The Earth / Moon / Sun System

NC Standard:  3.02


Activity:  Patterns of Movement

Question: Does the sun have a pattern of movement in the sky?

Vocabulary: movement, pattern

Materials: compass, white and yellow construction paper, scissors, glue

Background: WARNING!!! You should never stare at the sun for a prolonged period of time!

Following are simple directions for using a compass:

1. Hold the base plate compass flat in front of your chest so that the compass needle floats freely and points to magnetic north. (The only thing a compass needle can do is point to magnetic north).

2. Rotate the entire compass housing until the needle sits within the orienting arrow stenciled onto the base of the compass housing. (Usually the orienting arrow is red.)
The zero degree mark on the compass housing and the north end of the needle should be aligned - they now point to magnetic north.


Procedure: 

  • 1. Take the students outside in the morning and at the end of the school day for three days.

  • 2. Ask students to observe and record the sun's position using a compass.

  • 3. Discuss the pattern and reasons for the pattern of movement.

  • 4. Have students cut 2 small suns out of yellow construction paper.

  • 5. Tell students to draw a horizen across their white paper and label one side morning and one side afternoon.

  • 6. Have students glue one sun in its approximate position above the horizon on the morning side and label the compass direction.

  • 7. Have students glue the other sun in its afternoon position and label the compass direction.

  • 8. Have students make an arch connecting the two points and estimate approximate times the sun would be at different locations on the arc.

Conclusion: The sun moves from east to west.
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Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
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