If the sky's clear my DC won't be in School on Friday morning

In 1966 I along with everyone else in the primary school used holes in cardboard to see the eclipse, no one got hurt. I don't think children have changed but I think teacher's these days are just scared.

There are so many learning possibilities, from the science, to the geography - how it was the first proof the earth was round, to history - the dragon eating the sun. How it affected superstitious people through history up till today with the Christian fundamentalists in the US saying it heralds the end to the home grown loon on another part of the forum who wonders if it will change her life.

Keep the kids off teach them science and wonder about how things so far away can make birds stop singing and let them wonder at the celestial dance that brings this to pass.

Just watched it . Excited now!

Brian Cox just explained and demonstrated how to make a pinhole viewer on TV
even Yr 1 kids will be able to do it

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2pZFdnsPGl1DDwH6pZbJKkh/resources

DSs school are taking all of the kids out in groups during it and the top set Science kids will be making a topic out of it

keeping kids indoors is STUPID

as part of what is interesting is the way animals react that you CANNOT tell from a TV

We are all going outside to watch it. I hope it's a clear day. The kids have all made pinhole viewers today.

I like the way our school is dealing with it. No outdoors viewing arranged, but the online coverage will be streamed to all smartboards in the school. Teachers in each class will decide how much time to devote to viewing, but everyone will get to see the moment with maximum coverage.

They have also said that Registration will not close until 11am tomorrow, rather than the usual 8.45am

DS's junior school are taking all 200 out on to the field after a talk from a science teacher. One pair of the specs per class. Am sending him in with colander.

Our school didn't appear to know anything about it. I called on Monday to see if they were planning anything (with a view to keeping DC off). They phoned back on Wed after a staff meeting and said they had decided it was too risky to take DC outside as some kids wouldn't follow instructions and that it would be cloudy anyway. She said they may watch it on the TV in the hall instead.

I haven't decided if I'm going to send DC in or not. We have glasses but head said it wouldn't be fair if only kids who could get glasses were allowed outside. No mention of pin hole cameras etc

DS school are going to watch the live coverage on screen in assembly - happy with that. Given the weather forecasts they'll probably get a better view that way anyway. As a primary school, I can see stopping them all looking up would be impossible.

My DS's secondary school have obtained glasses for every pupil and they're going to be watching, weather permitting.
Brilliant opportunity for a science lesson!

What if your colander, like mine, spells out the names of various different types of pasta?

Ha ha - please try it and take a photo...each letter should change as the moon moves over the sun.

It is terrible that some schools aren't taking advantage of this. Educate them on the issues of looking directly at the sun and show them how to view it properly. FFS.

I'm more concerned that my Y3 will actually be tempted to look at it. School has said nothing.

We are having a whole school (infants) space day, starting with the eclipse and ending with a population up planetarium in the hall. We've been doing stuff for weeks. my y2 class will be watching on BBC then going out once it's safe to see what it feels like out there.

We have been sent the safety information in an email from DH so àll staff are saying the same thing on why we are not allowing students out to watch. I can understand the safety implications as I wouldn't like to try and police 30 yr 11 students not looking without protection; but I do think its sad that it's not being used as a teaching tool although I'm not sure what science dept have done

I am beyond fed up that the forecast here (London) is cloudy.

A twice in a lifetime experience, last weekend spent scouring the shops for a magazine with free glasses, 2x£4.99 for 2 magazines.......and we won't be able to see it.

I forgot it was that late in the summer

I only remember because my PFB was just about 6 months old and just about sitting up. Hence the laundry basket!

I don't know whether any of the CDs schools are doing anything.

Holepunch:

Have you asked the school whether some classes will be viewing it and your DS's could join them?

I say this because we have had quite a week with our school battling this very point. Initially they said the decision was up to each teacher. We retorted why not treat the eclipse as an optional field trip.

We also pointed out that as a school they did not consult parents or pupils about their desire to see the eclipse nor have they clarified what the science department have prepared in terms of the eclipse.

Our science department seems good but they've cancelled 2 of the 3 science clubs (which are only occasional events) due to staff illness to be fair - but nonetheless it did strike us as this was a chance for science club to occur during school day with science teachers and explaining the whole process (models with lamps, video clips, BBC coverage, etc... included into the package). Quite a learning opportunity. And frankly every subject could do something with the eclipse: art/ language - what are the terms for solar system, stars, sun, moon, eclipse/ history - how did people treat eclipses in the past (Have a look at how Aztecs handled it if you want a shock - definitely not politically correct)/ D&T or Art (make a model showing process, make a drawing/ painting/ etc....) - field day really for Science.

After a lot of too-ing and frow-ing the school have opted for all pupils to watch BBC coverage of critical 30 minutes. It's not ideal - but at least they've made time for it in their schedule. We are immensely grateful they have although a bit like 'Why is everything a battle in Birmingham?'

I know it's a disruption but I can't guarantee DD1 will be a fit, alert 85 year old when this happens next.

By the way DH just typed in what to do in Birmingham for Eclipse and found out tons of things were going on downtown - your area may be the same.

HTH

PS OFSTED/ DfE/ Gov't bods out there - where is the joined up thinking in the national curriculum to take advantage of BIG EVENTS when they're clearly lining up to occur in the school day or of national importance.

Something like a near total eclipse over England is predictable and you could have worked closely with Star Gazing Live/ Open University to generate age appropriate materials for pupils and activities. A similar approach could be adopted with celebration of major anniversaries: e.g. Darwin 2012 or Dickens also 2012.

Hint - for you great planners - a coronation will be coming in the next two decades or so. Lots of art, D&T, history, RE, music syllabus rolled up into that event folks and worth educating the next generation about.

Owl
DD was 1 : she ignored it completely and played with gravel.

Yes, sorry, I forgot it was that late in the summer

The last one was before all but the older year 11s were born

It was in August which mean all but the youngest Y11s would have been born.

DS1 "watched" it sitting in a laundry basket on the patio. He doesn't remember. Ungrateful astard.

Schools that ban viewing it are STUPID
its a fantastic opportunity for real observational science.

The last one was before all but the older year 11s were born

Ha ha, let us know if you try it MintChoc

What if your colander, like mine, spells out the names of various different types of pasta? Do I see blue spaghetti?

Currently, it is forecast to be cloudy where we live on Friday. I'm considering an early morning dash to clearer skies and then getting them back for lunch.

School are being a bit vague about what, if anything, they might do.

LOL at the colanders on heads Wigeon, you go in the sun and look at the ground or a piece of paper under the colander, you can see circles to start with where the sun comes through, then when it eclipses you see little moon shapes.

How on earth do you use a colander to view an eclipse? !