We are counting days the days until the upcoming solar eclipse that happens on April 8, 2024. As a homeschooling family, we enjoy learning about STEM activities and events, especially when they can be seen from our own backyard.
I decided this would be the perfect craft to share with Alex Worstell on Good Day Acadiana for our crafting segment this week. Check out the post from last year on our Macaroni KID New Iberia Facebook Page:
Not only is this an easy, and inexpensive craft for your family to make, but your child will also learn about the stages of and eclipse. For homeschooling families this is a great way to take a lesson outdoors. Creating a pinhole projector is really easy and you can let your child's imagination flow as they decorate, color, or paint their creation.
Supplies to Create a Pinhole Projector
- Empty cardboard box (This can be anything from a cereal box, shoe box, or other mid size box you have around the house.)
- Craft glue and tape
- Paints, brushes, markers, and scissors
- Piece of aluminum foil
- Plain white paper
- Thumbtack or paperclip
- Other crafting items like beans, noodles, stickers, or glitter
 Cereal box pinhole projectorImage by Mia Barletto |
Once you have your box selected, decorate it and paint it. This was the best part of the craft as we decided to mix paints, create a space-themed background, and added some colorful stickers and cut-outs to make it stand out. Let every thing dry after decorating before you begin to create your pinhole projector.
Once everything is dry, place the bottom part of your box on a plain piece of white paper and trace it. Cut it out and place the paper inside the bottom of your box.
Now you will need to cut off the tabs on the top side of the box. You may have to remove them all and then re-tape or glue a piece of them right in the middle of the box as we did.
Once your strip of cardboard is secured in middle top section of the box, wrap a piece of aluminum foil on one side. Now take your thumbtack or a paper clip and puncture a small hole directly in the middle of the foil. Leave the other side open.
Your pinhole projector is ready for the eclipse! On the day of the event, stand with your back to the sun, place your face in the open side of the box and watch the eclipse up close and personal. Remember not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse unless you have your protective eyewear!
What's the Hype Around the Upcoming Eclipse?
Eclipses happen all the time around the world but when it happens to be a total solar eclipse with the moon passing directly between the sun and the earth, it tends to be a pretty big deal.
This is a great time to learn more about this event with your children and we have a few links for you to use for activities and other learning as a family:
NASA Express offers plenty of STEM activities and other resources for children of all ages. You can follow them on social media as well and get newsletters on other events and science activities for kids.
The Farmers' Almanac: The Great Solar Eclipse of 2024
This is an amazing resource for anyone interested in science, astronomy and more. They have a detailed breakdown on the path of the eclipse and what you can expect based on where you are. There is so much on this site, I promise you will find something of interest!
Join us next time on Good Day Acadiana on Wednesday, April 17, 2024,
from 7:00 am to 9:00 am for more fun, inexpensive kid's crafts you can make at home.
You can also catch the live stream of News 15 Today online.
Or, catch up on our past crafting segments with Alex Worstell on News 15 KADN on their You Tube Channel.
Happy Crafting Acadiana! |
