3-TAS-05 Sundials and Reactions
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Contents
Outcomes
- Pupils can explain how a sundial is used to measure time
- Pupils understand the concept of reaction time, the factors that affect it and can recall one way of measuring reaction time
Specification References
Starter
- Display images of different sundials, progressing through time; Show time-lapse video of sundial, an examples can be found here, here, here and here
Main Body of Lesson
- Make sundials; templates need to be printed onto card, a selection of templates can be found for inclined, moreinclined, equatorial, polar, cycloid polar, cross, equitorial, universal ring
- Make and use reaction timers
- Investigate factors affecting reaction time
Plenary
- Wordsearch with clues
Homework
- Continue Alien Planet project; focus on timekeeping (e.g. how do you tell the time with a sundial if there are three suns?).
Additional Information
Resources Required
- Sundial kits, images and videos of sundials, craft equipment
Textbook References
Website References
- to use some of the sundials you will require the latitude, you can find this at [
- excellent sundial website with all resources can be found at
Skills Addressed
- Practical skills, use of mathematics, calibration
Safety/Hazards
- Craft equipment, particularly any knives or scissors