These instructions for building a "suntrack" model were originally designed by Philip and Deborah Scherrer of the Stanford Solar Center in 2005; a decade later, they still stand as an excellent, hands-on instructional aid. The manual is available as a free PDF and guides teachers and students through the process of building a diorama designed to simulate the Sun's arc across the sky at the summer solstice, winter solstice, and spring and fall equinoxes. The finished product provides educators with a physical model that brings to life these essential cycles of earth and sun. The diorama is designed to be useful for students age eight and up. It takes about two hours to build and the material can be purchased at any hardware store. The PDF also includes links to more complete explanations of the interactions between Sun and Earth along with complete assembly instructions.
Comments