March 19-25, 2015, Current Events Lesson Plan
Current Event: Solar Eclipse Ushers in Spring in Europe
On March 20, 2015, the first day of spring, a solar eclipse crept over much of Europe and parts of Africa and Asia. Most people in Europe and Africa experienced a partial solar eclipse, with the moon only covering part of the sun. A total solar eclipse, wherein the moon covers the entire sun, can be seen only in the path of totality, the path along which the moon’s shadow passes across Earth. For the recent solar eclipse, the Faroe Islands and Svalbard in the North Atlantic Ocean were in the path of totality. This solar eclipse was particularly special because it occurred on the same day as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. An equinox is either of two moments each year when the sun is directly above Earth’s equator. Because cycles in astronomy often act within other cycles, the next eclipse on an equinox will come on March 20, 2034.
Objective:
An eclipse occurs when the shadow of one object in space falls on another object or when one object moves in front of another to block its light. A solar eclipse takes place when the moon’s shadow sweeps across the face of the earth. People in the path of the shadow see a total eclipse if the moon completely blots out the sun. A total solar eclipse is one of nature’s most impressive sights. The dark moon appears on the western edge of the sun and moves slowly across the sun. At the moment of total eclipse, a brilliant halo flashes into view around the darkened sun. This halo is the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. The sky remains blue but darkens. Some bright stars and planets may become visible from the earth. After a few minutes, the sun reappears as the moon moves off to the east. A total solar eclipse can be seen only in certain parts of the world. These areas lie in the path of totality,which is never wider than about 170 miles (274 kilometers). The Behind the Headlines news story and related World Book articles explore various astronomical phenomena.
Words to know:
Discussion Topics:
1. The last total solar eclipse to occur on the spring equinox was in 1662. Ask your students to name some people who were alive in the 1600’s. (Students might say Johann Sebastian Bach, Oliver Cromwell, Rene Descartes, Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Louis XIV, Sir Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal, Pocahontas, Rembrandt, William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift.)
2. Ask your students to debate, “Astronomy is the most interesting school subject.”
3. The next time an eclipse occurs on an equinox will be in 2034. Ask your students how they think our lives will be different in 19 years.
4. Ask your students to use World Book’s Timelines feature to view or add to the Advances in Astronomy timeline. (Students may wish to use the history section of World Book’s “Astronomy” article for help.)