Botanical Sun-Compass Gnomon Sundial

45 mins Ages 4-6 Outdoor

A playful, screen-free adventure designed to spark curiosity, sensory exploration, and fine motor skills for kids aged 4 to 6.

Materials Needed

  • • Paper plate (heavy duty) (1 unit)
  • • Straight wooden stick or dowel (15 cm) (1 unit)
  • • Modeling clay or playdough ball (1 unit)
  • • Outdoor markers and 2 holding stones (1 set)

Pro Tips

  • → Anchor a 15 cm straight stick upright in a ball of clay at the center of an upside-down paper plate.
  • → Set the plate in a sunny spot on the patio that receives light all day, weighting the plate edge with a pebble.
  • → Every hour, trace the stick's shadow on the plate and write the clock number at the shadow tip.

Safety First

Do not stare directly at the sun; wear hats on open sunny patios.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Step 1

Push a straight 15 cm stick into a ball of clay and press it to the center of an upside-down paper plate.

2

Step 2

Set the plate flat on a sunny outdoor patio and weigh down the outer rim with two small stones.

3

Step 3

Check the sundial on the hour, trace the dark shadow line with a marker, and write the current time.

4

Step 4

Check back two hours later to observe how the shadow rotated clockwise as the Earth turned.

What they are learning

Solar positioning and shadow movement Earth rotational tracking Early analog horology