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5 activities to get kids excited for the first Solar Eclipse of 2025

5 activities to get kids excited for the first Solar Eclipse of 2025

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Mar 29, 2025, 12:35 IST

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The first solar eclipse of the year will happen tomorrow. No one will see a total eclipse, but partial views will be visible in parts of North America, Europe, Africa, northern Asia, South America, Greenland, and Iceland. Fun and safe activities like making eclipse viewers and glow-in-the-dark art can help kids appreciate this celestial event.

5 activities to get kids excited for the first Solar Eclipse of 2025

The first solar eclipse of the year will occur tomorrow (March 29, 2025). One of the most spectacular celestial phenomena, the solar eclipse has scientific significance; in some cultures it has a strong traditional and religious significance as well.
Solar eclipse is usually visible to certain parts of the earth. However, this time no one will be able to watch the total solar eclipse. "The central part of the Moon’s shadow, where the Sun would appear completely blocked, misses Earth, so no one will be able to see a total solar eclipse this time," NASA has said. "Viewers will see a partial solar eclipse in sections of North America, Europe, Africa, northern Asia, small parts of South America, throughout Greenland and Iceland, as well as much of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans," it added.
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s coolest spectacles—when the moon sneaks in front of the sun and turns daytime into a cosmic wonderland! But let’s be honest, kids might not get excited just by hearing, “Hey, a solar eclipse is happening.�?They need something hands-on, engaging, and fun to really appreciate the magic of this celestial event.
See More: Solar Eclipse 2025: 5 things to do before, during, and after solar eclipse

Here are five engaging activities that will help your kid understand solar eclipse:

Make a DIY solar eclipse viewer

One of the most important lessons to teach kids is that looking directly at the sun—even during an eclipse—is dangerous. But that doesn’t mean they can’t experience the magic safely! Making a pinhole projector is a simple and fun science experiment.

For this you need a shoebox or a thick piece of cardboard, aluminum foil, a pin or needle, white paper and tape.
Here's how to do it:
Cut a small hole on one side of the shoebox (or cardboard sheet).
Cover the hole with aluminum foil and poke a tiny hole in it with the needle.
Tape a white piece of paper on the inside, opposite the hole, as your projection screen.
Stand with your back to the sun, let the light pass through the hole, and watch as the eclipse is projected safely onto the paper!
See More: Solar Eclipse 2025: When and where to see it? Visibility in India, safety tips on how to watch it?

Tell them different stories of the world

Did you know that different cultures have fascinating myths about solar eclipses? Read stories about solar eclipses from various cultures. Have the kids act out the legends as a play. Encourage them to create their own fun eclipse myth and illustrate it! It adds mystery and adventure to the event and makes it more than just a science lesson.
See More: What causes a solar eclipse? The science behind it

Help them make a glow-in-the-dark art depicting the solar eclipse

Why not turn this celestial event into an artistic masterpiece? Get some glow-in-the-dark paint and let kids create their own solar eclipse artwork! Take black paper and some glow-in-the-dark paints. You can use plates or small bowls to trace out the sun and moon.
Trace a large circle (the sun) and a smaller overlapping circle (the moon). Use glow-in-the-dark paint to color the edges of the sun and create a glowing corona effect. Let kids decorate their space scene with stars, planets, and galaxies! Turn off the lights and watch their artwork glow like the real eclipse!
See More: When is Surya Grahan 2025 in India - 29th or 30th March? Correct date, timing, and more

Your kids will definitely love the Oreo cookie experiment

Let’s face it—any activity that involves food instantly gets kids interested! This fun (and delicious) experiment teaches kids about the phases of the solar eclipse using Oreo cookies. For this you need a pack of Oreo cookies, a plastic knife or spoon and a plate.
Here's how to do it
Twist the Oreos apart so one side has the cream.
Use a spoon or knife to scrape away parts of the cream to represent different phases of the eclipse:

Full cookie = No eclipse (normal sun)
Partially scraped = Partial eclipse
Fully scraped = Total eclipse
Arrange them in order and discuss what happens at each phase.
Eat and enjoy! (The best part!)

Make a time lapse video

During a solar eclipse, shadows behave in weird and wonderful ways! Instead of just watching, kids can observe and record shadow changes throughout the event.
For this you need a white paper or a sidewalk to observe shadows, a tree with leafy branches and a smartphone or camera.

You need to exercise caution while doing this. Before the eclipse, place a white paper on the ground under a tree. Watch as tiny crescent-shaped shadows appear as the eclipse progresses! Set up a smartphone to take a time-lapse video of their surroundings during the eclipse. Afterward, review the video and talk about how the light changed!
See more: Saturn Transit in Pisces on March 29, 2025 Live updates; Coincides with Solar Eclipse and Chaitra Amavasya
While it is an excellent idea to enjoy a solar eclipse with your kid, one needs to follow certain safety rules as well. Don’t forget to wear proper eclipse glasses if you plan on looking at the sun directly! Safety first!

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TOI Lifestyle Desk

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