Beneke ES Students Look to the Skies for a Glimpse of Rare Solar Eclipse Event
Witnessing a total solar eclipse – or even a near-total eclipse – can be a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical opportunity for many, and Spring ISD students and teachers weren’t about to miss their chance to celebrate during Monday’s eclipse, which saw the path of totality pass through Texas, not far from the Houston area.
Students prepared ahead of time in science classes and special lessons, and gathered together with their classmates, teachers and administrators on the big day for campus-wide eclipse viewing parties – like the one at Beneke Elementary School, where the district’s official eclipse event took place.
“We wanted them to have the opportunity to see this, and to experience it together with their peers,” Beneke Principal Julie Smith said during the watch party event hosted on her campus. “This will be once-in-a-lifetime that we’re this close to the path of totality here in Houston, so we really wanted them to have that chance.”
Campus staff instructed students ahead of time on how to view the solar eclipse and enjoy it safely, while also helping students understand the event’s astronomical significance.
“From Pre-K to fifth grade, we’ve done different projects just so they all understand that the moon is going in front of the sun, and what that means,” Smith said, “and we’ve tied it into our science curriculum so that it’s not just about the eclipse, but enriches their broader learning experience.”
With the path of totality crossing through central Texas, those in the Houston area had the potential to see between 93 and 95 percent of the sun covered up by the moon, with the event’s peak occurring around 1:40 p.m. local time.
Unfortunately, extensive cloud clover made viewing difficult, but that didn’t dampen spirits at Beneke, where students were able to watch the official eclipse livestream from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), before heading outside around the event’s peak, when small openings in the cloud cover gave the excited students momentary glimpses of the eclipse, all viewed through approved safety eyewear provided for students and staff.
“I’m just super proud of our students,” said Spring ISD Superintendent Dr. Lupita Hinojosa, “and their teachers here at Beneke Elementary made it such a special event, with all the learning that went into it prior to today.”
Fifth grade science teacher Michael Goedecke had worked with his students ahead of time to build models of the eclipse alignment, using painted Styrofoam spheres and toothpicks, all mounted on donated pizza boxes from nearby Marco’s Pizza. As a science teacher, Goedecke said taking part in events like the solar eclipse can form lasting memories to inspire young learners.
“The whole point is we want kids excited about science,” Goedecke said. “We want them doing stuff with their hands, we want them engaged, and just having that joy of learning, that joy of discovery.”
One of Goedecke’s students, fifth grader Francheska Aba-A, said she especially likes her math and science classes, and enjoyed working with her classmates to prepare for the eclipse and the watch party.
“I love learning science,” Aba-a said. “What I personally like is that we get to learn about the world and stuff, because sometimes maybe you won’t be interested at first, but then you start learning and you get interested, and then you want to look for more!”
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shared multiple resources related to the solar eclipse, including its own website dedicated to Monday’s event.
For those who couldn’t see the event due to weather or other factors, NASA also hosted a live broadcast of the eclipse from the path of totality, which can be accessed and rewatched via NASA’s YouTube channel.
Source: Spring ISD
