Project

Eclipse Nature Notes

Connecting eclipse observations across the country.

We've developed Eclipse Nature Notes to support learners in writing about their observations during the solar eclipse. A Nature Note is a detailed description of an interesting or noteworthy observation from the field. Nature Notes are short, specific to a time and place, and grounded in background information. The most exciting Nature Notes add to existing scientific knowledge and raise interesting questions for further investigation.

Eclipse Nature Note Goals:

  • Enable educators to instruct their groups on science writing about the eclipse.
  • Share Eclipse Nature Notes for anyone to see, raising engagement for eclipse experiences across the country.

Writing Frame

The starting point for writing up observations from the eclipse.

Eclipse Nature Note Writing Frame

Training Webinars

Webinars are free to attend and are designed to help anyone get more information about creating a Nature Note themselves or with their group. Details of all upcoming webinars are on our Eclipse page.

Recordings of previous trainings:

Feedback and review

This stage of the Nature Note process allows students to review each other’s work. We recommend leaders distribute work among their group for supported review.

Eclipse Nature Note Feedback Form

Observation Resources

Process

Anyone who experiences the total solar eclipse in 2024 will have something to say about it. We want to enable these stories to add to our existing knowledge and to be grounded in background information. We also want to showcase these observations to create a lasting impact for others to see. We will add any submitted Eclipse Nature Notes to our map.

Eclipse map

This is a screenshot of a map showing the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse.

More Information

An overview of the Nature Note and Findings from the Field project:

23-24 Findings Overview Presentation

Training for the Nature Note process:

Nature Note Training

Project Team

  • Terance Finnegan, GMRI Eclipse Coordinator
  • Catherine Bursk, GMRI Science Instruction Specialist

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