Telling Direction With No Compass

Part of the "Shadow Sticks" Collection

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Goal

Students will investigate the position of the sun in relation to a fixed object on earth at various times of the day.

Estimated Time

1 Day

Setting Required

Outside

Standards

  • S2E2a. Students will investigate the position of the sun in relation to a fixed object on earth at various times of the day.

Procedures

  1. Inform students that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Take students outside multiple times throughout the day to develop secret guesses for which direction is north.
  2. On the last visit of the day, ask students to close their eyes and point in the direction of what they believe is north (to assess their understanding). Then provide students with a compass to confirm their guess.