Fort Plain Central School District > Archive > Solar eclipse is a “stellar” learning opportunity

Solar eclipse is a “stellar” learning opportunity

A group of teen students, holding an looking skyward through an oversized light blue pair of solar eclipse glasses, stand together outside in a field. They are all wearing sweatshirts and other cold weather clothing. There is a wooden barn and bare trees in the the background.
The April 8 solar eclipse offered our students an “out of this world” learning opportunity—in the classroom and in the field.

From our youngest learners to the district’s teen astronomers, Solar Eclipse Day 2024 was filled with wonder and awe.

In our classrooms, students learned what it takes to make the sun “disappear” from the sky (blame it on the moon!) and how to keep our eyes safe when watching an eclipse (those fabulous glasses aren’t just for show! )

For our high school Astronomy Club members, the draw of totality (a total eclipse) meant a fun-filled field trip north to Boonville, N.Y. for the big show.

“Viewing a solar eclipse is a wonderful experience, but doesn’t compare to seeing one within the path of totality,” said Lance Elliott, high school Earth Science and Astronomy teacher and club coordinator. “Our trip to Boonville was an idea hatched after witnessing totality during the 2017 solar eclipse. I knew the path was close enough to Fort Plain so that a group of students would get to experience something really memorable.”