PENFIELD, N.Y. (WROC) — The constant theme of the eclipse has always been learning. It’s happened from the very young to the old, and everyone in between as we’ve all tried to wrap our head around this once in a lifetime event.
For many school districts it’s been a great opportunity for students to play a role in the education process too. The Penfield High School Eclipse Club is one of the many student-led groups that has led outreach to younger students while also gaining valuable learning experiences themselves.
“After the first meeting I was like oh this is definitely something I want to be, I want to do,” said Alyssa Yang, a junior and the Secretary of the Penfield High School Eclipse Club. “We started off kind of just with the high schoolers…slowly we built up plans to expand this to the elementary and middle schools.”
The club has been focused on helping the district prepare for the upcoming eclipse as well as building lesson plans for the elementary schools.
“For kindergarten through 2nd grade we read them a story called Jenny See’s the Eclipse about a cow on a farm who sees the eclipse for the first time and then they did a coloring sheet with like little journal prompts on the back that they can answer on April 8th,” said Leah Reichman, a junior and the President of the Penfield High School Eclipse Club.
They also did an activity you can do at home with your own family to better understand how the eclipse comes together.
“We pass everyone out lollipop and we had them cover one of their eyes and move the lollipop around to try and cover us or their teacher’s faces and that models the moon, the sun and the Earth during the eclipse,” said Reichman.
The learning opportunities aren’t limited to the younger students either, Grace Stevens, a senior and aspiring teacher took this as an opportunity to start preparing for her future career.
Definitely leading up to the trips elementary school. It was a lot of balancing things which will be useful in college and also the lesson plans. Creating those with Lia and Alyssa would help me in my future career,” said Stevens.
At the end of the day excitement at least for these three remains high, even if in the halls it’s not the hottest topic amongst everyone.
“I’m so excited! I have my glasses already,” said Reichman
“Before I came to eclipse club I didn’t know that it was happening and it was really just eclipse club that really like showed me how important it is and how like this is the once in a lifetime event and it was really really eye-opening for me so I’m really excited,” said Stevens.
“It’s very high. I will say that I think this is close. Definitely is like this once in a lifetime opportunity and I can’t wait to see it”, said Yang.
And while she wanted the focus to be only on the students it’s also important to acknowledge Mrs. Watterson who is the faculty advisor for the club and has also put in countless hours of work.
