From: L*y Marske <lmarske@mtcnet.net>
Subject: Re: Eclipse Party
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 23:41:35 -0700
Dave and anyone else interested, Thank you for all the information and lesson ideas for a lunar eclipse party. I think I'm going to go ahead with it and follow one of the lessons presented. I would be interested in collaborating with other teachers, especially 6th grade and share information. I'm sending the letter and the worksheet for recording the data etc. in case anyone's interested. By the way does anyone know if the eclipse begins at 10:30 or is total at 10:30. And is that Eastern daylight time, Central daylight time or what? I left that blank to be filled in later. Let me know who's interested. Lucy Marske Sioux Center Middle School Sioux Center, IA 51250 Dear 6th graders and parents, You are invited to a lunar eclipse party Thursday night, Sept. 26. We will meet at the football field north of the middle school. If you can't attend, you are invited to "join" us by having your own party at your home. We will meet at ________, and we will end a short time after the complete lunar eclipse about ___________. The following activities will be part of the party: 1. A star count during the full moon and during the total eclipse. 2. A rating of the observation of the lunar eclipse. 3. Sharing of the data with other students in the country. The following is the procedure for the star counts: Using an empty paper towel or toilet tissue roll, students will hold up the roll at 25 varying positions in the sky and count the number of stars they see within the "viewer". Using a formula, students will be able to estimate the number of stars seen in the sky. Use the following table for the data: Position Number of stars Number of stars Full moon Total lunar eclipse _________________________________________________________________________1. Northern sky a. ___________ ___________ b. ___________ ___________ c. ___________ ___________ d. ___________ ___________ e. ___________ ___________ 2. Eastern Sky a. ___________ ____________ b. ___________ ____________ c. ___________ ____________ d. ___________ ____________ e. ___________ ____________ 3. Southern Sky a. ___________ ____________ b. ___________ ____________ c. ___________ ____________ d. ___________ ____________ e. ___________ ____________ 4. Western Sky a. ___________ ____________ b. ___________ ____________ c. ___________ ____________ d. ___________ ____________ e. ___________ ____________ 5. Straight above a. ___________ ____________ b. ___________ ____________ c. ___________ ____________ d. ___________ ____________ e. ___________ ____________ TOTAL ___________ ____________ AVERAGE: MULTIPLY BY 25 ___________ ____________ MULTIPLY BY 700 ___________ ____________ (estimate of total stars) Rate your observation of the total lunar eclipse by circling the one that fits the best: 0 = Almost invisible 1 = gray-brown with a few details visible 2 = more obvious dark red color with a light rim 3 = brighter red color with the moon easily visible 4 = brilliant orange