Famous Things

Solar = sun

Eclipses covered

Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions
= when the moon passes between the sun and the earth,
1. Do you know what a solar eclipse is? the sun's light is blocked/eclipsed by the moon

lunar eclipse = the earth is between

2. What is another type of eclipse? the sun and the moon

3. Have you ever seen an eclipse?

4. Why is it dangerous to look at a solar eclipse? = the sudden bright light can cause permanent damage to your eyes

5. What’s the difference between partial solar eclipse = only a part of the sun is blocked
a partial and a total solar eclipse? total solar eclipse = the full sun is blocked

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match up as many words and meanings as you can.

Check this exercise again after seeing the words in context on pages 2 and 3.

1. phase a) in a position that leans to one side

2. illumination b) not entirely, only partly

3. momentarily c) amazing to see

4. alignment d) for a short time

5. angle e) all in the same position

6. spectacular f) the lighting up of something

7. reflect g) a recurring stage in a process

8. civilization h) to throw back light or an image

9. partially i) an evil spirit

10. demon j) a stage of cultural development in a specific area

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 Solar Eclipses
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Pre-Reading cont.
C. Information Preview

Before you learn about solar eclipses,

it’s useful to know some basic facts about the Moon.

The Phases of the Moon

1. Only one side of the Moon, the near side, is visible from Earth.
This is because the Moon’s rotational period (on its axis) and its
orbital period (around the Earth) are the same. The side we don’t see is
often referred to as the far side of the moon.

2. The amount of illumination that we see as the Moon orbits Earth is

called a phase. The Moon has eight phases, beginning with new moon
when it is invisible from Earth. As the Moon waxes it becomes more
visible. As it wanes, it becomes less visible. It takes about 29.5 days
for the Moon to go through all of its phases. This is how we get
the word “month.”

new moon waxing first waxing full moon waning last waning
crescent quarter gibbous gibbous quarter crescent

Note: Capitalization:
The diagram above depicts how the Moon appears When referring to celestial bodies by name
from the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern in a scientific text, it is common to style them
Hemisphere, the phases are the same, but the as proper nouns (the Sun, the Moon, Earth) to
Moon appears upside down. distinguish them from other suns, moons, etc.

In non-scientific texts, these words are typically

written as common nouns (sun, moon, earth). Moon
phases (new moon, full moon, etc.) are not capitalized.

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 Solar Eclipses
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Reading
1. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and On August 21, 2017,
Earth and casts a shadow that momentarily blocks out the light.
This only happens during a new moon phase. The Sun, Moon, and
a total solar eclipse
Earth must also be in alignment. Since the Moon orbits Earth at was visible from
a slight angle of about five degrees, this alignment is rare. a thin band across
2. A total solar eclipse is when the alignment is perfect. For a short time, the continental US.
the Moon completely blocks the Sun, and the only light that shines
is a fiery glow from the Sun’s atmosphere. This spectacular light is The next total
called the corona.
solar eclipse visible
3. To experience a total solar eclipse, you have to be in the exact location
on Earth that is experiencing the full shadow of the Moon (the umbra).
in North America
This is called the path of totality. If you are near the edge of the shadow is on April 8, 2024.
(the penumbra), you will experience a partial solar eclipse. This is when
the Sun and Moon are not quite aligned, so only part of the Sun is
blocked from Earth.

4. Sometimes the Moon is farther away from Earth and appears smaller
in the sky. During this type of eclipse, the Moon won’t completely block
the Sun but will cast a shadow on its centre, leaving a ring of light.
This is called an annular solar eclipse.

5. Another type of eclipse is a lunar eclipse. This is when the Earth’s

shadow blocks the Sun from reflecting off the Moon. A total lunar
eclipse only occurs during the full moon phase if the Sun, Moon, and
Earth are in perfect alignment. There can be up to four solar eclipses
and three lunar eclipses each year.

6. Long ago, ancient civilizations came up with a variety of reasons why

the Sun sometimes disappeared fully or partially. The Chinese blamed
a hungry dragon. Native Americans blamed an angry bear. The Greeks
considered it a sign from the gods that disaster was coming. People
in many parts of the world made loud noises to try to scare away the
demons and get the Sun back.

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 Solar Eclipses
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Comprehension
A. True or False?

Read the statements below.

If the statement is true, write T beside the sentence.
If it is false, write F and correct the information.

1. A solar eclipse occurs when Earth’s shadow blocks the Sun.

2. The Moon orbits Earth at an angle of five degrees.

3. The ring that you see in an annular solar eclipse is called the corona.

4. You can only see a total lunar eclipse during the new moon phase.

5. The ancient Chinese thought a dragon ate the Sun during a solar eclipse.

B. Ask & Answer

Practise asking and answering the following questions with your partner.
Then write your answers in complete sentences in your notebook.

1. What is the reading mainly about?

2. What phase must the Moon be in for a total solar eclipse to occur?

3. What is the difference between a partial solar eclipse and a total solar eclipse?

4. What is the identifying feature of an annular solar eclipse?

5. How does a lunar eclipse occur?

6. Why does the reading mention a bear and a dragon?

7. Why would ancient civilizations bang pots and pans during solar eclipses?

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 Solar Eclipses
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Vocabulary Review
A. Matching

Match the scientific words to their descriptions. Use each answer only once.

1. total solar eclipse a) the edge of a shadow

2. the path of totality b) the location on Earth where a total solar eclipse is visible

3. lunar eclipse c) an event where the Moon completely blocks the Sun

4. penumbra d) the fiery light of the Sun’s atmosphere

5. new moon e) the lunar phase when the Moon is invisible from Earth

6. corona f) an event where Earth’s shadow blocks the Sun from the Moon

B. Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences using vocabulary from page 1.

You may need to change the word forms.

1. Seeing the lunar eclipse was a event.

2. I’ll be with you . I just have to grab a coffee.

3. The colours from the artwork on the window.

4. You are to blame. You left the door open.

5. The shelf isn’t level. It’s on an .

6. She’s just going through a . All teenagers do.

7. They used fire and smoke to cast out evil .

8. The desks and chairs need to be straight. I want everything in perfect .

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 Solar Eclipses
Famous Things

Discussion
1. Have you ever seen a solar or lunar eclipse?
Describe your experience.

2. Are you interested in learning about the

science of the universe? Why or why not?

3. Which country (if any) do you think will be next to land

on the Moon? When do you predict this will happen?

4. Should schools in the path of totality close for a total

solar eclipse? Why might this be a safety precaution?

5. What does it mean when people say, “Let’s hope

Mother Nature cooperates”? Why might this
expression be used on the day of an eclipse?

Grammar in Context
SOLAR ECLIPSE SAFETY

1. It is always dangerous to look directly at the Sun. 4. The only time it is safe to look up at the Sun
You can burn the retinas of your eyes. During a without protective eye wear is during the final
solar eclipse, it is tempting to stare at the Sun stage of a total solar eclipse when the Sun is
because it is a spectacular event and because it completely blocked out (totality). You must
feels more comfortable than usual, but staring at keep your glasses on until the last bead of light
the Sun at any time can cause severe eye damage disappears. You don’t have to wear your glasses
or blindness. during totality. In fact, you have to take them
off or you won’t see anything. As soon as the
2. To experience a solar eclipse, you must wear
Sun begins to appear again, you must look away
protective eye wear. Purchase special glasses
or put your protective eye wear back on.
that are specifically meant for viewing eclipses.
These may be called “solar viewing glasses,“ 5. Alternatively, you can view the solar eclipse
“eclipse glasses,” or “personal solar filters.” indirectly by making a simple pinhole camera.

3. You must not view a solar eclipse with the naked

eye, and you also must not view one through
sunglasses, a camera, binoculars, or a telescope.
In addition, you must not use solar viewing glasses
with magnifying equipment because solar viewing
glasses are not strong enough to protect you
when the Sun is magnified. You have to purchase
“solar filters” to safely view a solar eclipse from
binoculars or a telescope.

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