Amazon Author Page: Thomas Jerome Baker
Thomas enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics. Thus far, he has written the following genres: romance, historical fiction, autobiographical, sports history/biography, and English Language Teaching. He has published a total of forty (40) books overall.
Solar eclipse: What's that?
Firstly, Wikipedia tells us: "Not to be confused with Lunar eclipse."
OK. Now what is it?
How about a photo?
Photo of 1999 total eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a Solar eclipse occurs
when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon
fully or
partially blocks the Sun.
This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth.
In a
total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In
partial and
annular eclipses only
part of the Sun is obscured.
If the Moon were in a circular orbit close enough to the Earth and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month. However, the Moon's orbit is angled at more than 5 degrees to the earth's orbit around the sun (see ecliptic) so its shadow at new moon often misses the Earth.
The Earth's orbit is called the
ecliptic plane as the Moon's orbit must cross this plane in order for an eclipse (both solar as well as lunar) to occur. In addition, the Moon's actual orbit is elliptical, often taking it far enough away from the Earth so that its apparent size is not large enough to block the Sun totally.
The orbital planes cross each year at a line of nodes resulting in
at least two, and
up to five, solar eclipses occurring
each year; no more than
two of which can be
total eclipses.[1][2]
Total solar eclipses are nevertheless
rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on the Earth's surface traced by the Moon's shadow or
umbra.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to
supernatural causes or regarded as
bad omens.
A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of their astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to
disappear during the day and the
sky darkens in a matter of minutes.
As it is
dangerous to look directly at the Sun, observers should use special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques.
People referred to as
eclipse chasers or
umbraphiles will travel to remote locations to observe or witness predicted central solar eclipses.[3][4]
Amazon Author Page: Thomas Jerome Baker
"An international education must go well beyond the provision of information and is involved in the development of attitudes and values which transcend barriers of race, class, religion, gender or politics." -International Baccalaureate Organization Subject Guide (1996).
It is my authorial belief that any education that does not unite the nations of the world in a common endeavour is a relic of the past century. A common sense of sharing the responsibility, equally, for the welfare of the planet, globally, is needed more than ever today.
Finally, I can only say one thing: The IB program is a positive way forward for any education system in crisis, any education system that desires quality, any education system that aspires to excellence, any education system that wishes to educate its citizens in the image of the twenty-first century, rather than the past century...
The International Baccalaureate
by Thomas Jerome Baker
Santa Marta, Escuela de Administración y Comercio y Liceo Técnico Profesional Simón Bolívar, de Curicó; y Escuela Sagrados Corazones y Colegio San José, de San Javier.
La siguiente ronda se llevará a cabo el jueves 24 de Mayo, para finalizar el torneo regional el miércoles 20 de Junio, donde se escogerá al equipo ganador que pasará a representar a la Región del Maule a la final zonal que se realizará en Valparaíso. "Esperamos que más alumnos se motiven a participar de estas instancias sin temor, con el ánimo de participar y aprender", señala Francisca Gajardo, Encargada Regional de Inglés del PIAP en el Maule.
**
This book contains all you need to know to successfully coach a debate team. First, you may need to convince your students that debate is a good thing: 1. Debating ability is a valuable skill. 2. Debate utilizes useful English. 3. It is a unique way to teach grammar. 4. It develops critical thinking skills. 5. It introduces global issues. 6. It develops research skills. This book will give you insights into how to coach a successful debate team, and equally important, have a lot of fun while doing it...
This book contains all you need to know to successfully coach a debate team. First, you may need to convince your students that debate is a good thing:
1. Debating ability is a valuable skill.
2. Debate utilizes useful English.
3. It is a unique way to teach grammar.
4. It develops critical thinking skills.
5. It introduces global issues.
6. It develops research skills.
This book will give you insights into how to coach a successful debate team, and equally important, have a lot of fun while doing it...
Click this link: 
This book contains all you need to know to successfully coach a debate team. You may need to convince students that debate is a good idea, though. Here are six reasons:
1. Debating ability is a valuable skill.
2. Debate utilizes useful English.
3. It is a unique way to teach grammar.
4. It develops critical thinking skills.
5. It introduces global issues.
6. It develops research skills.
A more powerful reason to coach a debate team is given to us by Dr. Martin Luther King: "“Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace... If this is to be achieved, man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation...” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
