Eclipse as education: Volusia students use in-school field trip to see science firsthand

PORT ORANGE − The study of Earth and space invites big questions and is one of the highlights of eighth-grade science.

But getting to experience a celestial event, even if it's only a partial solar eclipse, engages students on a whole different level.

So say the students and teachers who went on an "in-school field trip," outside the classroom to the playground, where high above the chain-link fences the moon's orbit passed directly between Earth and the sun. The eighth-graders at several Volusia County schools, including Creekside Middle, who got parental permission slips were handed safety glasses and allowed to gaze upward.

Other participating schools included Ormond Beach, Galaxy, River Springs, Heritage and Hinson middle schools.

At Creekside, more than 150 students went to the school's playground to watch the greatest amount of coverage, about 63%, just after 3 p.m. The students were all handed ISO 12312-2:2015 certified glasses, safe for viewing the eclipse.

"Something is happening and they are excited," science teacher Mona Chopra said.

She earned her master's degree in chemistry, but said the astronomy unit seems to be the one that generates the most discussion.

"Now I love this unit because most of the questions, the interaction is during this unit," she said.

Another teacher, Rachel Bogdanoff, said the Earth and space effort includes phases of the moon, the tides and eclipses. They covered the material in February, but the Creekside teachers reviewed the material after spring break.

"Most of us tried to carry it over a little bit," Bogdanoff said. "And when we came back from spring break last week, we all made a point to revisit it."

Teachers spent part of Friday and Monday allowing students to research questions about the eclipse, so even though Florida was not in the path of totality, it still engaged many students, she said.

"A lot of kids want to know: When will it happen again? How frequently? We had a partial and annular eclipse in October, so some of them were aware that something similar had happened. We had discussions about the differences between annular and total. So they have been pretty engaged all day, which is nice," she said.

What students were saying as they gazed skyward

While there was scholarly inquiry, the conversations during the field trip were also very ... eighth grade.

One group of girls were asked about the partial solar eclipse in 2017, when they were in first grade.

Emily Rule said: "We were so young, it's hard to remember."

Amelia Woodward also didn't remember, deadpanning: "I was playing with Barbies."

Next to her, Maysiena Marrs said she did remember that eclipse.

"I guess it's, like, another 'wow' factor," she said.

But it's not every day the curriculum plays out before students' own eyes.

"We learned about it in class and it's kind of cool to experience it," Amelia said.

Emily added: "And astronomy in general is just really fun to learn about it, so it's cool that right around the time we learned about it we get to see a solar eclipse."

Looking ahead to next time

After peak coverage, as the moon's orbit began to carry it past the sun, student Antonio Fuster said he thought it was going to get a bit darker, but still found it interesting.

"It's definitely fun to be with all your friends and you get to see something cool like this," he said.

He, like a lot of students, thought about the next solar eclipse in Florida, in 2045 when he will be thirtysomething.

"I am looking forward to it because it will be a total eclipse," he said, "and it will be much better than this and I think I will remember it better."

Animal Kingdom's Eclipse Experience: In total solar eclipses, many creatures react as if it were nighttime, UF researcher says

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia 8th-grade students view solar eclipse with questions, laughs