On Monday, Aug. 21, Atlanta Public Schools students, staff and community members will experience a solar eclipse across North America, a rare event that will be visible for the first time in the continental United States in 38 years.
According to National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), the solar eclipse will be viewable in Atlanta around 1:02 p.m. and end at 4 p.m. A total eclipse is expected to occur between 2:30 and 2:40 p.m. This phenomena happens when the moon casts a shadow on Earth, fully or partially blocking the sun’s light in some areas.
To help maximize this uncommon occurrence, APS will extend the instructional day by 30 minutes to provide opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students to experience the solar eclipse while ensuring student and staff safety. In addition to ordering 50,000 solar glasses for all students to safely view the eclipse, the district has created a teacher toolkit containing grade band-specific activities and safety tips.
Many schools will also expand the learning around the eclipse by integrating activities into their lesson plans. Schools will share their plans and experiences with the eclipse on social media. Be sure to follow the experience on all platforms using the hashtag #APSeclipse.
For more information about the 2017 eclipse, please visit: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/
