Astronomy · Unit 1: Observing the Sky · Project 1.2.3

The Project: Eclipse Explainer

🎬 In-Class Project
3 in-class days. Requirements, content checklist, day-by-day plan, and rubric below.
Back to Project 1.2.3

🎯 Deliverable — Pick a Format

One of these two, plus the geometry diagram either way.

🖼️ Infographic

A single well-organized page or poster. Text, diagrams, and layout all count toward Format Execution.

🎥 60–90 Second Video

Recorded narration, screen capture, animation, whatever tool you're comfortable with. Stay inside the time window — it's graded.

📐 Required either way: an accurate Sun-Earth-Moon geometry diagram, drawn with the Moon's orbital tilt on purpose.

📋 Content Checklist

Every item below has to show up somewhere in your explainer — check them off as you go.

📅 Day-by-Day Plan

Day 1
Research & Outline
Review the Deep Dive. Sketch your geometry diagram first — before you write a word of the explainer — since it's usually where the tilt/node explanation actually clicks. Outline what your explainer will cover, in what order.
Day 2
Build the Draft
Build your infographic or record your video draft. If you're doing a video, script it first and time a read-through — 60–90 seconds goes by fast. Cross items off the Content Checklist as you cover them.
Day 3
Finalize & Submit
Trade with a partner for a quick accuracy check — the tilt/node explanation and the solar/lunar setup are the two easiest things to get subtly wrong. Fix, finalize, and submit your explainer with the geometry diagram attached.

📊 Grading Rubric — 100 pts

A starting point — adjust weights to fit your class before assigning.

CategoryWeightExemplaryProficientDevelopingIncomplete
Geometry Diagram25 ptsCorrectly shows Sun-Earth-Moon alignment for the eclipse type covered, including the Moon's orbital tilt relative to the ecliptic.Alignment is correct but the tilt is missing or unclear.Diagram present but geometry has significant errors (wrong order of bodies, wrong phase).No geometry diagram submitted.
Core Explanation30 ptsCorrectly explains why eclipses don't happen every month using the tilted orbit and nodes, with accurate solar/lunar setup.Explanation is mostly correct but vague on the tilt/node mechanism.Explanation attributes 'why not every month' to the wrong cause, or omits it.No explanation of the core question, or explanation is factually wrong throughout.
Format Execution25 ptsInfographic is clear and well-organized, or video is 60–90 seconds, paced well, and easy to follow.Mostly clear/well-paced with minor issues.Cluttered infographic, or video significantly over/under the time target.Format requirements not met at all.
Process & Presentation20 ptsSubmitted on time, follows the content checklist, sources (if used) are credited.Mostly complete and on time; small presentation issues.Late or noticeably incomplete.Not submitted.
← Back to Project 1.2.3🔬 Review the Deep Dive →

🔭 Project 1.2.3 · Unit 1 of 6 · Single Semester