{"id":264,"date":"2019-04-26T12:16:04","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T12:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?p=264"},"modified":"2019-07-22T13:15:52","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T13:15:52","slug":"science-activity-eclipses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/?p=264","title":{"rendered":"Science Activity: Eclipses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><a href=\"#summary\">Summary<\/a> | <a href=\"#concept\">Key concept<\/a> | <a href=\"#scistory\">Science Story<\/a> | <a href=\"#science\">Background Science<\/a> | <a href=\"#activity\">Activity<\/a> | <a href=\"#curlinks\">Curriculum links<\/a> | <a href=\"#actlinks\">Linked Activities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<a href=\"\/resources\/activities\/word\/Eclipses.docx\"><span style=\"color: Grey;\"><i class=\"far fa-file-word fa-5x\"><\/i><\/span><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;\n<a href=\"\/resources\/activities\/pdf\/Eclipses.pdf\"><span style=\"color: Grey;\"><i class=\"far fa-file-pdf fa-5x\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><br><br>\n<em>Download this activity as Word or PDF &#8211; click on the links above<\/em><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #d8d8d8;\">\n<ul class=\"infobox\">\n<li>Suggested Age Range: 10 &#8211; 11 years <\/li>\n<li>UK Primary Curriculum: Key Stage Two (upper)<\/li>\n<li>Suggested UK Year Group: Year 6<\/li>\n<li>UK Primary Curriculum Link: Light<\/li>\n<li>Science Subject: Eclipses<\/li>\n<li>Science Question: Why do we have eclipses? What happens during solar and lunar eclipses?<\/li>\n<li>Suggested linked stories: <a href=\"https:\/\/wesharethesamemoon.org\/?p=257\">When Jaguars Ate the Moon<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/wesharethesamemoon.org\/?p=255\">The Buried Moon<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/wesharethesamemoon.org\/?p=769\">Stealing the Sun<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/wesharethesamemoon.org\/?p=743\">Setting Free the Sun<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"summary\"><strong>Brief summary:<\/strong><\/span> Solar and lunar eclipses are fascinating events where the Sun or Moon appears to disappear, respectively.\u00a0\u00a0Their spectacular nature causes a lot of interest.\u00a0\u00a0This activity looks at what happens during each type of eclipse using a physical model that the students can build themselves and experiment with to explore how and why eclipses happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"concept\"><strong>Key concept:<\/strong><\/span> light always travels in straight lines, and objects placed in the path of light result in shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"scistory\"><strong>The Science Story:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<em>Where does light come from during the day?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0Light comes from the Sun.\u00a0\u00a0The Sun is a star, just like the stars we see at night, but it looks much bigger and brighter because it is much closer than the other stars.\u00a0The Moon is not a star, it is made of rock, like the Earth, and it is much closer to us than the Sun.\u00a0\u00a0<em>Does the Moon shine?\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>The Moon is bright, but not as bright as the Sun, and it doesn\u2019t shine like the Sun.\u00a0We see the Moon because it reflects light from the Sun.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s how I can see you right now \u2013 the light from the Sun bounces off your skin and is reflected back to my eyes.\u00a0\u00a0Light travels in straight lines, it cannot travel around a corner.\u00a0\u00a0<em>What happens if you hold out your hand in front of your face and cover the Sun with your thumb?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0If you put your thumb between the Sun and your eye, you cannot see the Sun anymore because the light cannot travel around your thumb.\u00a0\u00a0This is how an eclipse happens, by something blocking light from the Sun.\u00a0\u00a0<em>How long does it take for the Earth to orbit the Sun?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0The Earth orbits the Sun in one year.\u00a0\u00a0The Sun shines on the Earth, the side of the Earth nearest the Sun is lit up and has daytime, and the other side is dark and it is night.\u00a0\u00a0The Earth has a shadow, just like you do.\u00a0\u00a0In the shadow of the Earth it is also dark.\u00a0\u00a0The Moon goes around the Earth in about 29 days, and the Moon also has a shadow.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes, when everything lines up just right, the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth.\u00a0\u00a0<em>What do you think happens?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0When everything lines up perfectly, the shadow of the Moon passes across the Earth.\u00a0\u00a0If you are lucky enough to be standing in the shadow of the Moon, you will see the Sun disappear behind the Moon \u2013 this is a solar eclipse.\u00a0\u00a0<em>What do you link happens when there is a lunar eclipse?<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0In a lunar eclipse, instead of the shadow of the Moon passing over the Earth, this time the Moon passes through the shadow of the Earth!\u00a0\u00a0The Earth is bigger than the Moon, so the Earth has a bigger shadow.\u00a0A solar eclipse only lasts for a few minutes because it doesn\u2019t take long for the Moon\u2019s small shadow to move across the Earth.\u00a0\u00a0The Moon takes much longer to pass through the larger shadow of the Earth, so a lunar eclipse can last for several hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"science\"><strong>The Science:<\/strong><\/span> The Sun is a star and is the source of all the heat and light in the Solar System.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Light from the Sun travels outwards in straight lines.\u00a0\u00a0The Earth orbits the Sun, completing one full orbit in a year.\u00a0The Moon is our companion in the Solar System and orbits the Earth every 29.5 days.\u00a0\u00a0The Moon does not emit its own light, instead we see it because it reflects light from the Sun.\u00a0\u00a0Eclipses happen when these three objects line up precisely, the two different types of eclipse happen when we get particular alignments.<br><br>If the Moon lies between the Sun and the Earth, the shadow of the Moon passes across the face of the Earth and we see a solar eclipse.\u00a0\u00a0If the Moon passes through the shadow of the Earth, then we get a lunar eclipse.\u00a0\u00a0The example using your thumb, used above, works well as an analogy since your thumb is smaller than your head.\u00a0\u00a0The shadow of your thumb covers only a small part of your face (the students will appreciate this better if they watch each other try it), but the shadow of your head is many times wider than your thumb.\u00a0\u00a0If the Earth and Moon orbited in a precise plane, then we would get both types of eclipse every month as the Moon orbited the Earth.\u00a0\u00a0This is not the case, however.\u00a0\u00a0The Moon\u2019s orbit is slightly tilted, such that the Sun, Earth and Moon only occasionally line up precisely.<br><br>While the Sun is eclipsed, the dark disk of the Moon appears surrounded by a bright halo.\u00a0\u00a0This halo is the outer layers of the Sun\u2019s gas, known as the corona.\u00a0\u00a0An eclipse is the only time we can study this corona from the surface of the Earth because it is so faint compared to the full glare of the Sun that normally it cannot be seen against the bright sky.\u00a0\u00a0When the Moon is eclipsed and in the shadow of the Earth it gets much fainter and turns a deep red colour.\u00a0\u00a0This effect is due to scattering of light as it passes through the atmosphere of the Earth.\u00a0\u00a0It is the same effect that makes sunsets look red \u2013 blue light is scattered more than red light, so the longer the light has to travel through the Earth\u2019s atmosphere, the more the blue light is scattered away, leaving only red light behind.\u00a0This effect means that if you were standing on the surface of the Moon during a lunar eclipse the light that reached you would have had all the blue light scattered away.\u00a0\u00a0The result would look as if the Earth were surrounded by a sunset.<br><br>In the past, many cultures it was thought that a solar eclipse was a portent of doom or that they happened because the gods were displeased; some cultures made sacrifices to please the gods so that the Sun would return \u2013 the Aztecs are one example.\u00a0Even today, many cultures still have superstitions surrounding eclipses of either type, and in some parts of the world people stay indoors to avoid evil spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"activity\"><strong>The activity:<\/strong><\/span> This activity uses some straightforward materials that can be obtained from pound shops and craft suppliers.&nbsp;&nbsp;The students work together in small groups to build their own model of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, and then use a lamp to investigate the shadows caused by the Earth and Moon and see how eclipses can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Props required<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Adhesive tape<\/li><li>Two cardboard tubes (e.g. empty kitchen paper rolls or similar)<\/li><li>Scissors (suitable for cutting cardboard)<\/li><li>Small piece of aluminium foil<\/li><li>Sturdy but bendable wire (35\u201350 cm long)<\/li><li>Styrofoam ball (roughly the size of a large orange)<\/li><li>Ping pong ball (or a Styrofoam ball of a similar size)<\/li><li>Large strip of cardboard (about 50-60 cm long and 15-20 cm wide)<\/li><li>Torch<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#ff0000\" class=\"has-text-color\"><strong>Safety note<\/strong>: It must be stressed that&nbsp;<strong>you must NEVER look directly at the Sun&nbsp;<\/strong>as this can permanently damage your eyes.&nbsp;It is perfectly safe to look directly at the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:#ff0000\" class=\"has-text-color\"><strong>Safety note<\/strong>: Care should be taken with scissors when cutting the tubes, and students should be supervised closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For this activity you need to work together in small groups, so find two or three other people to work with.<\/li><li>Take one cardboard tube and make a series of small (2-cm deep), even, vertical cuts around the circumference of each end. Bend the cut pieces out at each end and then stand the tube upright on the table. The cut edges should fan out like a flower.<\/li><li>Using adhesive tape, fasten one end of the cardboard tube to the cardboard strip to create the base of the model. The tube should be close to one end of the cardboard strip.<\/li><li>Using tape or glue, attach the larger of your two styrofoam balls to the top of the tube. This ball represents the Earth.<\/li><li>Cover the smaller ball with aluminium foil, with the shiny side on the outside. This will be the Moon.<\/li><li>Insert one end of the wire into the top of Earth so that the wire is vertical. Measure approximately a finger\u2019s length along the wire and bend the wire here at a right angle, creating a horizontal arm.<\/li><li>About halfway between the Earth and the far end of the cardboard strip, measure a finger\u2019s length along the wire and bend it again. This time bend it downwards at a right angle, towards the cardboard base (see image gallery, blow).<\/li><li>Insert the other end of the wire into the Moon. The Moon\u2019s equator should be at the same height as the Earth\u2019s equator.<\/li><li>As in Step 2&amp;3, make small cuts in the other cardboard tube and tape it to your cardboard strip at the opposite end to the Earth.<\/li><li>Balance the torch on the second cardboard tube. Make sure the height is correct: the middle of the torch beam should hit Earth\u2019s equator. Ensure that the beam directly hits the nearest half of the Earth and the Moon.<\/li><li>Now we have created our model of the Earth-Sun-Moon system.  Next we will use our model to explore what happens during different types of eclipse.<\/li><li><strong>Create a solar eclipse:<\/strong> Stand facing the torch and swing the wire around until the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth. If you can, dim the lights in the room so the light is easier to see. The Moon is now positioned between the Earth and the Sun and is blocking the \u201csunshine\u201d for some people on Earth. Notice that only people directly in the shadow will see a complete eclipse of the Sun.<\/li><li>Explore how the shadow moves by slowly rotating the wire to make the Moon move.<\/li><li><strong>Create a lunar eclipse:<\/strong> Stand facing the torch and swing the wire so that the Moon is behind the Earth. No light should be hitting the Moon: the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow over the entire Moon. Notice that unlike during the solar eclipse, the entire &#8220;night&#8221; side of Earth can see the lunar eclipse.<\/li><li>Carry on moving your Moon around the Earth to see how the light changes throughout a full orbit.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses01-1024x768.png\" alt=\"The materials needed to construct an eclipse model.\" class=\"wp-image-885\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses01.png 1024w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses01-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses01-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses01-676x507.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The materials needed to construct an eclipse model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses02-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Tape down the cardboard tube.\" data-id=\"886\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=886\" class=\"wp-image-886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses02.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses02-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses02-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Steps 2&amp;3: Tape down the cardboard tube.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses03-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Stick the larger ball to the tube - this is the Earth.\" data-id=\"887\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=887\" class=\"wp-image-887\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses03.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses03-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses03-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 4: Stick the larger ball to the tube &#8211; this is the Earth.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses04-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Cover the smaller ball in foil - this is the Moon.\" data-id=\"888\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=888\" class=\"wp-image-888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses04.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses04-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses04-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 5: Cover the smaller ball in foil &#8211; this is the Moon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses05-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Insert one end of the wire into the Earth ball.\" data-id=\"889\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=889\" class=\"wp-image-889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses05.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses05-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses05-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 6: Insert one end of the wire into the Earth ball and make a right-angle bend.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses06-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Insert the other end of the wire into the Moon ball.\" data-id=\"890\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=890\" class=\"wp-image-890\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses06.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses06-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses06-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Steps 7&amp;8: Insert the other end of the wire into the Moon ball.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses07-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Tape the other tube to the other end of your cardboard base.\" data-id=\"891\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=891\" class=\"wp-image-891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses07.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses07-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses07-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 9: Tape the other tube to the other end of your cardboard base.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses08-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Use your torch to shine light onto the Earth and Moon model - your torch acts like th Sun.\" data-id=\"892\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=892\" class=\"wp-image-892\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses08.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses08-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses08-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 10: Use your torch to shine light onto the Earth and Moon model &#8211; your torch acts like the Sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses09-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Solar eclipse.\" data-id=\"893\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=893\" class=\"wp-image-893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses09.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses09-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses09-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 12: When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, a shadow falls on the Earth and we see a solar eclipse.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses10-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Moon orbiting the Earth.\" data-id=\"894\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=894\" class=\"wp-image-894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses10.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses10-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses10-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 13: When the Moon is elsewhere in its orbit around the Earth, no shadow crosses the Earth and no eclipse happens.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses12-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Lunar eclipse.\" data-id=\"896\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=896\" class=\"wp-image-896\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses12.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses12-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses12-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 14: When the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, the Earth&#8217;s shadow falls on the Moon and we see a lunar eclipse.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses11-768x1024.png\" alt=\"Moon orbiting the Earth.\" data-id=\"895\" data-link=\"https:\/\/wstsm.drmeganargo.net\/?attachment_id=895\" class=\"wp-image-895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses11.png 768w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses11-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/eclipses11-676x901.png 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Step 15: Turn your Moon around the Earth and see how the phase of the Moon changes.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Extension:<\/strong> Challenge the students to explore the orbit of the Moon using their models.  Ask them to describe what they see during each type of eclipse, depending on where they are located on the Earth, and what might an astronaut see if they were standing on the Moon?  Further extending the ideas can lead to a discussion about whether eclipses can be seen on other planets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Common misconceptions:<\/strong> Light bends around the Earth to cause the red colour during a total lunar eclipse \u2013 light always travels in straight lines.&nbsp;&nbsp;The red light that reaches the Moon has been scattered in the atmosphere of the Earth, much of the light is scattered in other directions, but some of it is scattered towards the Moon, we see this light reflected back from the Moon\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"curlinks\"><strong>Curriculum links<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Science KS2: Earth and Space (year 5)<\/li><li>Science KS2: Working scientifically \u2013 there is plenty of scope in this activity for experimentation once the models have been made<\/li><li>English KS1 and KS2 spoken language (extension activity) \u2013 communicate information effectively and at an appropriate level<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"#actlinks\"><strong>Linked activities<\/strong>:<\/span><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Activity source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unawe.org\/activity\/eu-unawe1302\/\">Universe Awareness<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Copyright: Megan Argo 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Solar and lunar eclipses are fascinating events where the Sun or Moon appears to disappear, respectively.  Their spectacular nature causes a lot of interest.  This activity looks at what happens during each type of eclipse using a physical model that the students can build themselves and experiment with to explore how and why eclipses happen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,7],"tags":[41,44,32,30],"class_list":["post-264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ks2-science-activity","category-resources","category-science-activity","tag-eclipses","tag-explore","tag-make-your-own","tag-science","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=264"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1599,"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264\/revisions\/1599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wstsm2.drmeganargo.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}