Solar Eclipse
On the morning of 20th March the whole of Cliddesden Primary School stopped to watch the eclipse. In Basingstoke we could expect a partial eclipse of 80% and some children had brought in home-made pinhole cameras or special eclipse viewing glasses. We all started by watching “Eclipse Live” on the BBC and at about 9.30am those children who had brought a suitable viewing device from home went outside to view the eclipse. Even though it was very cloudy outside, the children reported that the cloud parted for a short time allowing them to see the Moon passing over the Sun creating an image of the Sun smiling down at the Earth. Everyone then came back inside where we watched the total eclipse over the Faroe Islands as it happened.
The children watched entranced as the screen showed the Faroe Islands being plunged into darkness, followed by the sun starting to peek out again from behind the moon. As the sun reappeared it looked like a giant diamond ring glinting in the sky. Many children excitedly remarked on how fast the moon had moved across the sun. After all the excitement of the eclipse, it was time to return to our normal lessons and the children all wandered back to their classrooms chattering excitedly about the natural wonder they had just witnessed.
Natalie Wood
Click on Class names to find out more: Willow, Beech, Chestnut, Oak
