Demonstrating eclipses

Demonstrating eclipses

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources

How to do this task:

  • Use the equipment you have been given to show an audience how the two types of eclipse (solar eclipse, lunar eclipse) can occur.
  • Tell your audience which type of eclipse you are showing them.
  • While you are showing how these eclipses can occur, explain to your audience what is happening.
Task administration: 
Equipment:
Torch = Sun;
2 balls of different size, e.g., tennis ball = the Moon, large plastic ball = the Earth.
  • This task assesses student's ability to demonstrate and explain eclipses.
  • This task is best done in pairs.
  • You will need to explain to students what each piece of equipment represents.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
astronomical systems, eclipses, models
Description of task: 
For this practical, students use different sized balls to demonstrate and explain solar and lunar eclipses.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss:
  • the use of models in science as a tool to understand phenomena that are too big or far away for us to see.
  • what a model shows, and how it is the same and different from the real thing.
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Answers/responses: 

Solar eclipse
Has the torch, small ball, and large ball in the correct order for a solar eclipse, i.e., torch,  small ball,  large ball. Makes a clear, accurate statement of what is happening and how a solar eclipse occurs. Example: a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun as seen from the Earth. 
 
Lunar eclipse
Has the torch, small ball, and large ball in the correct order for a lunar eclipse, i.e., torch, large ball,  small ball. Makes a clear, accurate statement of what is happening and how a lunar eclipse occurs. Example: a lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes into the shadow of the Earth, because no light from the Sun is reaching it.