Learners begin this 5E activity by creating their own picture of the sun out of paint and detergent. They then make colored filters out of cellophane and paper towel tubes to simulate how specialized instruments capture and view solar images. An... (View More) extension activity uses a lollipop along with that same picture to model eclipses. Discussion questions are provided. Links to related NASA eClips videos are provided. (View Less)

Download and post this 8.5" X 11" English-Spanish flyer to help spread the word about the August 2017 total solar eclipse.

This 8.5" X 11" eclipse resource features a two-sided brochure and a bookmark. One side of the brochure identifies the bright stars and planets that will be visible during totality, the other side shows an image of the sun with key corona features... (View More) identified. The detachable bookmark lays out the eclipse sequence with instructions for using it in a pinhole projector activity. (View Less)

This 8.5" X 11" bulletin provides safety information for experiencing the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse. One side of the bulletin focuses on eye safety for viewing the eclipse, the other side provides links to other safety resources offering tips... (View More) on extreme heat, camping, transportation, etc. related to viewing the eclipse. (View Less)

Developed and distributed prior to the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, this product includes a template and instructions for making a handheld viewing fan. The front and back of the fan contains information on viewing safety and a description... (View More) of a short activity that uses a thermometer to record temperature differences during the eclipse. (View Less)

This poster features details of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse including the path of totality, the percentages of coverage outside the path of totality, and a timeline as it moves across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.

Learners will explore aspects of the Sun and solar activity by modeling them as solar cupcakes. Information and imagery are supplied to learn about the Sun, solar activity, eclipses, transits, observing the Sun, and the color of the Sun at different... (View More) times of the day. Links to resources are also provided that highlight NASA's solar missions and where to learn more about the Sun. (View Less)

This is a set of instructions for building a physical model. The model simulates the Sun's paths across the sky at summer solstice, winter solstice, and the spring and fall equinoxes. A bead simulates the Sun, moving along a cord, from rising along... (View More) the eastern horizon to setting on the western. The bead can be moved from path to path to demonstrate solar alignments, the solstices, and equinoxes. The model is created to be unique to the user's latitude, and is useful for including in lessons that teach about the seasons or archaeoastronomy. (View Less)

The 9-session NASA Family Science Night program emables middle school children and their families to discover the wide variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics being performed at NASA and in everyday life. Family Science Night... (View More) programs explore various themes on the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the Universe through fun, hands-on activities, including at-home experiments. Instructions for obtaining the facilitator's guide are available on the Family Science Night site. (View Less)

This is an online set of information about astronomical alignments of ancient structures and buildings. Learners will read background information about the alignments to the Sun in such structures as the Great Pyramid, Chichen Itza, and others.... (View More) Next, the site contains 10 short problem sets that involve a variety of math skills, including determining the scale of a photo, measuring and drawing angles, plotting data on a graph, and creating an equation to match a set of data. Each set of problems is contained on one page and all of the sets utilize real-world problems relating to astronomical alignments of ancient structures. Each problem set is flexible and can be used on its own, together with other sets, or together with related lessons and materials selected by the educator. This was originally included as a folder insert for the 2010 Sun-Earth Day. (View Less)