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Sunny Sundials
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Sunny Sundials

Arrow of Light – 5th Grade
Estimations AOL
Elective
Requirement 2
Sunny Sundials
Arrow of Light – 5th Grade
Estimations AOL
Elective
Requirement 2
Sunny Sundials

Snapshot of Activity

Create a sundial to estimate the time of day.

Outdoor
2
4
2
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  • Construction paper (pale color works best) or a 9- to 12-inch paper plate, one for each Cub Scout 
  • Piece of stiff cardboard (should be a little larger than your piece of paper or plate), one for each Cub Scout 
  • Large bowl for tracing  
  • Pencil or crayon, one for each Cub Scout  
  • Scissors, enough to share 
  • Unsharpened pencil or straw (the gnomon), one for each Cub Scout 
  • Mounting putty or soft clay, enough for each Cub Scout to secure the gnomon 
  • Four small stones or clear tape (for securing your sundial when it’s outside) 
  • Marker (dark color works best), one for each Cub Scout 
  • Access to Sundial image in Additional Resources 

Before the meeting: 

  1. Familiarize yourself with sundials.  
  2. Build a sundial to use as an example.  See directions below. 
  3. Sundials work on sunny days typically before 6 pm.   If you wish to tell time with the sundial, it might be best to make sure the sundial is outside before 6 pm.  Noon is the best time to watch the sun’s shadow move across the sundial.  If your den meets in the evening, determine if you build the sundial and allow the Cub Scouts to try measuring the sun at home on a sunny day.  
  4. Determine a place for the sundials where the dial will get the most amount of sun, have a flat surface, and will not be disturbed.  

During the meeting: 

  1. Discuss with Cub Scouts what an estimation means.  Estimation is a rough calculation of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.   It is an educated guess based on a person’s background knowledge.  Discuss ways they currently guess the time of something.  (Example:  Math class is right before lunchtime.)  
  2. Show an image of a sundial (see Additional Resources.) Discuss what a sundial is and how it works.  Explain that sundials measure the position of the sun in the sky.  Since one rotation of the earth is a day, the sun’s position can help us tell time.   Explain that the part of the sundial that casts the shadow is called the gnomon.  When the sun’s light hits the gnomon, it casts a shadow on the base of the dial near a number.  This is how we tell the time.   
  3. Create a sundial.   
    • Create a circle on your piece of paper.  Either use 5 inches on a drawing compass or Turn your bowl upside down on your piece of paper and trace a circle. Cut out the circle. OR Gather paper plate.  
    • Poke a small hole in the center of the circle. The hole should be no wider than the pencil or stick you will use for the gnomon. 
    • Get the piece of cardboard.   Place a small ball of mounting putty or soft clay in the center of the piece of cardboard and push the eraser side of the pencil (gnomon) into the putty. Test to make sure the pencil stays upright.    
    • Once your pencil is secure, slide the paper down to the cardboard and press firmly to flatten the putty/clay.  
    • Find a flat spot outside that will stay sunny for all or most of the day and place your sundial on the ground or outdoor table. Choose a spot where the dial will not be disturbed.  
    • Secure the base of your sundial so it will not move using either small stones or clear tape. Your sundial must stay in the same place while you are making it. 
    • It is best to put the sundial out at noon. Mark where the shadow of the pencil is located on the paper plate. Write down 12 on the paper plate.  
    • Estimate the remaining times.  For example, 6:00 is the opposite of 12:00 on the dial.  Then 3:00 and 9:00 are opposite each other.   Continue until you fill in the clock.   
  4. Estimate the time by leaving the sundial outside for a while, then come back and check it.  Read the sundial and then state the time.  Check your guess against the actual time.  

Additional Resources

Sundial image

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

Arrow of Light – 5th Grade

Hands of Time

Outdoor
1
1
1

Estimate time using your hands and the position of the sun in the sky. 

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