Solar Eclipse Foldable Science Craft
This solar eclipse foldable science activity will be a fun way to introduce and learn more about the stages of a solar eclipse.
You can also use this free printable solar eclipse foldable science craft to prepare for watching an upcoming solar eclipse (safely of course).
Solar Eclipse Fold Out Science Activity
Solar Eclipse Foldable Science Craft
As kids put together the solar eclipse foldable science craft, they can learn more about the different types of eclipses that occur.
Each foldout piece contains information that kids can read and learn about the different solar eclipses. The solar eclipse fold out starts with the sun and then goes over the new moon, a total solar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse, and an annular eclipse.
Sunlight
In the daytime, the Sun’s light shines all over the Earth. It’s like your flashlight lighting up everything around.
New Moon
Sometimes, the Moon moves in between the Earth and the Sun. This happens when the Moon is in its “new moon” phase. It’s like the small ball (Moon) comes right between the big ball (Earth) and the flashlight (Sun).
Total Solar Eclipse
When the Moon lines up just right, it can block the Sun’s light completely, making it dark for a little while on Earth. It’s like the small ball (Moon) is playing hide-and-seek with the big ball (Sun), and for some places on Earth, everything goes dark for a short time. This is called a total solar eclipse.
Partial Solar Eclipse
Sometimes, the Moon doesn’t cover the Sun completely. It’s like taking a little bite out of a cookie. This is called a partial solar eclipse, and it makes the Sun look like a crescent or a bite has been taken out of it.
Annular Eclipse
If the Moon is a bit far from Earth, it doesn’t cover the Sun entirely. Instead, you see a ring of sunlight around the Moon, creating a “ring of fire.” This is called an annular solar eclipse.
Reminder
Also be sure to remind kids about the safety of viewing an eclipse! The last sheet of the solar eclipse foldable gives a reminder about solar eclipse safety.
Remember, it’s important not to look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, because it can hurt your eyes. Just like you need sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun on a regular day, you need special glasses or other safe methods to watch a solar eclipse.
NASA has some really great solar eclipse safety tips that are worth checking out as well.
More Fun Science for Kids:
- Earth Day Crafts
- Cool Science Gifts
- Earth Day Printable Word Search
- Earth Day Scavenger Hunt
- Free Printable Solar System Packet
