Curriculum Video

A Collaborative Teaching Model to Mimic Even When There’s No Eclipse

By Sam Mallon — April 11, 2024 3:25
04112014 eclipse thumbnail BS

For one Vermont district, this week’s solar eclipse brought with it a unique opportunity for collaboration among educators across the K-12 spectrum.

Amy Clapp, a 4th grade teacher in the Addison Central school district, created a working group of educators last October. Together they created a set of lessons that could be modified to meet the needs and abilities of each grade level as they learned about this week’s solar eclipse.

These lessons included a read-aloud facilitated by the school librarian, a math exercise in which students calculated how old they’ll be for the next eclipse, a series of scientific models built by students, and more.

The districtwide collaboration energized teachers and students, according to Clapp, and created a learning environment that reminded her of why she entered teaching.

But this approach can be applied beyond this week’s solar eclipse to a variety of memorable events, and can be used as a collaborative teaching model across any number of subjects.

Here, she explains how it works, and how others can bring a similar approach to their own curricula.

Sam Mallon is a video producer for Education Week.
Related Tags:

Video

Student Well-Being Video Teachers, Try This: Use Dance to Boost Engagement and Learning
From physics to math, this dance teacher shows how incorporating movement can increase student engagement and understanding.
Members of eMotion Breakdance bring rehearsal outside during a fire drill at Bellaire High School on Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston.
Members of eMotion Breakdance bring rehearsal outside during a fire drill at Bellaire High School on Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston.
Annie Mulligan for Education Week
Student Well-Being Video Teachers, Try This: Activities to Build Classroom Culture and Connection
This theatre teacher incorporates movement into his lessons to enhance student connection. Here's how other teachers can do the same.
Student James Mason participates in an ice breaker during a film studies class at Weber High School taught by teacher, Mark Daniels, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Pleasant View, Utah. Daniels incorporates a lot of movement with students during all of his classes.
Student James Mason participates in an ice breaker during a film studies class at Weber High School taught by teacher, Mark Daniels, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Pleasant View, Utah. Daniels incorporates a lot of movement with students during all of his classes.
Kim Raff for Education Week
Teaching Video Teachers, Try This: Take Classroom Lessons Into the Wild
This Wisconsin district utilizes its school forest to translate classroom lessons into the outdoors.
Fourth grade students visit The Superior School Forest in Foxboro, Wis., on Oct. 28, 2024.
Fourth grade students visit The Superior School Forest in Foxboro, Wis., on Oct. 28, 2024.
Ackerman + Gruber for Education Week
Student Achievement Video What the Dismal Nation's Report Card Means for Reading and Math
The latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress show declines in students’ reading with some modest progress in math.
Point Roberts Elementary School teacher Jessie Hettinga works with a group of first, second and third graders on reading at the school in Point Roberts, Wa., on Sept. 28, 2017.
Point Roberts Elementary School teacher Jessie Hettinga works with a group of first, second and third graders on reading at the school in Point Roberts, Wa., on Sept. 28, 2017.
Philip A. Dwyer/The Bellingham Herald via AP