Skip to content
SEIU Morning Breath
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Account Account

Share this article:

More Stories

Elementary students experience eclipse

MPCSD students put on special glasses as they stared up at the sky Monday afternoon to catch the solar eclipse

AnnaMarie Kruse

Apr. 10, 2024 11:32 am

MT. PLEASANT — Across the country crowds stopped what they were doing Monday afternoon to look up at the sky to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse, including students across Mt. Pleasant Community School District’s elementary buildings.

Megan Brown’s kindergarten class at Harlan Elementary donned their solar eclipse glasses as they stared up at the sky. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)
Megan Brown’s kindergarten class at Harlan Elementary donned their solar eclipse glasses as they stared up at the sky. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)

Anne Martin’s fifth-grade class at Salem Elementary excitedly participated in observing the eclipse as part of their studies about the earth and space thanks to a donation of solar eclipse glasses from a classroom parent. Martin also brought in snacks for the special event including Star Crunches, Cosmic Brownies, Sunkist, and Starbursts.

“I wanted it to be memorable and for students to make connections with what they've learned in science, reading, math, and the actual event that occurred,” Martin said. “Our class had been studying a unit on earth and space. They had a lot of background knowledge on the planets, moon, sun, eclipses, and shadows.”

Anne Martin (left back row) and her class experienced the eclipse thanks to a classroom parent’s donation of glasses to keep their eyes safe. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)
Anne Martin (left back row) and her class experienced the eclipse thanks to a classroom parent’s donation of glasses to keep their eyes safe. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)

So, Martin took her class outside about an hour before the moon would pass by the sun and encouraged her students to create a sundial and mark their shadow with a chalk line.

“I asked them to predict where the shadow would fall in a half-hour and mark that spot,” Martin said. “In the next half-hour we checked our predictions.”

Martin’s fifth-grade students Kora and Logan cast a shadow using a yardstick. They then wrote down the time next to the shadow and predicted where it would be in a half-hour. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)
Martin’s fifth-grade students Kora and Logan cast a shadow using a yardstick. They then wrote down the time next to the shadow and predicted where it would be in a half-hour. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)

According to Martin, the day’s lesson also included discussion about changes that occur to temperature, the color of the sky, and shadows during an eclipse.

“In the last activity they wrote about how ancient Roman citizens would have theorized about this strange phenomenon and apply what they've learned in science and reading to debunk those theories,” Martin shared. “The students did an excellent job with their answers. They had fun learning, enjoying the weather, experiencing a memorable moment and eating snacks!”

Courtney Faeth’s third grade class at Lincoln Elementary got outside to check out the eclipse. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)
Courtney Faeth’s third grade class at Lincoln Elementary got outside to check out the eclipse. (Photo courtesy of MPCSD)

Martin’s class was not alone in their observation of the solar eclipse as classes all the way through kindergarten throughout the district also went outside and watched as the moon passed by the sun Monday afternoon.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
Date Time Location Previous Next chevron-circle-right Funeral Home Facebook Bluesky X/ Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram Tiktok Reddit Email Print Buy RSS Feed Opens in new tab or window PDF