After days of weather watching, weeks and even months of scouting for solar eclipse-safe glasses, and prepping classes for this natural celestial event that occurs in the same place on the planet only about once every 366 years, it happened.
Countless students across the country experienced the wonder of the total solar eclipse, as the moon slid in front of the sun’s surface and completely blocked it. Eeriness presided over the brief but intense event, ushered in by a strange calming of breezes, followed by an even stranger midday darkness, and lasting less than 5 minutes. Educators, of course, hope the excitement generated by witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime scientific phenomenon will stick with their students for years to come.
Judging by the following images, curated from school and district social media accounts across the country, there’s a pretty strong chance they will. Check them out!
![The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f729a58/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F95%2Fea%2F952f84a24845ad98ceab4c83b36a%2F040824-solar-eclipse-2-ap-bs.jpg)
It's an eclipse! City Schools students from around the district are observing this scientific event.
— Baltimore City Public Schools (@BaltCitySchools) April 8, 2024
📸: Moravia, Baer School, Lakeland, Clay Hill pic.twitter.com/hPGL9yVzFr
![People watch as the moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1566cb0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F48%2Fe9%2F5ac3295641a8a04180a4e9b7866a%2F040824-solar-eclipse-4-ap-bs.jpg)
![A research balloon is prepared for launch at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, on April 8, 2024 to study the total eclipse. NearSpace Education launched two high-altitude research balloons carrying cameras, instruments, and experiments designed by blind and visually impaired students.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a183fc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F41%2Fcc9e548446489e7052106de0d731%2F040824-solar-eclipse-3-ap-bs.jpg)
What better place for some history and science than a school. I got a chance to watch the eclipse with students at Stratton Elementary School in Madison. Here’s a sneak peek of their reactions. We’ll have the full story on Wednesday for School Patrol on @NC5 . pic.twitter.com/Z5ghnIC1M6
— Kelsey Gibbs (@kelseymgibbs) April 8, 2024
![People watch a total solar eclipse as the sky goes dark in Mazatlan, Mexico, on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ccc8369/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F56%2F2e%2F163682e246de8a73d66764f787c1%2F040824-solar-eclipse-5-ap-bs.jpg)
#Eclipse2024 with 5th graders at Smith Street School. Coding our eclipse on @scratch @UniondaleUFSD pic.twitter.com/yeBT5S8yID
— Alison Chaplar (@AlisonChaplar) April 8, 2024
![Students and parents at Becker Elementary School in Austin, Texas, view the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4d0c44d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2F5e%2F3c4a25b14d969d97c0bda28ab01f%2F040824-solar-eclipse-1-ls-bs.jpg)
![Sasha Mahler, 8, of Munster, Ind., has her face painted with a sun during a total eclipse viewing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f700721/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2F5a%2F56%2Fffacb2114d9e823d8e1af12256d8%2F040824-solar-eclipse-6-ap-bs.jpg)
![From Buffalo, N.Y., (left and center) to Annandale, Va., (right) people of all ages watch the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0606149/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2F6c%2F4f2b488e4092bf1c6f153102907c%2F040824-solar-eclipse-jess-bs.jpg)
![Dan Sharp of Preston, Idaho, drops a pin on a map showing where he is from, at an eclipse watch event in Paris, Texas, on April 8, 2024.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/30ddd3f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fc7%2F19%2F891a5e4c40948201f149bd86e344%2F040824-solar-eclipse-7-ap-bs.jpg)
![People watch with solar glasses as the moon starts to cross in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse Monday, April 8, 2024, in Carbondale, Ill.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/48a0d53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2F4c%2F72133c974e5a9abf4d94f6869dc1%2F040824-solar-eclipse-8-ap-bs.jpg)
![Jordan Elliott smiles as she watches with solar glasses as the moon starts to cross in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, in Carbondale, Ill.](https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/de6a57a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x960+0+0/resize/335x223!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fepe-brightspot.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Ffe%2Fbd%2F243d07a746ccad145a6b29a3692a%2F040824-solar-eclipse-9-ap-bs.jpg)