Planning for most LMS events starts weeks or even months in advance, but a recent celebration at the school marked an event that had been on calendars all around the world for years longer than that, a total solar eclipse which would be visible in our skies. Solar eclipses occur several times a year as the moon passes between Earth and the sun, but total solar eclipses - where the moon completely blocks the light of the sun - are more rare, occurring every few years but typically in isolated areas like the middle of the ocean or at the North and South poles, not often in places where many people are able to view them. In 2017, people in North America were able to witness this phenomenon for the first time since 1979, and after this April’s eclipse, our country won’t be in the path of totality again until 2044, so even though Lookout Mountain’s view of the eclipse was only about 88 percent obscured, it was still an incredible sight to see (but not to look at directly, of course)!
LMS students spent the morning of the eclipse refreshing their knowledge about what would be happening in the skies later that afternoon. The older students looked back at their notes from earlier in the year about the mechanics of our solar system, while younger students were reminded again (and then again, and then again) not to look at the sun without their special glasses. One teacher remarked that she heard the kindergarteners excitedly chanting “Celery chips! Celery chips!” while lined up for lunch, and so after she’d had a good chuckle, she corrected them from “celery chips” to “so-lar e-clipse,” and reminded them again not to stare directly at it. Classroom snacks that morning very appropriately consisted of Moon Pies or Sun Chips, as all ages anxiously watched the cloudy weather to see if they would have a chance to see the eclipse at all!
After lunch, the whole school donned eclipse glasses and gathered on the LMS field for the celebration. Art teacher Ryan Patterson curated a perfect playlist for the day that rang out through the speakers as the children played; she selected songs to play in order of the progress of the eclipse, including “Moondance,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Blinded by the Light.”
Science teacher Mary Avans cued students to the progress of the moon’s movement along with other changes to expect such as a drop in temperature. She also led the grades in trivia questions about moon phases, with winning answers earning candy prizes! Students were placed around the field with their “buddies” from other grades; the fifth-graders were able to share with their kindergarten partners how they could just barely remember their last totality event in 2017, which occurred the year before they started their own kindergarten journey at LMS and before their buddies were even born!
As the school day came towards its end, the eclipse came towards its maximum coverage, and the clouds cooperated just enough to get some memorable and stunning views of this rare phenomenon. As little but a ring of the sun’s light remained visible, the students fittingly played “Ring Around the Rosie” while Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” played over the speakers. Ancient civilizations may have celebrated similar events with singing and dancing, but they didn’t have Johnny Cash to keep the beat! Students will not soon forget this special day, and 20 years down the line - when they are in their mid-20s and early-30s as the next totality occurs in our area in 2044 - they may even be telling their own kids about the totality they saw a part of in 2024 on the field at LMS surrounded by friends and fun!
by Meredith Brown
LMS students spent the morning of the eclipse refreshing their knowledge about what would be happening in the skies later that afternoon. The older students looked back at their notes from earlier in the year about the mechanics of our solar system, while younger students were reminded again (and then again, and then again) not to look at the sun without their special glasses. One teacher remarked that she heard the kindergarteners excitedly chanting “Celery chips! Celery chips!” while lined up for lunch, and so after she’d had a good chuckle, she corrected them from “celery chips” to “so-lar e-clipse,” and reminded them again not to stare directly at it. Classroom snacks that morning very appropriately consisted of Moon Pies or Sun Chips, as all ages anxiously watched the cloudy weather to see if they would have a chance to see the eclipse at all!
After lunch, the whole school donned eclipse glasses and gathered on the LMS field for the celebration. Art teacher Ryan Patterson curated a perfect playlist for the day that rang out through the speakers as the children played; she selected songs to play in order of the progress of the eclipse, including “Moondance,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Blinded by the Light.”
Science teacher Mary Avans cued students to the progress of the moon’s movement along with other changes to expect such as a drop in temperature. She also led the grades in trivia questions about moon phases, with winning answers earning candy prizes! Students were placed around the field with their “buddies” from other grades; the fifth-graders were able to share with their kindergarten partners how they could just barely remember their last totality event in 2017, which occurred the year before they started their own kindergarten journey at LMS and before their buddies were even born!
As the school day came towards its end, the eclipse came towards its maximum coverage, and the clouds cooperated just enough to get some memorable and stunning views of this rare phenomenon. As little but a ring of the sun’s light remained visible, the students fittingly played “Ring Around the Rosie” while Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” played over the speakers. Ancient civilizations may have celebrated similar events with singing and dancing, but they didn’t have Johnny Cash to keep the beat! Students will not soon forget this special day, and 20 years down the line - when they are in their mid-20s and early-30s as the next totality occurs in our area in 2044 - they may even be telling their own kids about the totality they saw a part of in 2024 on the field at LMS surrounded by friends and fun!
by Meredith Brown