The Earth / Moon / Sun System

NC Standard:  3.03

Activity:  Patterns of Movement using Shadows

Question: How can length and position of shadows prove the sun has a pattern of movement in the sky?

Vocabulary: movement, pattern

Materials: colored chalk

Procedure: 

• 1. Divide students into lab groups of 4 or 5 students.

• 2. Assign one student in each group as the sundial.

• 3. Go outside in the morning to a paved area in direct sunlight.

• 4. Have the sundial student of each group stand still while the other students in the group trace around the sundial's feet.

• 5. Have the sundial remain in the exact same place while the students trace the rest of his / her body.

• 6. At noon have the students go outside to the same area.

• 7. As the sundial student stands with his / her feet in the exact same location as in the morning, have the other students trace the rest of the sundial's body in a different color of chalk.

• 8. Discuss the changes from the earlier shadow and predict what will happen when they come out at the end of the day.

• 9. Repeat #7 at the end of the day.

• 10. Discuss your results.

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

Conclusion: The sun moves from east to west. Shadows are shorter at noon and longer in the morning and evening.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
__________________________________________________________________________________________