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Make a Sundial

This nature activity teaches children how to build, position, and read a sundial.
Sundial,craft

Make a Sundial

Materials

  • 12 inch by 12 inch piece of heavy card stock
  • Block of wood
  • Thumb tacks
Directions

An old way to tell the time was to use the sun and the shadows it cast. You can make a sundial to put in your backyard that will tell you what time it is.

  1. First, take the heavy card stock and fold it corner to corner, then cut the card in half.
  2. Fold a flap on the bottom of the card to tack into the piece of wood.
  3. Attach the card to the wooden block, making sure the triangle is straight up and down.
  4. Place the sundial on a flat surface in the sun.
  5. Every hour, mark off where the shadow is cast.
  6. You might even want to paint a nature design on the wood block.
  7. Remember to keep the sundial facing the same direction so your hour marks will be accurate.

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