Resources:

• Video titled Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse found at SophiaOnline.org/SolarEclipse.
• The article: "The astonishing link between the Annunciation and the Eclipse" from Our Sunday Visitor, found at the following link: SophiaOnline.org/April8 
• Handout: Significance of the Eclipse
• Optional: The article "The Star of Bethlehem and Astrology" from Catholic Answers, found at SophiaOnline.org/StarofBethlehem.

Activity:

A. Begin by asking your students if they have experienced an eclipse. Explain that on Monday, April 8, there will be another solar eclipse visible in North America. 

B. If needed, explain what causes a solar eclipse. You may wish to play this video found at SophiaOnline.org/SolarEclipse.

C. After viewing the video, distribute the handout Significance of the Eclipse and have your students answer reflection questions 1-5  individually or in small groups.

D. Call on groups to share their answers with the class when they are finished.

E. Review with your students that the moon and the sun determine the date of Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. The spring equinox is when both hemispheres get an equal amount of day and night. Because of the way the date of Easter is determined, the earliest date Easter Sunday can be is March 22nd, and the latest is April 25th. 

F. Next, distribute or project the article "The astonishing link between the Annunciation and the Eclipse," found at SophiaOnline.org/April8. Have your students read the article and answer reflection questions 6–9 either individually or in small groups. 

G. When they are finished, call on students or groups to share and discuss their answers with the class as you lead a conversation.

I. Optional: Your students may wonder about people making end–of–the–world predictions about the eclipse. Or they may be concerned that looking for significance is verging on astrology which is forbidden by the First Commandment. This article from Catholic Answers found at SophiaOnline.org/StarofBethlehem may help clarify why we are not engaging in astrology by observing celestial events. God has communicated to his people through celestial events, and the saints have practiced prayerful reflection.

J. Conclude by inviting your students to reflect on how our faith is not independent of the created world but that God speaks to us through what He has made. 

Answer Key:

1. In your own words, describe the solar eclipse. Answers may vary, but they should include the fact that an eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the Sun’s light and makes the moon’s shadow visible from certain parts of the Earth. 
2. What are the conditions for a total solar eclipse? The Earth’s and the moon’s orbits must be in line with the sun. 
3. Why does the moon, which is smaller than the sun, block the light from the sun on Earth? The moon is 400 times closer to the Earth than the sun and can appear larger than the sun at certain times in its elliptical orbit.
4. What would happen if the sun was closer to the Earth? The relative size would make it appear larger, and therefore, there could not be a total eclipse. 
5. Compare below the picture of an eclipse from the international space station and one from Earth’s surface in the path of totality. Which is more impressive? What could God be revealing about Himself in an eclipse? Accept reasoned answers. Viewing an eclipse from Earth is more impressive. God, in placing the sun and moon with their sizes and relative positions, meant for us to see the eclipse from our position on the Earth. It is part of His plan for us to see the sun go dark and reflect on our dependence on the sun and, by extension, the Creator. 
6. Why was the Solemnity of the Annunciation moved from March 25th to April 8th in 2024? The weeks of Holy Week and the Easter Octave are so sacred that no other solemnities or feasts can be celebrated. April 8th was the first day available. 
7. What do we celebrate on the feast of the Annunciation? We celebrate Mary’s assent to be the Mother of God and the moment of the Incarnation, when the Son of God assumed a human nature and became man. The salvation that came from the Paschal Mystery, the Suffering, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus began at the Annunciation.
8. What is the author claiming about the word “overshadow”?  That it is a beautiful and maybe providential coincidence that we are celebrating the feast when the Holy Spirit “overshadowed” Mary, on the same day that people will be “overshadowed” by the shadow of the moon.
9. The author states, “Mary shows us, though, that truly believing in her Son and following him ultimately means that any darkness we face will be overcome. Because of her great faith, the journey that started with the joy born of a humble obedience to the will of God ended with the joy that comes with life forever with God in heaven.” How can the visual phenomenon of the eclipse speak to our hearts about this truth? Accept reasoned answers. One possible answer is that the shadow reminds us of our dependence on God and that shadows are temporary. The sun appears again and we are able to see again. The sun did not cease to exist. God does not cease to exist when we are shadowed by sin and suffering.