Make a Sun Clock: Tell Time with the Sun

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Before there were clocks, people used shadows to tell time. In this outdoor activity, learners will discover how to tell time using only a compass, a pencil, a handy printout, and a sunny day. Along the way, learners discover the difference between solar and standardized time, and between geographic and magnetic north.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$5 - $10 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
    • Earth Structure
    • Solar System
      • The Sun
  • Physical Sciences
    • Electricity and Magnetism
  • Mathematics
    • Measurement
  • The Nature of Technology
    • Technology and Society
      • Technology and History

Informal Categories

  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Exploratorium; Murphy, Pat ; Klages, Ellen ; Shore, Linda ; Gorski, Jason

Rights: