Session  objec+ve  as  used  in  the  workshop:This  session  is  used  to  provide  the  par0cipants  an  opportunity  to  gather  data  related  to  the  seasons  on  Earth  and  the  rela0ve  movements  of  the  Earth  and  Sun.    Data  collected  can  be  used  for  longitudinal  studies.    Two  ac0vi0es  will  take  place:  Golf  tee  shadow  clocks  will  be  used  to  record  Sun  shadows.    Home-­‐made  astrolabes  will  be  used  to  measure  the  angle  between  the  sun  and  earth.

Suggested  classroom  applica+on:• Seasons• Graphing  skills• Math  connec0ons  reading  angles

NGSS  /  Common  Core  correla+ons:• NGSS-­‐SEP3-­‐Planning  and  carrying  out  inves0ga0ons• NGSS-­‐SEP4-­‐Analyzing  and  interpre0ng  data• NGSS-­‐SEP6-­‐Construc0ng  explana0ons• NGSS-­‐SEP7-­‐Engaging  in  argument  from  evidence• NGSS-­‐DCI-­‐ESS1-­‐4-­‐Earth’s  place  in  the  universe• CCM-­‐MP5:  Use  appropriate  tools  strategically• CCM-­‐MP6:  ASend  to  precision• CCWHST.6-­‐8.2:  Write  explanatory  texts  to  convey  informa0on• CCSL.8.5:  Include  mul0media  components  to  clarify  findings

Language  objec+ve  (wri+ng,  reading,  speaking,  listening):• Speaking:  • Listening:

Key  vocabulary  (ESL  and  science):• Magne0c  North• Alignment• Angles  and  degrees• Astrolabe• Solar  noon

Materials  and  sourcing  informa+on:Golf  tees,  cardboard,  string,  small  washers,  tape,  straw,  hole  punch,  compass  (or  cell  phone  app  with  compass  and  inclinometer)

Presenter/created  by:  Bill  Grosser

References:    At  Home  Astronomy:  UC  Berkley:  hSp://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/AtHomeastronomy/index.htmlwww.AStrolabe.org

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Session  Descrip+on

The  primary  objec0ve  of  the  session  is  to  have  par0cipants  analyze  their  own  understanding  of  the  reason  we  have  seasons  on  the  Earth.    Two  ac0vi0es  will  be  used  to  gather  data  related  to  the  rela0ve  posi0on  of  the  Sun  and  Earth.  

Golf  tee  Sun  shadows  will  be  used  to  track  the  speed  and  posi0on  of  the  Sun  as  it  appears  to  move  across  the  sky.    Par0cipants  will  align  their  shadow  pages  using  a  compass  and  trace  the  shadow  of  a  golf  tee  at  different  0mes  of  the  day.

A  home-­‐made  astrolabe  will  be  used  to  measure  the  angle  between  the  Earth  and  Sun.

Both  lessons  are  examples  of  ac0vi0es  that  should  take  place  as  longitudinal  studies  throughout  the  school  year.    

Hooks:Ques+on  1:  The  Earth  travels  in  an  ellip0cal  orbit  around  the  sun.    During  which  season  is  the  Earth  closest  to  the  Sun?Ques+on  2:  In  what  direc0on  does  the  Sun  rise  and  set  in  Chicago?

Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt  is  an  ac0vity  designed  to  spark  an  interest  in  collec0ng  data  as  part  of  a  longitudinal  study.    The  data  collected  will  help  explain  the  reason  for  seasons  on  the  Earth.  

The  Challenge:Collect  data  over  the  course  of  the  school  year  that  show  how  the  posi0on  of  the  Sun  changes  throughout  the  day  as  well  as  throughout  the  year.    Changes  will  be  tracked  using  two  tools,  an  astrolabe  to  measure  the  angle  between  the  surface  of  the  Earth  and  the  sun,  and  a  golf  tee  shadow  clock  to  monitor  the  rela0ve  direc0onal  posi0on  and  movement  of  the  Sun.

The  goals  of  this  session  include:1. Measure  the  angle  between  the  Earth  and  Sun  using  an  astrolabe2. Measure  the  direc0on  and  eleva0on  of  the  Sun  using  a  golf  tee  shadow  clock3. Measure  angles  in  degrees4. Use  a  compass  to  determine  direc0on5. Calculate  solar  noon  using  sunrise  and  sunset  data

Warm-­‐up  ac+vityProvide  sunrise  and  sunset  data  from  a  weather  app  on  your  phone  such  as  the  Weather  Channel.    Ask  the  par0cipants  to  find  four  things....

• What  0me  does  the  Sun  rise  today?• What  0me  does  the  Sun  set  today?• How  many  hours  of  daylight  will  we  have  today?• What  0me  today  will  the  Sun  be  exactly  halfway  between  sunrise  and  sunset?

We  will  come  back  to  these  ques0ons  during  the  second  part  of  the  breakout.

HookThe  Earth  does  not  travel  in  a  perfect  circle  around  the  Sun.    The  Earth  actually  follows  an  ellip0cal  orbit,  constantly  moving  slightly  closer,  and  slightly  further  away  from  the  Sun  throughout  the  year.    During  which  season  do  you  predict  that  the  Earth  moves  to  its  closest  posi0on  to  the  Sun?

A. SpringB. SummerC. FallD. Winter

Have  the  par0cipants  write  their  answer  on  post-­‐it  notes  and  s0ck  the  post-­‐it  notes  onto  a  bar  graph  projected  on  the  front  wall  using  the  projector.    The  Earth  is  closest  to  the  Sun  in  the  winter  (January  4,  2015),  and  furthest  from  the  sun  in  the  summer  (June  2015).    

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Ac+vity  #1  Golf  Tee  Shadow  ClockThis  ac0vity  usually  takes  place  outside  of  the  Adler  Planetarium  near  Chicago’s  version  of  Stonehenge.    The  opening  ques0on  is....

In  Chicago,  where  does  the  Sun  rise,,,,,  where  does  the  Sun  set?    Most  common  answers  are  in  the  East  and  West.    This  is  actually  only  true  on  the  spring  and  autumnal  equinoxes.    In  the  summer,  the  Sun  rises  in  the  northeast,  in  the  winter  the  southeast.    In  the  summer  the  sun  sets  in  northwest,  in  the  winter  the  southwest.    

The  golf  tee  shadow  clock  is  used  to  collect  data  on  the  changing  posi0on  of  the  sun  throughout  the  year.    

Set  Up:Tape  a  copy  of  a  protractor  into  a  page  in  the  science  journal.    The  center  90  degree  mark  should  be  orientated  due  north.    The  golf  tee  should  be  placed  on  the  boSom  edge  center.    Trace  the  shadow  of  the  tee  at  any  given  0me.    Mark  the  0me  on  the  tracing.  Ques+ons:

• Where  will  the  shadow  be  in  three  hours?• Will  the  shadow  be  longer  or  shorter  in  one  hour?    Three  hours?• Where  will  the  shadow  be  when  the  sun  sets  today?• At  solar  noon,  will  there  be  any  shadow?• Where  would  the  shadow  be  at  this  0me  if  I  were  in  New  York  or  California?• How  will  the  length  of  the  shadow  change  if  I  measure  at  the  same  0me  throughout  the  

year?• How  will  the  posi0on  of  the  shadow  change  if  I  measure  at  the  same  0me  throughout  

the  year?• Can  you  e-­‐mail/swap  pictures  of  your  shadow  to  a  “shadow  pal”  in  a  school  in  a  

different  state  and  determine  if  they  are  north/south    east/west  of  you?

Addi0onal  ques0ons  from  harvard.edu  website:Discuss  observa>ons  of  shadow  lengths.  Ques>ons  might  include:  How  do  shadow  lengths  change  during  the  day?  Why  do  they  change?  Is  there  a  paIern  to  where  the  shadows  fall  and  their  lengths?  Why  is  there  a  paIern?  Is  the  Sun  directly  overhead  at  any  >me?  Why  is  the  shortest  shadow  around  noon?  Why  does  the  shortest  shadow  point  North?  Why  doesn't  it  point  in  the  same  direc>on  as  the  magne>c  compass?

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Ac+vity  #2    AstrolabeIn  this  ac0vity  a  home  made  astrolabe  will  be  constructed  to  measure  the  angle  between  the  surface  of  the  Earth  and  the  Sun.    

The  astrolabe  can  be  used  to  collect  data  throughout  the  year  that  shows  the  dras0cally  different  loca0on  of  the  Sun  in  the  sky  as  the  year  progresses.

Set  Up:Follow  the  direc0ons  at  the  following  website  to  construct  your  astrolabe:hSp://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/AtHomeastronomy/ac0vity_07.html

*We  modified  the  design  by  punching  a  hole  in  a  small  square  of  cardboard  and  secured  the  square  on  the  top  end  of  the  straw.    This  adapta0on  casts  a  nice  shadow  for  easier  alignment.

E X P E R I M E N T 2Measuring the Altitude of the Sun

Source: http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/AtHomeastronomy/activity_08.html

E X P E R I M E N T 2Measuring the Altitude of the Sun

Source: http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/AtHomeastronomy/activity_08.html

Because it is harmful to look directly at the Sun, a new method for measuring the Sun's altitude must be used. Hold the astrolabe so that the straw points in the direction of the Sun. Do not look through the straw.

Aim the straw so that you see the shadow of the straw on your hand. Move the straw slightly until a small circle of light forms on your hand. The straw is now pointing directly at the Sun.

Ask someone to read the Sun's altitude (in degrees) where the string crosses the scale. Take note of the time of day the reading was made.

One day a week, at the same time each day, measure the altitude of the Sun with your astrolabe. Make three consecutive measurements and record them in the chart provided. Be sure to include the date.

As the weeks progress, look at your measurements of the Sun's altitude. Can you detect a change? Is the altitude increasing or decreasing? Is there a pattern of change? How can you explain these changes?

 

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Simplified  Quadrant  to  make  the  astrolabe.

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Golf  Tee  Shadow  Clock  Template:    

Place  the  golf  tee  at  the  cross  on  the  base.    90  degrees  should  point  North.    Solar  noon  should  cast  a  shadow  at  90  degrees.

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Golf  Tee  Shadow  Clock  Template:    

Place  the  golf  tee  at  the  center  of  the  template.    0  degrees  should  point  North.    Solar  noon  should  cast  a  shadow  at  0  degrees.

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg

Helpful  apps  and  websits  for  your  I-­‐Phone  and  computer.

Tiltmeter:  Great  for  measuring  angles.    Can  be  used  to  get  exact  angle  by  sekng  it  on  top  of  your  astrolabe.

Weather  Channel:  Shows  sunrise  and  sunset  0mes  on  main  screen.    Can  be  used  to  determine  solar  noon.

Compass:  Can  be  used  to  orientate  the  golf  tee  shadow  clock  in  a  due  North  posi0on.

Flashlight:  Can  be  used  to  simulate  the  sun.    This  app  casts  nice  shadows  for  days  when  the  Sun  does  not  shine.

Living  Earth:  Shows  “live”  image  of  the  Earth  making  it  possible  to  see  what  part  of  the  Earth  is  in  daylight,  and  which  part  is  in  darkness.

NOAA  Improved  Sunrise/Sunset  Calculator:  Shows  sunrise  and  sunset  for  any  day  of  the  year.    Calculates  solar  noon.    Has  links  to  explain  details  of  the  mo0on  of  the  Sun  and  Earth  including  some  great  diagrams.hSp://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/grad/solcalc/sunrise.html

Day  and  Night  World  Map:  Shows  illuminated  por0on  of  the  Earth  for  any  day  of  the  year.    hSp://www.0meanddate.com/worldclock/sunearth.html

Session  Title:  Not  a  Shadow  of  a  Doubt?  Seasons  and  Shadows

GA  Seasons,  Golf  Shadows,  Astrolabe  2-­‐18-­‐15  wfg