The August 21 total solar eclipse will be a rare and special day.
It will also be a school day. Unlike Metro schools, which decided to close, Williamson County Schools decided to stay in session for the eclipse.
Tim Gaddis, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, explained why at a back-to-school media session.
“We really do believe our students are going to get the best possible experience of the solar eclipse,” he said.
All of students grades 1 through 12 are going to be outdoors for it. They will all have eclipse glasses.
“Our teachers across the district in every school are planning activities around the eclipse they are tying it to our science curriculum,” Gaddis said.
Despite much of Williamson County sitting south of the path of the total eclipse, he said the district has not heard from many parents planning to take their children out of school for the event.
While not in the path of a total eclipse, the county will still see a partial one.
WCS has also moved a few things around to fit in time for students to learn about the eclipse this week.
For example, every February Lipscomb Elementary holds a Science Week in conjunction with its PTO. This year, they have moved Science Week to this week to tie in with the eclipse. Students of all grade levels at Lipscomb will participate in a variety of projects to learn about the eclipse.
Kindergarten students will examine how solar power can be used to create images. Students will use everyday objects and solar-sensitive paper to create images. Students then will discuss their observations.
First graders will demonstrate the revolution of the moon around the earth and the effect of its direct alignment in between the earth and the sun, using lamp and Styrofoam balls/foam balls and further understand the position of the moon and how that causes the Eclipse. Also use construction papers for a demonstration.
Second graders will demonstrate how the Eclipse happens by building an Eclipse model with Styrofoam balls and test its effects with a flashlight. Students will be challenged to align the balls correctly to see its effects.
Third graders will build their own advanced replica of the Solar Eclipse using Styrofoam balls, foam boards and flashlight to see the effects.
Fourth graders will learn about the Solar Eclipse and build their own custom “Lunar Lander”(a vehicle) to protect their space cadet marshmallows from being ejected from their spacecraft and land safely in space and Fifth graders will create a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse, and learn more about why the moon appears differently from one night to the next. Students will learn why a solar eclipse was used to demonstrate that, extreme gravity can bend light using two different kinds of balls for a demonstration.
An eclipse viewing will take place at Lipscomb Elementary as well.
At Summit High School, teachers will provide information and activities on the solar eclipse during the school day and students who have turned in a permission slip will be able to view the eclipse from the football field, protective glasses will be provided.
Also, some students will take field trips or hear from the Dyer Observatory. They are also using their LTV (their closed circuit TV station) to demonstrate some activities.
Please join our FREE Newsletter
