by Look up! In the sky! It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Superman. No! Not this time. Sorry. It’s a total solar eclipse — the most exciting celestial event to take place in 99 years and it’s happening on August 21, 2017.
For the first time since June 8, 1918, a total solar eclipse will become visible across the entire contiguous United States (not all eclipses cover the entire USA) and you and your family do not want to miss this memory making moment. Ready to have some cosmic fun? Here’s how to prepare for the big day:
Send your kids to space! Virtually, of course. Space Racers has a website filled with information about what the solar eclipse is and the science behind it. Perfect for kids ages 2-11, this online portal is the perfect place to learn everything and anything about the eclipse.
Get crafty! Bust out paint and have your little one paint one paper plate as the moon and the other as the sun, like this. Let the plates dry and then give your kids a preview of just how the solar eclipse works with their art! Looking for more ways to celebrate the intersection of this cosmic event with art? Hit up Pinterest for endless ideas!
Make a time capsule! There’s no better time than on the day of “The Great American Eclipse” to create a time capsule. Plan ahead to have your kid’s write letters to their future selves, throw in a newspaper of the day, and list future predictions … put them in a capsule, seal them up, bury them, and make plans to open it during the next eclipse on April 8, 2024. Need more ideas of what to add to your capsule? NASA has you covered.
Turn up the tunes! Nothing says celebration more than music. Curate a playlist to listen to on the day of the eclipse that will have the whole family dancing. Cue up songs about the moon, the sun, and get your kids in on the musical fun. Need some inspiration? Start with Bonnie Tyler’s classic “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Cat Steven’s “Moonshadow,” or King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight.”
Take an epic eclipse glasses pic! The only and safe way to enjoy the eclipse is through solar filters, so make sure your family has the appropriate eclipse glasses. You can pick them up here from the NASA approved list of vendors. On the day of the eclipse, make sure you snap a family photo with everyone in their eclipse glasses. We suggest you take a variety of pics (funny ones, serious ones, sweet ones) to really commemorate the special moment in the sky.
Whether you’re celebrating the eclipse at home or taking a road trip to see this stellar show, Keepy wants you and your family make special memories together.
