Here’s what Springfield schools are doing for the occasion
Ann Wallenmeyer has fond memories of stepping outside to see her first solar eclipse in the eighth grade. Over the past year, she’s been busy preparing activities to make next week’s eclipse an equally memorable experience for Springfield students. h On Monday, Springfield will experience a partial solar eclipse around 1:54 p.m. Several organizations, businesses and schools, including Springfield Public Schools, are gearing up for the event.
Wallenmeyer, SPS’ science curriculum facilitator, began ordering 31,500 eclipse viewing glasses for students, faculty and staff last summer.
Each school’s principal has determined how his or her school will navigate viewing the eclipse with students, Wallenmeyer said. Most schools will have sent permission slips home with parents to indicate whether or not they are okay with their students viewing the eclipse.
As far as planning eclipse-themed activities, Wallenmeyer said she was fortunately able to recycle several from the previous solar eclipse in 2017. In addition to hands-on science activities, Wallenmeyer said she has also written eclipse-related curriculum that can be used in subjects like math, reading and social studies. Specifically, she referenced resources like the American Academy of Ophthalmology, NASA and Missouri Department of Conservation.
Wallenmeyer said one of her favorite activities involves using a pinhole camera to look at the eclipse indirectly. Using cardstock, aluminum foil, tape, and pins or paperclips, students can make their own pinhole cameras. The Springfield-Greene County Library District is visiting several Springfield Public Schools to hand out pinhole cameras, Wallenmeyer said.
“It’s an experience that students will not soon forget,” Wallenmeyer said about the eclipse. “It’s these experiences that really get kids hooked and excited about science. They want to ask questions,