Look Up! by Lori Bajorek
What's It About?
On April 8th, 2024 North America will experience a total eclipse of the sun. For a brief moment in time, day will be night and 50 million people in the path of totality will experience this once in a life time opportunity. This is a time to "look up" from your phone or computer and take the pledge to "look up" today and everyday.“On April 8, 2024, a total eclipse of the sun will sweep across several U.S. states. This is a moment in time for us all to ‘Look Up’ — look up at the eclipse, look up from your screens, look up to someone and inspire others to look up to you.”
We generally tell kids not to look at the sun — and for good reason! But what do we do about times like the upcoming solar eclipse? This incredible celestial phenomenon is not to be missed, especially since the next one isn’t for another 55 years. Is there a way to view April’s eclipse safely?
Lori Bajorek, president and CEO of the National Esports Association (NEA), is here to say, “Yes, there is!” Her informative children’s book, Look Up! (Barnes & Noble Press), written especially for the April 8 eclipse, educates readers of every age on how to safely enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime event. Not only that, but it also encourages us all to “look up” in other ways — to turn our faces to the sky rather than towards our phones, and think of others who make us feel as inspired as we do when gazing into the sky during this incredible moment in history.
Would You Look at That!
In the first pages of Look Up!, we follow the narrator and her son as they prepare for the solar eclipse. They don their eclipse glasses and watch the phases of the event begin — first phase one, as the moon first appears to “make contact” with the sun. Then comes phase two, as more and more of the sun is obstructed. Finally, there comes the moment everyone’s been waiting for — phase three, total eclipse!
As beautiful as it is fleeting, the total eclipse doesn’t last forever. “Totality’s gone, it’s true,” the rhyming prose read as phase four begins. “But look! Baily’s Beads appear, a stunning debut!” And then finally, phase five — the sun and moon fully part ways, and everyone is left with the memory of a beautiful display.
While helpful and informative in its own right, the Look Up! children’s book is just one element of a larger project to educate the public about the coming eclipse. The multimedia initiative features a website where teachers can find a toolkit specifically designed for teaching students about safely observing the eclipse. These lesson plans will foster curiosity, awe and a deeper understanding of the “Great North American Eclipse.”
Take the Pledge to #LookUp
As the president and CEO of the National Esports Association (NEA), a champion for game-centered programs for enhanced K-12 learning, Bajorek is a pro at designing engaging educational content for kids. And not only has she created learning materials for kids in anticipation of this celestial event — she’s bought materials, as well. She’s donated 200,000 special eclipse glasses, to the New York City Public Library, and has also organized a Public Service Announcement from the New York City Mayor’s Office.
The goal is to educate everyone, young and old, on watching this eclipse safely and responsibly — and with everything Bajorek’s been doing to get this news out to the public, she’s well on her way there. With all the information stored inside Look Up!, readers can look skywards on April 8 — wearing their eclipse-safe glasses, of course — armed with the full knowledge of what constitutes this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.
About Lori Bajorek:
Lori Bajorek is president and CEO of the National Esports Association (NEA), through which she champions esports in education. She pioneered what is considered the first educational program for esports and continues to build upon her 16 years of experience creating and implementing game-centered programs for enhanced K-12 learning, including establishing academic standards and developing curriculum. She continues to work globally with school districts and leading tech partners to further esports in education, elevating student engagement, attendance, and academic success.
Microsoft named Bajorek an honoree of the 2022 Microsoft Legacy Project, alongside luminaries like Jane Goodell, Jane Fonda, astronauts, a Nobel Prize laureate, and athletic pioneers. In 2022 she also presented her first Tedx Talk, on the topic of esports in education. Under Bajorek’s leadership, the NEA was ranked third in the country in 2021 among esports entities “on the cutting edge of gaming” by Yahoo! Sports.
Bajorek speaks often at events and conferences on several esports topics, including education, engagement, inclusion, and women in gaming. She studied at Emma Willard School, a leading college-prep private school, and earned a bachelor’s degree in child psychology from the University of Buffalo. She and her husband, Ronald, are the proud parents of two grown children — Alia, a professional comedian, and Trip, a talented gamer.
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