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Sundial

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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A makeshift sundial is depicted on a textured gray surface, likely concrete or asphalt. A vertical stick, fixed to a light blue base, casts a shadow that falls across the surface. Various rocks and broken pieces of concrete are arranged in a circle around the stick, acting as hour markers. This image demonstrates a simple, DIY sundial.

Do you know how people in ancient times measured time? Let's make an ancient time-telling tool using materials easily found in nature! This is a simple sundial where a stick acts as the gnomon (time-telling pointer), and stones mark different time positions. By observing the changing shadow of the stick, we can understand different times of day and experience how time was "recorded" through the sun's movement.

Materials Needed

Stick
Modelling clay
12 stones

A collection of rocks and a small stick are arranged on a textured gray surface, likely concrete or asphalt. Several smooth, light-colored rocks are clustered together, along with some gray stones and smaller, rough pieces of broken concrete. A single, small turquoise-colored stone sits slightly apart from the main cluster. A straight, thin brown stick lies to the left. The image appears to show materials gathered for a craft project or outdoor activity.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Arrange the 12 stones in a circle.

Various rocks and pieces of broken concrete are arranged in a circle on a textured, gray surface, likely concrete or asphalt. Smooth, light-brown rocks alternate with smaller, jagged pieces of light gray concrete. Several darker gray, smooth stones are grouped together on the lower part of the circle. The arrangement suggests the face of a clock or a marker for a game.

Step 2

Take the stick and modelling clay, and insert the stick into the clay.

Two hands hold a thin, brown stick with a small ball of turquoise-colored putty or clay affixed to one end. The background is a textured gray surface, likely concrete or asphalt, and several rocks and pieces of broken concrete are scattered around, out of focus. The hands appear to be in the process of attaching or securing the putty to the stick, possibly as part of a craft or game.

Step 3

Place the assembled stick in the centre of the circle, ensuring it stands upright. Wait for a while and carefully observe how the stick's shadow changes as time passes.

A homemade sundial is crafted on a gray, textured surface, likely concrete or asphalt. A central stick, anchored with a light blue base, casts a distinct shadow. Around the stick, a circle is formed by various rocks and broken pieces of concrete, serving as hour markers. The lighter-colored, smoother rocks are interspersed with the rougher, lighter gray pieces of concrete. The sundial appears to be indicating a time in the early afternoon.

The Science Behind It:

The sundial is one of humanity's earliest time-measuring tools, using the sun's shadow to indicate time. When sunlight shines on the sundial's gnomon (the stick in our case), it casts a shadow. As the sun's position changes in the sky, the shadow continuously moves. The sundial's principle is based on Earth's rotation - as Earth spins, the sun's position changes throughout the day, altering the direction and length of the gnomon's shadow.

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