Will the Science Club’s new member ruin the big day?
Learning Objective: Students will read a realistic fiction play about a boy who struggles to accept a new kid in Science Club as they plan to view the 2024 total solar eclipse. As students read, they will also learn facts about the 2024 total solar eclipse and how to view it safely.
Scene 1
An elementary school near Dallas, Texas, 10 days before the eclipse
N1: Sam is walking quickly across the yard. Sophie, Emilio, and Cade catch up.
Sophie: Slow down, Sam!
Sam: I don’t want to be late for Science Club.
Emilio: We’re never late.
Sam: But we’re planning the eclipse party today!
Cade: They won’t do anything without us . . . especially not without you, Sam.
Sophie (laughing): Nobody loves science as much as you do.
Sam: Well, it’s the first time a total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. since 2017. You don’t see the moon totally block the sun every day. It’s going to be amazing!
N2: Prisha, a new kid at the school, approaches them.
Prisha: Hey, did you say Science Club? Can I come with you?
Sam (surprised): But you’re not in Science Club.
Prisha: I just moved here. I’m Prisha.
Sophie: Hi, I’m Sophie. And this is Sam, Emilio, and Cade.
Prisha: I tried to join Theater Club, but it was full. So I guess I’ll do Science Club instead.
Sam: But . . . do you even like science?
Prisha (shrugging): I just want to join something—it might as well be Science Club.
Emilio: We can use the extra help for the eclipse party.
Prisha: Ohhh fun! Will there be dancing?
Sam (mumbling): It’s an eclipse party . . .
Scene 2
Mr. Perez’s classroom, shortly after
Shutterstock.com
N3: The kids enter the science classroom.
N1: Prisha notices a tank in the corner with a lizard inside.
Prisha: Is that a bearded dragon? I love them!
Sophie: That’s Cosmo, our class pet.
Prisha (speaking to Cosmo): Hi, Cosmo. How are you?
N2: Prisha answers herself in a deep voice.
Prisha (as Cosmo): I’m draggin’ a bit today, Prisha!
N3: The other kids start laughing.
N1: The science teacher, Mr. Perez, sees Prisha.
Mr. Perez: Welcome, Prisha! Have you ever seen a total solar eclipse before?
Prisha: No.
Mr. Perez: There will be one in 10 days, on April 8. Who can tell Prisha what will happen?
Sam (excitedly): Starting at 12:23 p.m., the moon will pass between the sun and Earth and completely block the face of the sun—
Prisha: Talk about sun block!
Sam (confused): What?
Prisha: Sorry. It was a joke.
Emilio: We’re lucky that Dallas is in the path of totality, which means we’ll get to see the sun fully covered.
Cade: The sky will get as dark as dusk.
Sam: It’ll be the coolest thing ever!
Mr. Perez: Let’s discuss how we’ll watch the eclipse. Stores are already sold out of the special viewing glasses.
Prisha: Why do we need special glasses?
Sophie: The sun’s rays are so bright that even the smallest sliver of light can burn your eyes.
Prisha (laughing): Yikes! That . . . does not sound good.
Sam: It’s not funny. We need a way to safely watch the eclipse . . . and there’s not going to be another one crossing the U.S. until 2045!
Mr. Perez: OK, kids, settle down. Sam, do you want to tell us about your idea?
Sam: Since stores are out of eclipse glasses, we can make eclipse viewers! My mom will teach us how at Science Club next week.
Mr. Perez: We’re so lucky that Sam’s mother works for NASA, the U.S. space agency.
Sam: All we need is a shoebox, foil, tape, paper, scissors, and pins.
Mr. Perez: We’ll be raising money for the supplies with our Eclipse Bake Sale tomorrow.
Prisha: Fun! I can bake something.
Mr. Perez: Remember: All treats should be eclipse related.
Jim McMahon/Mapman ®
Where the Total Eclipse Will Be Visible
Scene 3
A sidewalk in town, the next morning
N2: The kids are setting up a table for the Eclipse Bake Sale.
Emilio: I brought blackout cake. What about you?
Sophie: I made moon rocks. They’re dark chocolate cookie-dough bites dusted in sugar.
Sam (proudly): I stayed up late baking these black-and-white cookies, like the moon blocking the sun.
Cade: They look amazing!
N3: Prisha arrives, carrying a box filled with brightly decorated cake pops.
Prisha: My dad and I baked planet pops. The blue ones are Neptune. The red ones are Mars.
Sophie: You even got a ring around Saturn!
Sam: Well, they don’t have anything to do with the eclipse . . . but I guess we can still sell them.
Emilio: It’s OK, Sam. They’re about space.
Cade: As long as we raise money for the eclipse viewers, right?
N1: Kids start gathering around the table.
Kid 1: Ohhh, which ones should we get?
N2: Another kid points to the planet pops.
Kid 2: Those look yummy! We’ll have two please.
N3: Prisha grins as she hands them the pops and takes their money.
N1: More people arrive and buy goodies.
Sophie: Wow, Prisha. Your planet pops are a big hit.
Prisha: Your moon rocks are rockin’ too!
N2: Sam looks glumly at his full tray of cookies.
ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Staying Safe
Looking at even a tiny bit of direct sunlight can quickly damage your eyes. Luckily, scientists have created special glasses to safely view an eclipse.
Scene 4
Mr. Perez’s classroom, 3 days before the eclipse
N3: The kids are clustered around Prisha. She is holding Cosmo the lizard.
Prisha: Do you know what Cosmo’s favorite movie is? The Lizard of Oz.
N1: Sam and his mom enter to hear everyone laughing.
Mr. Perez: Friends, we have a special guest today. Sam’s mother, Dr. Morgan, is here to help us make eclipse viewers.
Dr. Morgan: Hi, everyone. Let’s talk about safety first. On eclipse day, the moon will slowly cover the sun. When the sun is fully blocked, it’s safe to look up at the sky. But before and after, we need special glasses or viewers so the sun’s light won’t damage our eyes.
Prisha: Mr. Perez, you better not let us outside during the eclipse.
Mr. Perez: Why not?
Prisha: Because you need to protect your pupils.
N2: A few kids chuckle.
Prisha: Get it? We’re your pupils!
Dr. Morgan: That’s funny! But let me show you how to protect your eyes. Let’s build viewers out of shoeboxes.
N3: For the rest of Science Club, the kids build the eclipse viewers.
Mr. Perez: Great job, everyone! And let’s thank Dr. Morgan.
All Students: Thanks, Dr. Morgan!
Mr. Perez: Kids, remember: On eclipse day, we’ll meet here at 11 a.m. to gather our viewers and then head to the soccer field together.
Sam (thrilled): It’ll be perfect!
Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Staying Safe
You can also make an eclipse viewer out of a box like Sam and his friends in the play!
Scene 5
Mr. Perez’s classroom, eclipse day, 11 a.m.
N1: It’s April 8—eclipse day.
N2: Kids are gathering in Mr. Perez’s classroom.
N3: Excitement fills the air.
Mr. Perez: All right, kids, let’s take our eclipse viewers outside. They’re on that folding table by Cosmo’s tank.
N1: Prisha, Sam, and the others approach the table.
Prisha: Aww, look, Cosmo wants to see them.
N2: Prisha takes Cosmo out of the tank.
Sam: Prisha, be careful.
N3: Prisha leans over the table with Cosmo in her arms.
Prisha (speaking as Cosmo): Where’s my viewer box?
N1: The kids start laughing.
Sam: Watch out!
N2: Suddenly, Cosmo squirms in Prisha’s arms, causing Prisha to bump the table.
N3: The eclipse viewers spill onto the floor, and the table tips over and crushes them.
Sam: Ahhhhh!
Prisha: Oh no!
Sam: Our eclipse viewers! Of course, you ruined them!
Prisha: I’m sorry . . .
Sam: You’re always joking around! Do you even care about science?
N1: Prisha’s eyes fill with tears. She runs from the room.
Mr. Perez: Sam, it was an accident. Sophie, can you check on Prisha?
Sam: But what are we going to do? Our viewers are wrecked and the eclipse starts in an hour!
N2: Sophie returns to the classroom, worried.
Sophie: I can’t find her.
Scene 6
The school hallway, a short while later
N3: Sam, Sophie, Emilio, and Cade are walking around the school, looking for Prisha.
Sam: We were supposed to have the best eclipse party ever . . . until Prisha came along.
Emilio: She didn’t mean to ruin things.
Sam: She only cares about making people laugh! She should never have joined Science Club.
Sophie: But she’s new. She wanted to make friends.
N1: Sam kicks at the floor, frowning.
Sam: We have no way to watch the eclipse now.
Cade: Yeah . . . but you’re being harder on her than you’d be on us if we’d done the same thing.
N2: Sam is quiet.
Sophie: Why are you so mad at Prisha?
Sam: Because! I’ve been looking forward to the eclipse forever, and she’s just goofing off to get everyone’s attention. It’s like . . . it’s like she’s trying to eclipse me.
N3: Cade puts a hand on Sam’s shoulder.
Cade: I’m sure she feels really bad about what happened.
Sam (sighing): You’re right. I shouldn’t have yelled.
Emilio: Where is Prisha?
Sam: I think I know where to find her.
Scene 7
The school’s auditorium, a few minutes later
N1: Sam finds Prisha sitting alone behind the stage curtain. She’s crying.
Sam: Prisha, I’m sorry I yelled at you.
Prisha (surprised): How did you know I’d be here?
Sam: You said you wanted to join Theater Club. And we all know how much you love entertaining people. You’re really good at it.
N2: Prisha is silent.
Sam: Science Club isn’t the same without you. Please come back.
Prisha: But I ruined everything. Now we can’t watch the eclipse.
Sam: There must be a store that still has some eclipse glasses.
N3: Prisha shakes her head.
Prisha: Mr. Perez said they’re all out.
Sam: Then there’s only one thing to do. And we have no time to waste!
Scene 8
Mr. Perez’s classroom, a while later
N1: Sam and Prisha burst into the classroom.
N2: They’re holding three shoeboxes.
Mr. Perez: Sam, Prisha, are you OK?
Sam: We found these shoeboxes backstage with the theater costumes. We can make new eclipse viewers!
Sophie: Is there enough time?
Prisha: Even if we make only one or two, it’ll be OK.
Sam: We can take turns watching. That’s what friends do.
Emilio: Here are the leftover supplies from last week.
Cade: Let’s get to work!
Scene 9
The soccer field, 12:20 p.m.
N3: With only a few minutes until the eclipse begins, the kids rush outside.
Prisha: Just in time!
Sam: The eclipse is starting!
N1: The kids stand side by side.
N2: They take turns using the viewers to observe the sun slowly being eclipsed by the moon.
N3: Bit by bit, the sky gets darker and darker.
Cade: Totality is happening!
Mr. Perez: Now it’s safe to look at the sky.
N1: A hush falls over them as they gaze up.
N2: The moon completely covers the sun. Just the sun’s wispy edges show.
N3: The birds go quiet. It feels like time is slowing to a halt.
N1: No one speaks for a while, mesmerized by the view.
Sam: Hey, Prisha. What’s an astronaut’s favorite bagel?
Prisha: I don’t know. What?
Sam: Cinna-moon raisin.
N2: Everybody cracks up.
Prisha: Good one, Sam!
Write to Win
Using facts from the play and text features, write a detailed plan for kids to view the solar eclipse with friends or family. Entries must be submitted to “Eclipse Contest” by a teacher, parent, or legal guardian.* Five winners will receive a $20 gift card for the Scholastic Store Online.
*Entries must be written by a student in grades 2-8 and submitted by their teacher, parent, or legal guardian, who will be the entrant and must be a legal resident of the U.S. age 18 or older. Visit the Storyworks Contests page for more information.
This play was originally published in the March/April 2024 issue.
Table of Contents
Close Reading, Critical Thinking
4. Differentiate and Customize
Striving Readers, Advanced Readers, Multilingual Learners
1. Preparing to Read
Build Background, Preview Vocabulary, and Set a Purpose for Reading
2. Reading the Play
Close-Reading Questions
Critical-Thinking Questions
3. Skill Building and Writing
Featured Skill: Knowledge Building
Differentiate and Customize
To help students understand the natural event this play is about, guide them to create a fact sheet about eclipses. While you’re reading, pause whenever you encounter a new fact to add to the eclipse fact sheet.
After reading the play, students might be interested in building their own eclipse viewers. Have them follow a how-to guide from a reputable source (e.g., this NASA Goddard video) to make their own pinhole projectors (a type of eclipse viewer).
Multilingual learners might need extra support in order to understand the many puns Prisha makes throughout the play. First, explain that a pun is a funny use of a word in a way that makes you think of more than one meaning. While reading the play together, pause after reading each pun. Guide students in a brief discussion about what each phrase means and why it’s funny.
Can't-Miss Teaching Extras
Make a solar eclipse viewer like the ones in the play with these instructions from Scholastic Learning Toolkit.
This two-minute video from PBS Learning Media goes into detail about how a total eclipse happens.
Some kids really struggle when things don’t go according to plan or they are required to think about something in a different way. This webpage from Socially Skilled Kids explores ways to teach, practice, and grow flexible thinking in your classroom.
Looking for a fun arts and craft activity? This interactive solar eclipse craft can be made with paper plates, construction paper, Popsicle sticks, and tape. (Note: This webpage has ads.) You can also see a quick video on Pinterest of the craft in action.
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