, as this knowledge is crucial to understanding eclipses
  

Pros

• The non-visual support materials ensure all students have access to the lesson in multiple forms
• Concise explanations make the activity perfect for homework or review
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.2