Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will understand how the sun can be used to show direction.
Materials and Prep
- Compass
- Pencil
- Blank paper
- Sunny day
No prior knowledge needed, just a curious mind!
Activities
- Sun Shadow Stick: Place a stick vertically on the ground and mark where the shadow falls. Wait a bit and mark where the shadow moves. Discuss why this happens.
- Compass Exploration: Use a compass to find North. Observe how the sun's position correlates with the compass direction.
- Sunrise/Sunset Drawing: Draw a picture of where the sun rises and sets in your area. Discuss why this changes throughout the year.
Talking Points
- Quotation: "The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. This can help us determine directions."
- Quotation: "When the sun is directly overhead, it's noon. This can help us find South if we are in the Northern Hemisphere."
- Quotation: "The length of shadows changes throughout the day because of the sun's position in the sky."
- Quotation: "Using a compass can help us find the cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West."