On April 8, 2024 there will be a total solar eclipse visible from North America. We’re excited here because we’re very close to the path of totality. If you’re not, I’ve heard that the sight is so breath-taking and memorable that it really is worth the trip. Here are books and activities to help you get the most out of this event.
The eclipse will take a diagonal path, beginning in Mexico and traveling up to Maine. The photo above is from the Great American Eclipse website. I’ve found them to be a great resource on eclipses, so you might want to check out their site with your child.
Solar Eclipse Activities
- Learn about eclipses from Nasa.
- Watch this short video explaining annular and total solar eclipses.
- Model an eclipse with a flashlight and two balls representing the moon and the earth.
- Make a DIY Pinhole Projector.
- Make an “eclipse in a cup” to show how the sun, moon, and earth need to line up perfectly for an eclipse.
- During the eclipse, observe shadows underneath trees. (The leaves act as a pinhole projector.)
Solar Eclipses Books
Here are some books to help you learn more about eclipses.
A Few Beautiful Minutes by Kate Allen Fox is lovely and highlights the beauty of a solar eclipse, including little details like the crescent shadows found under trees and what animals’ reactions are to eclipses.
You may not want to get Total Eclipse or Bust: A 2024 Family Road Trip by Franklyn Mansfield Branley unless you’re prepared to travel to see the eclipse. We read the 2015 version, which I’m assuming is largely the same. In it, the author says that the difference between partial totality and totality is the difference between seeing an ice cream cone and eating an ice cream cone.
Other Books on Eclipses
- Eclipse Chase: Science in the Moon’s Shadow by Ilima Loomis
- When the Sun Goes Dark by Andrew Fraknoi
- Eclipse: Darkness in Daytime by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
- The Sun, the Moon, and the Eclipse by Marie Gracie (This book looks delightful! I’m really disappointed that this is the one book my library doesn’t have.)
- Eclipse: How the 1919 Solar Eclipse Proved Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity by Darcy Pattison
Don’t forget to have eclipse glasses on hand to safely view an eclipse. These need to be worn up to and after totality. During totality you can take them off. This can last up to four minutes and twenty-seven seconds for the April eclipse.
Where are you in the path of the eclipse? Would you consider traveling so that you are within the path of totality?
We were a 2 hour drive from the path of totality last time and I was thinking, “We’re close enough. It’ll be just as good.” But over if my kids REALLY wanted to see the total eclipse so we made the drive. It was so amazing! Absolutely worth the trip, and I immediately marked down the date of the next one because I definitely wanted to do that again! This year, it’ll pass even closer – we have to drive about 45 minutes to get into the zone – so we’ll absolutely see it.
Thanks for sharing and encouraging others to make the trip!
How can we find out where to be in Zone at?
Hi! Did you click through to the Great American Eclipse Website? They have so much good information.