While other Central Texas children were enjoying the holiday Monday, students in the China Springs Independent School District were getting an education about solar eclipses, including one directly overhead.
In Ashlyn Stewart's second-grade class, students made their own solar glasses, looked up science vocabulary, drew a solar eclipse, and received instruction on eclipse viewing safety.
Those lessons appear to have helped second-grader Connor Kirchfield, 8, who along with his classmates were looking forward to the eclipse starting at 12:20pm on Monday.
“You need special glasses because you can go blind in seconds,” he said. “I’m scared and excited, but mostly excited.”
While other school districts around Central Texas canceled classes due to traffic and safety concerns, China Spring ISD officials decided to turn Texas' first total solar eclipse in 146 years into an educational opportunity. The school district planned to distribute eclipse glasses to students on Monday.
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Stewart said the students at China Spring Elementary School practiced wearing eclipse glasses during a fire drill last week and are confident they understand the safety concerns of viewing the eclipse.
“Honestly, we've heard a lot about it and actually practiced it last week, so we feel like it's going to work because they know what to expect for the eclipse,” she said. .
“When they first heard about it, they weren't really sure what it was, but as more videos were shown and we did more activities, they got really excited. .”
Sophomore Cooper Yeager, 8, said he was most looking forward to seeing a total solar eclipse after learning that he would be 28 years old the next time Texas would see one.
“It's good, but it's also scary,” he said. “I don't want my glasses to fall off.”
Shannon Fields, a science teacher at China Springs High School, taught second- and third-graders about solar eclipses and eye safety during a 7:55 a.m. integrated physics and chemistry class.
“It's exciting and it's real-world,” Fields said. “It makes you realize that the science is real and this is really happening and they can see it.”
Third-grader Chris Boyd, 16, said he wasn't looking forward to coming to school Monday, but he's already learned a lot.
“I didn't really want to go to school, but I don't know. My mother said it would be good to learn about things like this,” he said. “I thought lunar and solar eclipses were the same thing.''
Third-grader Josh McClanahan, 17, said he was happy to be at school today and was looking forward to watching the eclipse with his friends later.
“I'm excited about the eclipse,” McClanahan said. “I have never seen a total solar eclipse in my life, only partial solar eclipses.”
The eclipse was expected to begin at 12:20 p.m. and end around 3 p.m. Students in China Springs will also be able to see a total star that lasts from 1:38 p.m. to 1:42 p.m.
Boyd said she's a little scared to watch the eclipse today because she wants to protect her eyesight.
“I don't want to go blind,” he said. “I don't know if my glasses are going to fall off.”
Mr. Fields made sure to tell his students not to view the eclipse without glasses. She also warned her to be careful to look at the whole thing without protecting her eyes.
“I think they understand,” she said. “They're high school students. I'm worried about the little kids in elementary school.”
Before the bell rang to end class, Fields made sure to hand out moon pies to the students as a treat to celebrate the solar eclipse.