Try to do this several hours in a row if possible. Write the time next to the line you draw. This will allow you to start marking the hours on your sundial right away.Įither tape the rim of the plate to the ground, or use a few small rocks to help weigh it down so it doesn’t blow away.Įach hour on the hour go outside and use your permanent marker to draw a line along the pencil’s shadow on the plate. For best results you want your pencil to be straight up and down (perpendicular to the paper plate).Ī few minutes before the clock strikes the next hour, take your materials outside and place your plate in a flat area that gets plenty of sunshine. Use a bit of tape to secure the pencil to the plate with the pointed end standing up. Turn the plate upside down, with the pencil poking through so the eraser end can rest flat on the ground beneath the plate. Having a snug fit will help keep the pencil stable. Try not to make the hole any bigger than it needs to be. Use the point of your pencil to poke a hole in the center of your paper plate. Your child will also love these other paper plate STEM activities. This solar STEM activityis fun, quick to set-up, and uses materials you probably already have at home, making it a win-win for everyone involved. In this activity your child will make a homemade sundial and discover how to use the sun to keep track of time. Plus, this one is also easy enough for kids to do on their own, making it one of our favorite simple STEM activities for kids.īefore the invention of modern clocks and watches, ancient people people watched the position of the sun and the shadow on a sundial to help keep track of time. Your child will get plenty of practice telling time, learning about the Earth’s rotation and its affect on shadows, doing a little bit of writing, and even get some time outside. With plenty of sunshine during the summer months, it’s the perfect time to try making a paper plate sundial. Looking for fun ways to get your child learning over summer break?
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