[Kevin O’Dwyer]

#2 – Creating the Sundial

I like the idea of constructing a sundial in the school grounds. I have previously taught history lessons on clocks and how they’ve changed over time. We created sundials out of paper plates and straws and the children had never heard of sundials previously. I think creating a school based sundial would be a good idea to teach the whole school informally and make them aware of what it is. Different groups could make their own versions of it too and go into as much or as little detail depending on readiness and age of group.

With a middle class such as 2nd Class, I would go about it in such a way where I would show the children images of watches, alarm clocks, candles, sundials and sand timers. I would then say – What do all of these have in common and get the children to state their guesses and reasoning. I would then say today we are going to focus on one in particular and learn a bit about it. Get the children to come up with reasons why they might have been used and give me the advantages and disadvantages of sundials.

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