FRESNO (KMJ) — Central Valley school districts are warning their students not to look directly into the sun, without proper eye protection, during the upcoming solar eclipse.
The August 21st event, which is scheduled to start at around 9am and end at around 11.40am in the Fresno area, is described as an “awe inspiring sight” by NASA.
“We are very excited about the solar eclipse happening,” reveals Fresno Unified’s Jessica Baird.
Special lessons are being planned at Lawless Elementary School, where 4th through 6th grades will be outside wearing protective eye wear, at Computech Middle School, where all 800 students will also be using protective eye wear as well as taking a school photo, and at Sunnyside High School, where children will be using self-built pinhole cameras to view the outer space journey.
“We’ve notified all of our principals to make sure they’re taking the proper safety precautions. You can not view the solar eclipse with sunglasses.”
District officials recommend that all other outside activities, such as P.E. and recess, be held inside or delayed until after the eclipse is over.
A similar stance is being held by Madera Unified, Clovis Unified, and Central Unified. Students with each of those districts are being told about the dangers of looking directly at the eclipse, with children being kept inside unless they are taking part in a lesson which incorporates the blocking of the sun.
NASA’s own web page on the total eclipse can be found clicking here. An interactive solar eclipse map can be found clicking here.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
