Choose Learning Type ▼

Chasing the Sun

Activity

Telling Time with Shadows

Design and create your own sundial using found materials. (For example: Find a flat surface like cardboard, a paper plate, or a patch of ground. Place a stick or pencil upright in the center so it stands straight; use clay, tape, or push it into the ground.) At the start of the day, mark where the shadow falls. Return every hour and mark the tip of the shadow again. Label each mark with the time. Watch how the shadow moves as the Sun travels across the sky!

Science Seed

A sundial is made with a flat plate and a gnomon (a stick or upright object) that casts a shadow as the Sun moves across the sky. When aligned properly, especially the gnomon (which should match Austin’s latitude of about 30°), the sundial tracks solar time, which differs from clock time due to time zones, daylight savings, and longitude. Sundials were created independently in many ancient cultures, not just as timekeepers but as tools for astronomy and engineering. The oldest examples date to 1500 BCE in Egypt and Babylonia. At Navarro, this activity is a chance to explore environmental observation, engineering design, and historical thinking all while drawing connections to modern solar technology like rooftop solar panels.

move to the next activity

earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Navarro Early College High School

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

Navarro Early College High School is a vibrant, diverse public high school in Austin, Texas, grounded in a culture of pride, respect, and responsibility. Through a partnership with Austin Community College, Navarro’s Early College program allows students to earn up to an associate degree at no cost while completing their high school diploma, giving them a strong head start on college and career pathways. The school offers a wide range of academic, arts, athletics, and career-focused opportunities, and fosters a supportive community where students can explore their interests, build skills, and prepare for success beyond graduation.