Abstract

Ringwood Public Library, in northern New Jersey, used the April 8 solar eclipse as a means of engagement for several STEM programming opportunities focused on data literacy and scientific inquiry. Multiple groups of pre-teens, special needs teens, and members of the general public were engaged in approximately 8 weeks of educational activities leading up to the eclipse. Two citizen science projects, GLOBE Observer Eclipse and Eclipse Soundscapes, were used during these events. Participants not only learned about eclipses but also learned to make observations, collect data, analyze data, and communicate findings.

1. Introduction

Starting in late summer 2023, Ringwood Public Library began preparations for the two upcoming North American solar eclipses. In partnership with the National Science Teaching Association, the Space Science Institute, Starnet, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force, the library provided multiple resources, activities, and materials to its patrons. The following are some example activities:

• The library had multiple programs for young children making masks for eclipse glasses and pinhole projectors. (Figure 1.)

• Michael Green, our local NASA Solar System Ambassador, presented an educational program on safe solar viewing for the public (Figure 2.)

• Library staff developed an Eclipse Activity Kit with materials and lesson plans and demonstrated it at an in-service day for teachers from local schools.

• Observation Station events were held at the library during both the October 14 annular eclipse and the April 8 total solar eclipse. Although rain obscured the October eclipse, a log of air temperature throughout the eclipse was maintained on a whiteboard outside the library (Figure 3 & Figure 4.)

• There were two field trips for special needs students from the local high school. The first covered eclipse viewing safety and included hands-on use of tools like solar binoculars and a solar telescope. The second, Tools of the Trade, included hands-on experiences using tools that scientists use to study weather and climate, such as surface IR thermometers, anemometers, and hygrometers (Figure 5.)

  

  

  

  

After receiving the Jay M. Pasachoff Solar Eclipse Mini-Grant for the 2024 eclipse, Ringwood Public Library launched a series of programs for various groups that included a homeschooled group of pre-teen children, an all-girls technology club called Gadget Gals, and a group of 4^th and 5^th graders at the local intermediary school. The programs strived to raise awareness of the upcoming solar eclipse, promote viewing safety, and foster data literacy and scientific inquiry, with the children learning about the scientific process and engaging in citizen science. These programs and their participants were collectively labeled the Data Detectives. The following driving questions guided the development of the Data Detectives program:

1. What are some ways we can improve data literacy?

2. How can we best use citizen science projects in informal education?

3. How does the Sun impact our weather and atmosphere?

4. What trends and patterns can we discern from weather data?

2. Data Detectives Curriculum

To improve understanding of the scientific process, as well as foster data literacy and scientific inquiry, the Data Detectives program objectives were as follows:

Data Detectives will…

• explore how to make qualitative and quantitative observations.

• use scientific research tools, including an IR thermometer, anemometer, barometer, hygrometer, solar binoculars, and a Sunspotter (Figure 6.)

• collect data, such as ambient sounds, cloud cover, air and surface temperature, wind speed, humidity level, and barometric pressure, to contribute to actual scientific research via citizen science projects.

• communicate their findings to the public by presenting them on whiteboards at the Observation Station viewing event on April 8 and creating an informational poster for their school (Figure 7.)

• identify types of graphs for data representation.

• create appropriate graphs for the data collected.

  

  

Of the three groups involved in the Data Detectives program, all followed a very similar curricular path, but two groups focused on using the GLOBE Observer citizen science platform, while the third group, the Gadget Gals, focused on the Eclipse Soundscapes project. All groups engaged in specific weekly lessons on the following topics:

• solar science

• weather versus climate

• inferences versus observations

• qualitative versus quantitative observations

• experimental design

• heat island effect

• types of graphs and how to read them

3. Data Detectives Outcomes

Throughout the program, and especially during the eclipse, the Data Detectives explored the Sun's impact on the local biota, the atmosphere, and weather patterns. The activities triggered an understanding of how scientists, with the help of citizen scientists, can track weather data to explore issues like climate change.

The Data Detectives learned how to distinguish between drawing an inference or conclusion and making an observation. They then practiced making qualitative observations using their five senses and learned how to use specialized equipment to collect quantitative data, such as surface temperature and wind speed. After practicing these skills, they were then introduced to the GLOBE Observer platform, where they began collecting data like cloud cover, air temperature, and surface temperature. They compared data for grassy and blacktop areas around their school or the library by learning how to graph the data collected and analyze the trends. They found the surface of the blacktop is consistently warmer than that of grassy areas. The local school group learned first-hand the impact of the “heat island effect” on their school playground (Figure 8.)

During the eclipse, the Data Detectives became more aware of the profound effect of the Sun, not just on air and surface temperature but also on wind, humidity, and nature sounds. They again collected data for both GLOBE Observer and the Eclipse Soundscapes projects, posting the results on whiteboards for members of the public to view while attending the Observation Station. After the eclipse, a follow-up lesson focused on graphing and analyzing the results of the data collected during the eclipse. The types of graphs and their purposes were reviewed, including line graphs (for trends,) multi-line graphs, bar graphs (to compare conditions or variables,) and pie charts (to look at percentages of a whole.) The school group created a poster for display at their school (Figure 9.)

The Data Detectives’ quantitative findings for the April 8 solar eclipse (92.5% maximum coverage at 3:25 p.m.) included:

• A steady dip, then small rebound, in air and surface temperatures throughout was observed during the eclipse (Figure 10 & Figure 11.)

• A change in humidity, inverse to that of temperature, was seen throughout the eclipse (Figure 12.)

• A steady decline in average wind speed was also seen throughout the eclipse.

  

  

The findings triggered some discussion about uncontrolled variables, such as time of day, that could also contribute to changes like a decline in wind speed.

4. Conclusions

The library’s activities in the lead-up to and during the two North American solar eclipses allowed several questions to be answered:

• How can data literacy be improved? The Data Detectives program improved data literacy by providing participants with opportunities to practice data literacy skills, such as reviewing different types of data visualization, interpreting previously published graphical data, and collecting and graphing data firsthand.

• How can we best use citizen science projects in informal education? Using citizen science is an excellent way to engage learners. The fact that a scientist’s tool chest can be as simple as using one’s five senses to observe the world makes participating in citizen science very accessible. For example, making observations of cloud cover for the GLOBE Observer Clouds project doesn’t require any expensive equipment. Also, using simple tools, such as a thermometer, can make doing science that much more exciting for students who prefer a hands-on approach to learning. The best use of citizen science is to incorporate a project with a relevant topic that can be explored at the local level but extrapolated to a global level, such as learning about the heat island effect on a playground and then understanding the implications of that information on climate change.

• How does the Sun impact our weather and atmosphere? The Sun’s impact on Earth is undeniable, as evidenced by the observations made during the eclipse. The Sun affects temperature, wind, and humidity, but also influences the behavioral patterns of living things. Though the Sun has a significant effect, the Data Detectives found that human behavior and infrastructure also have a large impact on Earth. For instance, human development contributes to the heat island effect.

• What trends and patterns can we discern in weather data? The Data Detectives explored previously published long-term, historical data to understand the concepts of weather, climate, and climate change. Then, they collected data to explore local, short-term trends and to compare different conditions, such as surface temperature in grassy versus paved areas, barometric fluctuations, and even solar flares.

The Data Detectives program was so well received and successful in its quest to foster data literacy and scientific inquiry that it will likely become a recurring library program. Going forward, there won’t be a solar eclipse to provide an engaging hook, but participants can be motivated by citizen science that explores topics of interest, using scientific equipment, and contributing data to real research projects. The skills and knowledge gained from the program will readily support the participants' future academic and career endeavors.