Hinson Middle School students participate in viewing of solar eclipse

Eighth grade science teacher Akrisza Kemp-Brown used the eclipse as a teaching opportunity to reinforce the space unit curriculum for her students.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 6:00 p.m. April 8, 2024

Hinson Middle School eighth graders look up for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School eighth grader Teagan Erwin tries to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School eighth graders Geogre Mijalli and Rohan Kasturi look up for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School eighth graders George Mijalli, Rohan Kasturi and Teagan Erwin look to the sky for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School eighth graders George Mijalli, Rohan Kasturi and Teagan Erwin said they were excited about the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School eighth graders use their solar eclipse glasses to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School science teacher Akrisza Kemp-Brown and her students look up to see the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School science teacher Akrisza Kemp-Brown and her students were ready to see the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Hinson Middle School science teacher Akrisza Kemp-Brown hands her student a pair of glasses to see the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
Schools

In 2017, Hinson Middle School eighth grader George Mijalli tried to see the total solar eclipse using a cereal box.

It didn't work, he said. So this time, he was prepared with his solar eclipse glasses.

"I failed," Mijalli said. "This is redemption."

Mijalli was one of eighth grade science teacher Akrisza Kemp-Brown's students who took part in viewing the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Though Florida was not in the eclipse's path of totality, residents were still able to see a partial eclipse.

For Kemp-Brown, the eclipse provided a learning opportunity for her students.

"This was a part of the space unit for the eighth graders, so it's so much different than just showing them a Powerpoint or showing them a video," she said. "For them to be able to come out here and truly see what I was saying is true ... is so amazing for them."

Eighth grader Rohan Kasturi said the eclipse helped reinforce how important the atmosphere is. He also said he looked forward to seeing the sun — through his glasses, of course.

"I wonder what color it looks," Kasturi said.

Fellow classmate Teagan Erwin said he was looking forward to seeing the sky darken a bit.

"That's the only time you can see the corona," Erwin said. The corona is the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere.

Mijalli said he looked forward to experiencing the eclipse.

"It seems like a once-in-a-lifetime thing," he said.

Being in the path of totality, Kemp-Brown said, would be amazing. But even seeing a partial eclipse is a bonus for her and her students.

"A lot of times, the question that so many of them ask is, 'Why are we learning this? When are we ever going to use this?'" she said. "'... For them to be able to go home and talk to their family about the experience that they had, I feel like that's a big takeaway."