Our student-volunteers outside observing the eclipse, wearing the eclipse glassesThe Faculty of Education hosted a solar eclipse viewing party on Monday, April 8, 2024 with the MSVU community turning out for this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. The next total solar eclipse in Atlantic Canada will occur on May 1, 2079.

Current first-year elementary Bachelor of Education students prepared engaging education activities to promote science literacy. Attendees could participate in activities such as virtual reality experiences of moon, earth and space, making moon cookies, and a solar system scavenger hunt. Attendees could also learn how to make their own eclipse pinhole viewer.

While Halifax wasn’t on the path for a total solar eclipse, attendees had the opportunity to gather in front of Seton Academic Centre to view the partial solar eclipse on one of the first clear days of April. At 4:38 p.m. the mid-eclipse magnitude hit its maximum with 94.5% of the sun’s diameter being covered by the moon. Over 350 pairs of solar eclipse glasses were given out to members of the Mount community.

A special thanks to Dr. Kelly Resmer (Lab Instructor), professors Dr. Eddia Solas, Dr. Andrea Fraser, Dr. Gerald Tembrevilla, Cate Carlyle (Curriculum Resource Centre Coordinator) and Katie McCabe (Practicum Coordinator) and our first-year elementary B.Ed. Students for organizing this special event!

We share the sky, let’s share our solar eyeglasses campaign!

From Canada to the world. The Faculty of Education aims to send eyeglasses for the total eclipse to children, future astronomers and scientists, in Asia, Africa, and South America, allowing them to witness the eclipse safely! So please share your solar eclipse eyeglasses with us or gift us new ones.

You can also add a message of inspiration for the children with your donated eyeglasses.

Drop-off area: MSVU Library between April 9 to May 31, 2024.

For details, contact Dr. Gerald Tembrevilla

Children viewing moon landing and other space videos using Virtual Reality headsets