Need fun eclipse activities for kids? Whether you want solar eclipse crafts or lunar eclipse ideas for kids, we have fun STEM projects to add to your science learning and fun activities for astronomy unit study lessons!
Fun And Easy Eclipse Activities For Kids
Whether you’re looking for preschool or kindergarten solar solar eclipse activities for elementary students, to middle school science through high school lessons, you’ll find something on this fun kids activities list! Here are some fun ideas for solar eclipse and lunar eclipse STEM learning.
How do you teach kids about eclipses?
- Make lunar eclipse models with moon clay.
- Keep moon journal / moon observation journals.
- Bake sun bread.
- Learn about solar viewing safety and different safe ways to view an eclipse with the human eye.
- Make a DIY solar eclipse viewer. (Directions for DIY pinhole viewer below.)
- Do a solar eclipse art project.
- Talk about different moon phases.
- Make phases of the moon with Oreos.
- Learn about all the different ways to make eclipse viewers.
- Make a paper model of a solar eclipse or lunar eclipse.
- Recreate a solar eclipse in the classroom with a paper plate / paper, globe, tennis ball, and lamp or flashlight.
- Discuss how the geometry of the Sun, Moon, and Earth can affect the number of the eclipses each year.
- Use the light of the sun and sun paper to make sun prints.
- Have fun with solar eclipse coffee filter crafts.
- Host a sun party.
- Discuss partial eclipse, total eclipse, annular eclipse, and path of totality.
- Make shadow art for fun outdoor eclipse activities for kids.
- Create themed eclipse sensory bins for little hands.
- Throw a moon party on a full moon.
- Make a solar eclipse drink for kids.
- Search online for free eclipse activities for kids near me.
Any time there is any kind of eclipse, it is a great opportunity for eclipse activities and learning with kids astronomy. You can even create your very own space center homeschool day or use these for eclipse unit study ideas! (How fun would that be?!)
KEEP SCROLLING for the full list of easy and fun eclipse activities for kids!
What are some fun facts about eclipses for kids?
- Solar vs. Lunar Eclipses: There are two main types of eclipses: solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. Solar eclipses happen when the moon passes in front of the sun, while lunar eclipses occur when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon.
- Total Darkness: During a total solar eclipse, it can get as dark as night for a few minutes in the middle of the day. It’s like having a nighttime adventure in the middle of the day!
- Safety First: You should never look at a solar eclipse with your naked eye. It’s too bright and can hurt your eyes. Always use special eclipse glasses or other safe viewing methods.
- Crescent Shadows: When there’s a solar eclipse, you might see funny-shaped shadows on the ground because the sun is partly covered. These shadows can look like crescents.
- Lunar Coloring: During a total lunar eclipse, the moon can turn a reddish color. This is often called a “Blood Moon” because of its eerie hue.
- Predictable Patterns: Eclipses follow a predictable pattern called a Saros cycle, which means that similar eclipses happen approximately every 18 years.
- Global Events: Eclipses can be seen from different parts of the world. People in one place might see a solar eclipse, while others in a different location might experience a lunar eclipse.
- Ancient Myths: Many ancient cultures had myths and stories about eclipses. Some believed that a dragon or a giant creature was eating the sun or the moon, and people would make noise to scare the creature away.
- Historical Events: Eclipses have played roles in history, such as helping to verify Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity during a solar eclipse in 1919.
- Space Fun: Astronauts in space can see eclipses from a unique perspective. They’ve shared amazing photos of eclipses from the International Space Station.
- Chance to Learn: Eclipses are a great opportunity to learn about science, astronomy, and the Earth’s place in the universe. Many scientists study eclipses to understand more about our solar system.
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Fun & Engaging Eclipse Activities, Lessons, and Crafts For Kids
These are interesting eclipse activities for kids at home (even fun for adult eclipse activities!) or for science ideas for the classroom!
Grab Free Eclipse Lesson Plans
So, this is super cool: NASA actually has an entire HOMESCHOOL ACTIVITY SECTION of eclipse lesson plans and educational resource ideas that include:
- Family activities
- Solar eclipse party ideas
- Lessons
- Kids Activities
- Free printables
- Eclipse art projects
- Educator guides
- & MORE!
ALSO TRY: FUN PRINTABLE GAMES FOR AN ECLIPSE PARTY!
Also check out other eclipse things on their site (the eclipse history is REALLY cool)!
Don’t miss it!
If you’re looking for great homeschool ideas and eclipse activities, the NASA homeschool section is a great place to start for educational activities!
Make a DIY Eclipse T Shirt Craft
We made this super fun solar eclipse t-shirt for our eclipse studies and my daughter enjoyed it so much. She still talks about it, even years later.
One of the coolest things we did was make it glow in the dark, so don’t skip that part of this eclipse craft!
GET DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE A GLOW IN THE DARK SOLAR ECLIPSE SHIRT
ALSO CHECK OUT THESE ECLIPSE ACTIVITIES: HOW TO HAVE A FUN ECLIPSE PARTY WITH KIDS!
Do a Lunar Eclipse Unit Study (Free Eclipse Printable)
Be sure to check out our lunar eclipse lesson plans where we’ve put together a huge list of eclipse resources for the moon and the nighttime eclipse!
There’s also a free eclipse download printable eclipse worksheet.
Great to help round out these science lessons or even for stand-alone STEM unit studies or making an eclipse activity book.
Make A Pinhole Camera Viewer
A shoebox pinhole projector (camera obscura) is a great way to safely view a solar eclipse and it’s a fun eclipse craft to make with kids.
You can easily make a shoebox viewer with common household supplies you probably already have around the house (like a shoebox or cereal box)!
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A SHOEBOX CAMERA FOR A SOLAR ECLIPSE (complete instructions) or other DIY Solar Eclipse Viewers To Make At Home.
You can also get a kitchen colander and place yourself where the eclipse is reflecting and hold the colander out to where it is reflecting onto a piece of paper or a light sidewalk.
Each hole in the colander acts the same way as a pinhole projector or viewer.
It reflects through the holes and each hole shows you the crescent of the sun during a solar eclipse.
IMPORTANT TIP: If you’re getting solar eclipse glasses, make sure you get the NASA-approved glasses. The generic brands out there may or may not be safe.
Solar Eclipse Craft Project [VIDEO]
eHow Arts and Crafts has a solar eclipse craft project video that demonstrates how the eclipse works and makes a great model of the eclipse.
It says for kindergarten age, but I think it looks cool for all ages!
It’s an easy DIY solar eclipse model and great to add to astronomy lessons or science unit studies for preschool / kindergarten and up.
Do a STEM Solar Eclipse Project
This is an EASY lunar and solar eclipse project that you can do with things that you already have in your house—paper and a lamp!
You can do it as either a solar eclipse demonstration or a lunar eclipse STEM project.
GET THE ECLIPSE SCIENCE PROJECT HERE
Watch an Eclipse documentary!
There is a free PBS eclipse documentary available on YouTube that rounds out these eclipses science studies well.
Read Cool Astronomy for Kids Books like: Sun, Moon, Lunar Eclipse Children’s Books, and Solar Eclipse Books for Kids
Some great books for eclipse studies include:
- Space! The Universe As You’ve Never Seen It Before (Smithsonian)
- The Sun Is Kind Of A Big Deal
- Solar Eclipse Science Across America
- The Moon Book By Gail Gibbons
- Where Is Our Solar System?
- Space: Planets, Moons, Stars and More (Step Into Reading)
ECLIPSE FAQs FOR KIDS
What Is the Definition of Eclipse?
There are two types of eclipse: an eclipse of the moon, or lunar eclipse, and an eclipse of the sun, or solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks all or part of the sun when it passes between the sun and the earth. A total lunar eclipse occurs when all of the moon is obstructed by the earth’s shadow. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely covers the sun. In this type of eclipse, the moon passes between the earth and the sun and blocks out all of the sun when viewing from the earth.
When Is the Next Eclipse and Where Can You See an Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens about once every 18 months. However, two to four other solar eclipses occur throughout the year for different parts of the world. There are three or less lunar eclipses each year.
Mr Eclipse has a calendar of upcoming eclipses and locations for the path of the eclipse.
MORE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES AND STEM LESSONS TO TRY NEXT:
Big List Of Galaxy Lesson Plan Ideas For Science Unit Studies
EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS (FREE PRINTABLE)
We hope you have fun with these eclipse activities for kids!
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