Astronomical Events and Homeschooling ~ Episode 521 Are you ready for an astronomical event, the total solar eclipse? Well, today (April 8, 2024) is the day if you are listening to this podcast in real time! It is a long-awaited event that has received a lot of press coverage. However, it is one among the many that happen in our skies. Visit Mediaangels.com for immediate downloads such as Character Planners,  Checklist Planners, and, coming soon, the entire set of Organize-IT planners. The go-to website for all things astronomical is the NASA website. The direct link to the total eclipse is here. Here is a great poster for your homeschool about the different types of solar eclipses Earth and Space Science Exploring Solar Eclipses Educational Infographic -MediaAngels.com In the many years of homeschooling, I found that real learning took place when the children were able to experience the events of the day. Whether the events took place before we went on a field trip or after we watched a documentary. Often, we would research first and then follow-up visits whenever possible. When we did a rock study, we coupled it with a family trip to the mountains. This took us to states that actually had good samples of rocks to collect. Florida, where we live, is great for visits to the beach, sedimentary studies, flora and fauna, birds (especially waterfowl), and swamp-type activities. We were card-carrying members of all of the local nature centers and visited the planetarium on a regular basis. I took astronomy in college, and let me tell you, it was not an easy science unless you excelled in math. I thought I was decent, but back in the day our telescopes, while powerful, still had to be adjusted to keep the target in our viewer. I loved it but learned early on that I'd keep it a hobby. The kids had telescopes, and these were not the best; we found that a high-powered pair of binoculars worked best, and a very dark night sky. As a homeschool parent, I always capitalized on "real-time" events with my family. Even if you are not in the direct path of the eclipse, there are so many activities you can do as a family. Here are some ideas that you can follow to get the most out of real-life learning. * Call off your regular school activities and study the path of the total eclipse. * If you are on the path, be sure to get safe eyewear so you can view the eclipse safely. Here is a list of safety guidelines: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/ * Have the children keep a journal of the event. Write down things that you learned about the eclipse and where it traveled, and have the children draw a map of its path. You can find this on the Nasa.gov website here - https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/ * Research other astronomical events coming this year and the next. * Create a 3-D model for the younger children with the planets and the solar system. Other Astronomical Events: * The planets. Often the planets can be seen in the night sky. Set up a time monthly when you check your area to see what planets you can see with a high-powered set of binoculars. * Upcoming launches and landings,