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Outdoor activity

Paper Plate Sundial

Use the power of the sun to tell the time! Build your very own sundial and watch the shadows move throughout the day.

Ages 5-12 0-6 hours Education 8/10

Materials

  • Markers
  • Paper Plates
  • Pen
  • Straws
  • Tape

Illustrated Steps

1

Mark the Centre

Poke a small hole exactly in the centre of your paper plate using a pen.

2

Decorate and Number

Write the number '12' at the top of the plate and decorate it with markers.

3

Insert the Gnomon

Push a straw through the hole and secure it with tape underneath so it stands straight up.

4

Set the Time

At noon, place the plate in the sun and turn it until the straw's shadow points to '12'.

What You’ll Create

Become a time-traveller and build a Paper Plate Sundial! ☀️ Before clocks and watches were invented, people used the sun to tell the time. By placing a Straw in the centre of a Paper Plate and marking where its shadow falls each hour, you can create a working clock powered entirely by nature!

Have fun!

  • ⏰ Check your sundial every hour and use a marker to write the new number where the shadow is pointing.
  • ☁️ What happens to the shadow on a cloudy day? Keep a ‘Sun Diary’ to record your findings.
  • 🏃 Watch how the shadow gets longer or shorter as the sun moves across the sky.
  • 🔦 Try using a Flashlight indoors in a dark room to see how moving the ‘sun’ changes the time on your sundial!

Why It’s Amazing

  • Astronomy Skills: Teaches children about the Earth’s rotation and how the sun’s position changes throughout the day. 🌍
  • Number Recognition: Helps younger children practice writing and identifying numbers on a clock face. 🔢
  • Patience and Observation: Encourages kids to return to their project throughout the day to see how it has changed. 🕰️
  • Historical Discovery: Connects modern life with ancient technology used thousands of years ago. 🏺

Pro Tips

For ages 3-5: Pre-mark the ‘12’ for them. Focus on the ‘magic’ of the moving shadow rather than the exact time-telling.

For ages 5-8: Help them use a compass (or a compass app on a phone) to find North so they can set their sundial accurately.

For ages 8-12: Challenge them to explain why the shadow moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere but would move counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere!