Eclipses Complete Lesson Plan - MS

Everything you need for an engaging, ready-to-teach unit on eclipses is included in this resource! Students will explore how the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth determine the type of eclipse and model how shadows create partial and total eclipses. With editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, this multiday lesson is comprehensive yet low-prep.

Through differentiated, student-led activities, your students stay engaged while you focus on supporting their success.

Essential Questions

• Can you describe how the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth determine the type of eclipse?

• Can you model how the shadow cast in an eclipse causes partial and total eclipses?

Why Teachers Love This Lesson

• Differentiated materials for students who need more support

• Multimodal activities to engage diverse learners

• Maximum flexibility—use it digitally or in print

• Editable PowerPoints for classroom customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, reading passages, and interactive notebook pages

Built on the research-based 5E Instructional Model (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation), this lesson provides a structured path for meaningful science learning.

What’s Included

Engagement

• Lesson objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, classroom activities, and common misconceptions

Exploration – Student-Led Station Lab
Nine differentiated stations let students investigate eclipses through multiple learning styles:

Input Stations (absorb content)

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) + comprehension questions

• Research It! – Online tasks with guided responses

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection prompts

Output Stations (show understanding)

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts

• Write It! – Open-ended short-answer responses

• Illustrate It! – Sketches or diagrams to reinforce recall

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context activity

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Enrichment activities such as crosswords, games, and mini-projects for early finishers

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints (standard & interactive versions)

• Interactive notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaboration

• Student-choice projects on eclipses for in-class or at-home extension

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–style assessments (standard & modified versions)

• Review worksheet for practice, homework, or discussion

Flexible for Any Classroom

This lesson is perfect for both in-person and virtual learning. Station labs, interactive notebooks, and presentations are fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.