Sundials are simple tools that use sunlight and shadows to tell time. Scouts can design and build their own by marking where the sun’s shadow falls throughout the day. It’s a creative way to explore how the Earth moves, how light changes, and how people used nature to track time long before clocks.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy Space Science Explorer badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Brownie Outdoor Art Creator, Junior Outdoor Art Explorer, Cadette Outdoor Art Apprentice, Senior Outdoor Art Expert, and Ambassador Outdoor Art Master badge requirements.
- Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.
Info Needed for Daisy Space Science: The sun looks like it moves across the sky because Earth is spinning. When we see the sun in the morning, our part of Earth is turning toward the light. At night, our part of Earth turns away from the sun. It looks like the sun has gone down. Shadows change during the day because the sun’s position in the sky changes.
Possible Projects:
- Cardboard Tube Sundial (25–35 min)– Construct a vertical sundial using a cardboard tube and paper to track time based on the sun’s angle.
- Human Sundial (30–45 min) – Use your own shadow to mark time throughout the day. Great for outdoor group activities.
- Measure Remaining Daylight with Your Hand (10–15 min) – A quick observational activity using your hand to estimate how much daylight is left.
- Paper Plate Sundial (20–30 min) – Use a paper plate and a straw or pencil to create a simple sundial that shows how shadows move as the sun changes position.
- Plate Sundial (20–30 min) – A simple sundial using a plate and straw or pencil as the gnomon. Great for younger kids with minimal setup.
- Rock Sundial (30–40 min) – Arrange rocks to mark shadow positions at different times of day. A tactile and visual way to track solar movement.
The Badge Archive 