Tracing Time!
Build a simple sundial and trace hourly shadow positions on paper using a stick, plate, and markers to explore how the sun tells time.
About this activity
Build a simple sundial and trace hourly shadow positions on paper using a stick, plate, and markers to explore how the sun tells time.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Find a sunny flat spot outside and set the plate down there.
- 2
Step 2
Put a small piece of tape or a lump of modeling clay in the center of the plate.
- 3
Step 3
Push the stick into the tape or clay so the stick stands straight up in the plate center.
- 4
Step 4
Lay the sheet of paper flat under the plate so the plate sits in the middle of the paper.
- 5
Step 5
Look at the tip of the stick's shadow and use a colouring marker to make a small dot on the paper where the shadow tip touches.
- 6
Step 6
Check the clock or watch and write the current time next to that dot.
- 7
Step 7
Repeat Steps 5 and 6 every hour for at least four hours to trace how the shadow moves.
- 8
Step 8
After you finish marking times draw a straight line from the plate center to each dot to make hour lines.
- 9
Step 9
Color or decorate each hour line so you can clearly see the path the shadow took.
- 10
Step 10
Share your finished sundial and what you learned on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you build and use a simple sundial to trace hourly shadows?
Set your plate on a flat, sunny spot and push a straight stick through the center so it stands upright. Place a sheet of paper under the plate (or use the plate as a guide) and mark where the stick’s shadow falls every hour using a marker or pencil. Label each mark with the time. Keep the setup in the same place and repeat throughout the day to see how the shadow moves.
What materials do I need to make a sundial tracing activity?
You’ll need a round plate, a straight stick or skewer about 6–12 inches long, paper large enough to trace shadows, markers or pencils, tape or clips to hold paper, a clock or phone to note times, and a sunny outdoor spot. Optional: a compass to align true north, a notebook to record observations, and sunscreen or hats for sun protection.
What ages is Tracing Time! suitable for?
This activity suits ages 5–12. Preschoolers (5–6) enjoy marking shadows with help and learning concept of day/night; elementary kids (7–9) can record hourly positions and label times; older children (10–12) can measure angles, graph results and relate observations to Earth's rotation. Always supervise younger kids outdoors and adapt complexity to attention span and fine-motor skills.
What are the learning benefits of tracing sundial shadows?
Building and tracing a sundial teaches concepts of time, sunlight, and Earth’s rotation while boosting observation, measurement, and recording skills. It encourages patience, critical thinking, and basic geometry when older kids measure angles. The activity connects outdoor learning to science and math, supports collaborative play, and can spark curiosity about astronomy and history.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of a paper plate, wooden stick, or modeling clay if I don't have those exact materials?
Use a shallow plastic lid or a circle cut from cardboard as the plate, a pencil, skewer, or straight marker for the stick, and a small wad of aluminum foil, rolled putty, or tape ball in place of the modeling clay when following Steps 1–3.
My stick keeps tipping over or the shadow tip is hard to find—how can I fix that?
Make sure the plate is on a very flat sunny spot (Step 1), press the stick firmly into the tape or modeling clay so it stands straight up (Step 3), and do the marking when skies are clear so the shadow tip in Step 5 is sharp and easy to dot.
How can I change this activity to suit younger or older kids?
For younger children have an adult help write the time and limit repeats to two or three hourly dots (Steps 5–6), while older kids can repeat Steps 5–8 across more hours, measure angles between hour lines, and label the sundial with clock hours.
What are some ways to make the sundial more accurate or more fun after I finish the hour lines?
After drawing straight hour lines from the plate center (Step 8) and coloring them (Step 9), glue the plate to a board, use a compass to orient the gnomon toward true north, add numbered hour labels and decorations, and photograph it to share on DIY.org as suggested in the final step.