Historic solar eclipse leaves students in awe at Riverside Elementary in Columbia

School children squealed with glee and awe as sunlight dimmed over Riverside Elementary School during the solar eclipse Monday, the first many have seen in their lifetime.

Jaianna McGee, a fourth grade student, said Monday would be her second eclipse, but she couldn't remember much about the first since she was so young. She didn't know exactly know what to expect, but was hoping to see a bat come out when the sun went partially dark.

"I'm excited to see how dark it will get and see if it looks like the pictures we have studied."

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Meanwhile, first grade student Lucy Collins, 6, tried on her glasses ahead of filing out to the school lawn to witness the eclipse. She said she's looking forward to hearing crickets chirping.

"When the moon goes in front of the sun, it get darker so you might hear crickets chirping and the street lights come on," Lucy said.

Although there wasn't much evidence of nocturnal animals during the partial eclipse, the school yard was blanketed with an uncommon shadow as the sun's light dimmed around 1:45-2 p.m. Other locations in the path of totality experienced a darker scene such as in Tiptonville, Tennessee, which reached "deep totality" with a magnitude of 99.79%.

In Columbia, watchers experienced a magnitude of 93.8% partial totality.

Some students in Amy Hertzske's Kindergarten class said the moon's crescent covered by the sun looked like a banana.

Students began to squeal as they saw the moon cover the sun through their glasses, while the school yard dimmed in brightness and the temperature slightly dropped to cooler degrees.

Principal Breckon Pennell said Monday was overall "just a fun day" and exciting for students and staff who were able to experience a the historic eclipse together.

"I love hearing their excitement and fascination in seeing the moon move to partially cover the sun," Pennell said. "It's a wonderful opportunity to learn and discuss how the world works. There's magic to learning, and it's an opportunity to open the door for conversations."

Kerri Bartlett is editor of The Daily Herald.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Eclipse leaves students in awe at Riverside Elementary in Columbia