Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Regional Office IX, Zamboanga Peninsula

7
Z est for Progress
Z Peal of artnership

Science Grade 7
Quarter 4 - Module 8
BELIEFS AND
SUPERSTITIONS DURING
ECLIPSE

Name of Learner:
Grade & Section:
Name of School:
 Module 8 Beliefs & Superstitions
During Eclipse

What I Need to Know

This module was designed to learn how an eclipse happens when
one celestial body, such as Moon or a planet, moves into the shadow of
another celestial body.
This module will teach to master the concepts and analyze that
Filipinos have superstitious beliefs about the eclipse (S7ES-IVj-12). They
believe that eclipses are the signs that a bad event will soon happen. Some
believe that a giant sea serpent called Bakunawa rises from the sea and
eats the Sun or the Moon, causing the eclipse.
After going through this module, expect to:
1. enumerate some common superstitious beliefs and practices
of the community concerning eclipse.
2. distinguish superstitious beliefs from real evidence based
scientific phenomenon.

What’s In 5

Activity 1: Once Upon a Time!

Read the short story below and answer the ff. questions

1. Maria, a Grade 7 student, is walking home from school. It was 11:35 in high
noon. Suddenly, she noticed that the surrounding became dark. She was
frightened of what is happening. She ran so fast until she reached their
house. "Nanay! Nanay! I am on my way home when the surroundings became
dark. What happened, Nanay? She breathlessly asked her mother. ( Story by
Paulo M. Dela Cruz)
2. Juan and his friends were having a trip on an open field. It was a full Moon.
They decided to have a food trip after the examination days in school. They
were singing while his friend Jose was playing the guitar around a bonfire.
They noticed that the surrounding became dark. They look up and saw the
Moon slowly covered by darkness. After a while, the beautiful and unique
 Moon said hello to them. What a fantastic experience from the group. ( Story
by Paulo M. Dela Cruz)
3. Ana is eight months pregnant with her second child. She went to the town
with her cousin name Adelfa. They wanted to go to the church because it
was a barangay fiesta. Suddenly, they noticed that the sky starts to darken.
Ana was then so afraid of what's happening. People were quite confused as
they looked at the darkened sky. They were amazed, for it was their first time
to experience seeing a sudden change from light to a dark sky. Then, a
woman came and approached them. The woman said, cover your stomach
with a black cloth and go home quickly.

Questions:
1. What kind of eclipse was experienced by Maria? By Juan? (5 points)
________________________________________________________________________
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2. What happened to the Sun? To the Moon? (5 points)
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3. Why did the older woman tell Ana to go home quickly? (5 points)
________________________________________________________________________
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What’s New 20

Activity 2. I BELIEVE!

Objective: After the activity, the student should be to evaluate some beliefs
about eclipses.
Procedure:
1. Interview members of your family such as your lola, lolo, auntie or uncle
including your parents and siblings. Ask them about some beliefs and
practices being carried on from generation to generation in the family
regarding the occurrence of eclipse, summarize and list them down in the
 first column of Table 1. Same or related answers must be written in the
same. column.

2. Decide if any scientific fact supports the stated superstitious beliefs. If yes,
put a check under the column of Evident. If no scientific explanation that
can help the views, check under Not Evident.

TABLE 1. Beliefs related to eclipses and scientific bases

Direction: Write check ✓mark if the superstitious belief is evident and mark X if it
is not apparent.
Scientific Basis
Superstitious Beliefs Evident Not Evident
1. During a solar eclipse,
the Bakunawa eats the
Sun.

2. Any food cooked while

an eclipse happens will
be poisonous and
unpure.

3. An eclipse is
dangerous for pregnant
woman and their
unborn child.

4. It's not safe to look

directly at the Sun
during a solar eclipse.

5. Offer a cultural dance

during the eclipse so
that darkness will not
be forever.

6. The Sun and the Moon

are not fighting during
an eclipse.

7. The lunar eclipse is an

assault on the Moon.

8. Need to make noise to

drive away evil spirit
during an eclipse.
 9. Throw red flowers to
pregnant so that the
unborn baby will
survive.

10. Flowers planted during

a solar eclipse are
brighter and more
colorful than flowers
planted any other time
of the year.

What is it
MYTH
All Tagalogs call eclipses as laho. Others call it eklepse (pronounce as
written). Older adults would tell you that during laho or eklepse, the Sun and
the Moon are eaten by a giant snake called BAKUNAWA. The only way to bring
them back is to create a thunderous noise. The BAKUNAWA gets irritated with
the noise and spews out the Sun and the Moon back to the people.

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Bakunawa
BELIEFS AND SUPERSTITIONS ON ECLIPSE
It has its share of mysticism for people. In the Philippines, some people
believe that a giant dragon or snake called BAKUNAWA in the Visayan region
swallows the Moon, causing a lunar eclipse. People go out from their houses and
make different kinds of noise in the belief that the ruckus will frighten the dragon
into releasing the Moon. This tradition started from Ancient Chinese.

In Science, explanations are supported with evidence. Beliefs related to

eclipses, such as the Sun being swallowed by BAKUNAWA or the increase of
harmful microorganisms during an eclipse, are passed on by adults to young
children. But until now, no proof has been offered to show that they are correct.

However, some beliefs have scientific bases. For example, it is terrible to look
directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse. Doing so will damage your eyes. This
is true. Even if only a thin crescent of the Sun is left uncovered by the Moon, it
will still be too bright for you to observe. It is 10 000 times brighter than the Full
Moon, and it will certainly harm your retina. So, if you ever watch a solar eclipse,
be ready with a solar filter or welder's goggles to protect your eyes.

Now, you are informed of the occurrence of eclipses. The next time an eclipse
occurs, your task is to explain to your family or the community the factors that
cause an eclipse.

What’s More
10
Activity 3. WORDSTORM (2 points each)

Direction: Find the five keywords and connect the letters to form a
word using the across and down clues.
S S A R H G A D E A
E N B A I I H B D J
H A I G M D I U S O
G K O U S G E S F K
T E C L I P S E G T
K F B S A S U E U L
O E B A K U N A W A
R J E H R E O G O H
S V R E E U S J S O
Across
1. It is the result when the Moon’s shadow crosses the Earth’s surface.
2. It represents the God of the Underworld.
Downward
3. Accordingly, the Sun and the Moon are eaten by a BAKUNAWA
known as a giant ____.
4. It gives light to every living organism.
5. It is the Tagalog term for the eclipse.
 What I Have Learned 10

ACTIVITY 4. JUMBLED LETTERS ( 2 points each)

Direction: Unscramble the letters to form a word that fits the statement below.

1. ESPILEC - is the partial or complete blocking from

the view of one object by another.
2. AWANUKAB - a giant dragon whom people believed to
swallow the Moon.
3. NOOM - it is only found at night.
4. YESE - part of the CNS that is directly affected
by eclipse when too much exposure
5. PERSUITSSUOIT - a belief that has no scientific basis at
all.

What I Can Do 25

Activity 5. HOW CAN I?

Direction: Make a short essay on how you are going to address the
misconceptions of people regarding their beliefs and practices about
eclipse without offending them or disregarding the rich culture and
tradition of your community.

____________________________________________________________________
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 Assessment 15

Directions. Encircle the letter of the best answer.

1. It is the result when the Moon's shadow crosses the Earth's surface
A. Moonlight
B. Eclipse
C. Sunlight
D. Shadowing
2. What part of the eyes will be damaged when too much exposure to
eclipse?
A. Iris
B. Pupil
C. Lens
D. Retina
3. What should we wear for the protection of the eyes during an eclipse?
A. Eye cloth
B. Contact lens
C. Goggles
D. Eye towel
4. What word describes a traditional story concerning the early history of a
people or explains a natural phenomenon?
A. Legend
B. Fairy tale
C. Myth
D. Fable
5. What belief has no scientific basis?
A. Scientific belief
B. Superstitious belief
C. Traditional belief
D. Phenomenological belief
6. What word represents giant snake to Tagalog people?
A. Bakunawa
B. Halas
C. Laho
D. Sawa
7. What is the Tagalog word for the eclipse?
A. A
B. Sawa
C. Laho
D. Dragon
8. Which of the following is not a superstitious belief?
A. Walis tingting pointing at the darkening sky to eliminate the dark
sky
B. People will offer a cultural dance to avoid eclipse
C. Need to make a noise to drive away from the lousy spirit during
an eclipse
D. It's not safe to look directly at the Sun during an eclipse.
9. How many times is that eclipse brighter than the Full Moon?
A. 1000 times
B. 10000 times
C. 1 000 000 times
D. 100 times
10. When the Moon turns dark during a Full Moon, it is known as:
A. Solar eclipse
B. Lunar eclipse
C. Total eclipse
D. Solar-Lunar eclipse
 Assessment
1. B
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. D
9. B
10. B
Activity 3. Activity 1.
Across 1.Maria experienced solar
1. Eclipse eclipse/Juan experienced
2. Bakunawa a lunar eclipse
DOWNWARD 2.The Sun seemed to be
3. Snake covered by the Moon that
4.Sun made the surroundings
5. Laho dark, and the Moon
appeared to be covered
by the Earth's shadow,
Activity 4. causing the full Moon to
1.ECLIPSE fade away at night.
2. BAKUNAWA 3. Due to eclipse.
3. MOON
4. EYES Activity 2.
5. SUPERSTITIOUS 1.X 6./
2.X 7.x
Activity 5. 3.x 8. x
Answers may vary 4./ 9.x
5.X 10. x
Answer Key- Gr7Q4W8 Science
Books:
Science Learning Guide Grade-7, Page 357-358
Science Teachers Guide Grade – 7, Page 335
Caoibes, Efren P. Practical Science Grade 7. United Eferza Academic Publication Co. 2012
Zunal.com/conclusion.php?w=296
www.readwritethink.org
https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Bakunawa

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