Page Updated:

08.26.02

             

 
               

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[Introduction] [Participation] [Materials Needed] [Data Collection Instructions]

[Diagram of Set-Up]


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[ Shadow Measurement Data] [Measuring Pictures]

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Unit of Study Connecting

Shadow Measurements and the Global Water Cycle

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Sun Shadow Project

    Introduction: (Back to Top)

The Sun Shadows Project is an international data collection project. Mr. Smith's class in Reading, PA USA will act as the data collection and data communication center. The aim is to gather noon-time sun shadow data from individuals and other classrooms who live at different latitudes around the world. Data will be gathered at the equinoxes in September and March as well as the Solstice in December. Using this data students will be able to work on an assortment of academic objectives:

  • Writing for the purposes of communicating cultural and environmental differences and similarities between students and other individuals from all over the world.
  • Using measurment tools to measure and communicate in stardardized ways.
  • Discovering with real data the reason for changes in seasons and other related natural phenomena including major storm development.
  • Making measurement conversions in order to be able to compare and contrast data.

Participation: (Back to Top)

Success of this project will depend on the number and geographic variety of data collectors. Stay tuned to see this year's participants.

If you are are an individual or classroom who would like to participate in the data collection please send an Email message to Mr. Smith: smithg@readingsd.org

Please feel free to send this page to other classrooms and individuals who may be interested.

Materials Needed for Data Collection: (Back to Top)

  • Meter stick or other straight device 1m long (about 39 inches long) to create shadow.
  • Glass jar filled with sand to hold the stick vertically. (Any other creative device that holds the stick vertically will do just fine, though. You could even use rocks or books piled around the base to keep the stick vertical)
  • Tape measure or other suitable measuring tool to determine lenghth of the shadow.
  • Compass to measure direction of shadow.
  • Level (or a "good eye") to insure stick is vertical.
  • Thermometer or local news media to measure and record temperature.
  • Optional: Digital camera to share your measuring event with the rest of us.

Data Collection Instructions: (Back to Top)

  1. Obviously, sun shadows can only be collected on either clear or slightly cloudy days. Therefore, data collection dates will be any day within a week of the equinoxes and the December Solstice.
  2. Acceptable dates for the three collections include:

    September Equinox: September 18th to September 25th, 2002

    December Solstice: December 15th to December 21st, 2002

    March Equinox: March 17th to March 25th, 2003

  3. Since not all areas of the Earth participate in Daylight Savings Time, the time when the sun is at its "highest" and shadows the shortest will not be the same for everyone. For a true "noon" you will have to find the midpoint between sunrise and sunset on the day of your measurement. For instance, on a practice measurement day in September, the time of the shortest shadow for us in Reading, PA was closer to 1 PM due to Daylight Savings Time.
  4. Necessary measurements to include:

Name of Class, School, and or Individual Data Collector:

Description of weather on week of Measurement:

Date of Measurement:

Location:

Length of shadow: (prefer cm but my class can do any conversions necessary)

Direction of shadow: (away from the sun using a compass) using cardinal/intermediate directions or degrees, we will standardize all the data in my class. If a compass is not available an educated guess is acceptable.

Temperature:(prefer degrees Celcius, but my class can do any conversions necessary)

Optional data to include:

Angle of Sun Shadow:

Sunrise time:

Sunset time:

Hours of sunlight:

Latitude:

Longitude:

Digital pitcure of data collection:

Example of Set-Up: (Back to Top)