ClassX Video Lessons All About Auroras: Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and Aurora Australis for Kids
Throughout history, people from different cultures have come up with fascinating stories to explain the beautiful lights of the auroras. The Cree people called them the “Dance of the Spirits.” In Finland, they imagined a magical firefox whose tail sent sparks into the sky. Ancient Chinese observers thought the lights were the flames of good and evil dragons fighting in the sky. Today, we call them “Aurora,” named after the Roman goddess of dawn, showing how these lights have always been a source of wonder and mystery.
Auroras, also known as polar lights, are amazing light shows that happen near the North and South Poles, in areas called the auroral zones. The lights near the North Pole are called “aurora borealis” or the northern lights, while those near the South Pole are called “aurora australis” or the southern lights. These lights are mostly green but can also be blue, violet, pink, or red. Auroras are always changing, sometimes looking like faint clouds and other times bright enough to read by.
The sun is the source of auroras. It sends out a lot of energy, which heats up the gases around it. This creates tiny particles that shoot out from the sun at super-fast speeds, forming what we call the solar wind. While this solar wind can affect satellites and astronauts, Earth is protected by its magnetic field.
Earth’s magnetic field, or magnetosphere, is like a giant magnet created by its spinning molten iron core. This field mostly deflects the solar wind particles, but some get through and hit Earth’s atmosphere. When these charged particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere, they create the beautiful colors of the auroras.
If you want to see an aurora, you should travel to places near the poles. But did you know that auroras aren’t just on Earth? They’ve been seen on other planets like Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus, happening around their north and south poles just like on Earth.
The magical lights of auroras have amazed people for thousands of years. They remind us of the special connection between our planet and the sun, showing us one of the most beautiful sights in the night sky. Auroras continue to inspire us to learn more about the mysteries of our universe.
Create Your Own Aurora: Using colored tissue paper, scissors, and a flashlight, create your own aurora at home. Cut the tissue paper into different shapes and colors, then layer them over the flashlight. Turn off the lights in the room and shine your flashlight onto a wall or ceiling. Observe how the colors mix and change, just like the real auroras. Discuss with a friend or family member how this activity is similar to the auroras you learned about.
Aurora Story Time: Imagine you are living in ancient times and have just seen an aurora for the first time. Write a short story or draw a picture about what you think the aurora is and what it might mean. Share your story or drawing with your class or family. Think about how different cultures have explained auroras and how your story compares to theirs.
Aurora Observation Journal: Start an aurora observation journal. Even if you can’t see auroras from where you live, you can track when and where they are happening around the world using online resources. Record the dates, locations, and colors of the auroras you learn about. Discuss with your class why auroras might appear in different colors and what conditions are needed for them to be visible.
