Didn’t snag any eclipse glasses either? Don’t worry; you’re in good company. Sometimes, failure is just part of the parenting journey—thank goodness for resilience! So, we’ve put together a quick and easy guide for those parenting missteps during the Solar Eclipse of 2017: How to Create a Pinhole Camera from a Cereal Box, ensuring your kids don’t resent you for missing out on this cosmic event that everyone seems to be buzzing about.
And if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and can’t make it to the store for supplies today, just remember there’s another eclipse coming in April 2024. You could probably gather a cereal box and some foil by then!
These simple steps are inspired by the NASA Goddard YouTube channel, which reassures us that you don’t need fancy gadgets to enjoy one of nature’s most spectacular displays—a solar eclipse.
Steps to Create Your Pinhole Camera
- Grab an empty cereal box and trace a piece of paper to fit along the bottom.
- Tape that paper inside the box and seal the top.
- Cut rectangular holes on both sides of the top of the box.
- Cut a small piece of aluminum foil to cover the left hole.
- Secure it in place with tape.
- Poke a tiny pinhole in the center of the foil.
- With the sun behind you, peer through the right hole.
- Enjoy the projection of the eclipsed sun on the paper inside your makeshift camera.
Congratulations, you did it! #ParentingWin
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Summarizing, this article offers a fun and simple way for parents who might not be fully engaged in the eclipse phenomenon to still create a memorable experience for their kids. Using everyday materials, you can craft a pinhole camera that lets your children safely see the eclipse without the need for specialized glasses.