The Bakersfield City School District canceled all outdoor activities, like recess and P.E., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. due to safety concerns regarding the eclipse. Students could only leave classrooms to use the restroom or go to lunch, but they had to be accompanied by an adult and look at the ground with their back to the sun, says Irma Cervantes, spokesperson for the district.
However, if teachers planned a lesson plan prior to the eclipse and got it approved by the district, they were able to take their students outside. This included safe viewing activities like creating a pin hole projector or using solar eclipse glasses. Cervantes says eight schools in the district had at least one class experience the eclipse from outside. All other classes viewed the eclipse through NASA's live stream from inside their classrooms.
23ABC's Chief Meteorologist Elaina Rusk visited Casa Loma Elementary during the eclipse to do just that. She spoke to fourth graders, teaching them how to use a simple piece of paper to view the eclipse's shadow, then took them out in groups to use their tools.
