1. First things first!
What: A total solar eclipse When: August 21, 2017 beginning in Salem, Oregon at 9:05 a.m. PDT and ending near Charleston, SC at 2:48 P.M. EDT. Where: Totality will be visible along a narrow path from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. All of the contiguous US will be able to see at least a partial eclipse. NASA's Interactive Eclipse Map Why: The moon will be blocking the sun!

2. Student-Led Stations
For the following “Hot Ideas” I intend to assign two or three 8th grade student volunteers to each station. Each group would then use the given information to put together their own station. They would have the liberty to add/delete/modify their stations to make them interesting, eye-catching, and enjoyable to our guests. They will be reminded of not only the importance of accuracy of facts, careful writing to avoid spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors, but also their visual and verbal presentation skills. This is something I plan to review with them in the final weeks of this school year. We will also review our manners and professionalism that will be required the day of the event.

4. Hot Idea #6-- Cookie Moons and Stars
This could be as simple as purchasing Moon Pies to share. Even more fun would be to do as my family did recently! I purchased vanilla wafers and a tub of white frosting. We had fun experimenting with food coloring, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, rope licorice, an chocolate chips.
Materials Needed:
Sugar cookies or vanilla wafers
Bowls filled with frosting in shades of white, yellow, orange, red,
gray, and black with toothpicks for swirling
Rope licorice for solar flares
Mini chocolate chips and red sprinkles for sun spots
Add even more varieties of sprinkles…the possibilities are endless.
Kiddos will come up with even more designs!

5. Hot Idea #11---Apollo Fact Station
NASA's Apollo Missions
Of the various Apollo missions, students could be chosen to share information and images. This could be a summary of the mission’s goals, crew, and significant events.
Another idea would be for one group of students to create an Apollo timeline and highlight significant dates, crew, and events.
Check out Google Moon! Everything you ever wanted to know about our moon-including Apollo mission details!
Apollo emblem.
Credits: NASA