In case you’ve been living under a rock, you know that there is a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! We were in the path of totality in 2017. It was amazing! Here I am looking like a big goober with my glasses and a thumbs up.
How does this apply to your classroom? You know your students will probably be discussing it. Why not take a break for a few minutes from your regular content and really enjoy this marvel of nature that only comes around every once in a while? This article has some really cool pictures of people throughout history viewing solar eclipses.
Did you know that Christopher Columbus used an eclipse to trick Jamaican natives into giving him food?! Watch the video below to learn more!
Lewis and Clark witnessed both a lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse when they were exploring the Louisiana Purchase.
Probably the most well-known event in US history that was connected to a solar eclipse was Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Turner took a solar eclipse as a sign that he should lead a slave uprising. His uprising took place months later and led to the murder of about 60 people, which struck fear into the hearts of slaveowners.
The picture at the top is one of President Coolidge and his wife viewing an eclipse in 1925. I hope you get to step outside of your classroom and catch a glimpse of such an awe-inspiring event!