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Local schools educate students about the solar eclipse with three weeks away

For many children, this will be their first eclipse and they will not see another one for 20 years.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Leverett Elementary in Fayetteville will be out of school for the total solar eclipse on April 8. 

Before that day comes, the school is taking every opportunity to educate their students about the historic day. 

"We wanted to make sure that all of our students were aware and knew what the eclipse was and knew when it was going to be happening. So they had all the information," Leverett Principal Christie Cremo said.

On March 14, University of Arkansas astronomy Professor Julia Kennefick demonstrated how a shadow is cast onto the Earth due to the moon passing over the sun. 

"I learned why we have to use glasses for the sun," Isaac Tribell, a first grader who attended the presentation, said. 

In addition to learning about the eclipse, many of the students still confused this phenomenon with a similar-looking celestial object. 

When 5NEWS asked Kennefick what she thinks the students took away, she said, "Hopefully, that eclipses aren't black holes, hoping that they know it's not dangerous, that it's something that they can just go and enjoy."

Principal Cremo says this isn’t the last time students will hear of the eclipse in the classroom.

"Because it's such a special opportunity here in Northwest Arkansas, we always try to connect events into our curriculum," she said. 

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