The Sun Shadows project is a easy-to-do class project – free and open to all ages between 10 and 18 years. It is organised by the common efforts of Museo Nazione dell’Antartide (Italy) and International Polar Foundation Education program, both being convinced that real-time data gathering of research data in parallel with measurements in the exciting Antarctic landscape, are the best ways to make students enthusiasts for science.
This is a cool one-off international project where students internationally measure the sun’s shadow at noon and add it to a database. You only need a computer and a straight stick like a broomstick! Ask your kid’s or your friend’s kids teacher to check it out or offer to do during lunchtime. Click here for more info.
Objectives
The purpose of the project is to create and increase student understanding about the effects of how varying amounts of solar energy received at different latitudes are related to climate and seasons. Students will:
- be able to compare their results with established latitudinal benchmarks to evaluate how small differences in latitude affect climate.
- be able to explain how the changes in the shadows length demonstrate the Earth’s progress in its annual orbit.
- work with real measurements, what makes science or mathematic classes more concrete and interesting
- learn how to position themselves on Earth, using the historical method to combine with modern GPS positioning
- communicate their findings and understanding to a larger audience using the web, and other ICT instruments.
