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How can the Sun help you if you're lost?

Sun & Daily Patterns
4.7 (9577 reviews)
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
Video trouble?
Three sun direction choices

If`you`were`Doug,
what`would`you`do
to`get`home?

Video trouble?
Video trouble?
Step
01/09
Get these supplies.
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Step
02/09
Cut on the thick black lines. When you’re done, you’ll have two pieces.
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Step
03/09
Poke the paper fastener through the top hole then turn the paper
upside down like this.
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Step
04/09
Turn over the paper with the sun on it. Slide the hole over the paper
fastener.
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Step
05/09
Spread the prongs and flatten them like this.
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Step
06/09
Trace the word east (where the sun rises). Then trace the word west
(where the sun sets).
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Step
07/09
Practice making the sun rise over my friend’s house (the white one)
and set behind my house (the gray one).
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Step
08/09
Turn and Talk: How can the sun help me get back to my house in the
afternoon? Should I walk towards the sun or away from it?
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Step
09/09
Here’s what I figured out.
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Slide Image
Slide Image

forest


1 of 8

a place with lots of trees
Slide Image

Sun


2 of 8

the large ball of light in the sky during the day

sunrise


3 of 8

when the Sun appears in the morning
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sunset


4 of 8

when the Sun disappears in the evening
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Slide Image

east


5 of 8

one of four main directions; if you are facing north, it is to the right
Slide Image

west


6 of 8

one of four main directions; if you are facing north, it is to the left
Slide Image

pattern


7 of 8

something that happens again and again and again in a way that can be predicted
Slide Image

predict


8 of 8

to guess what will happen based on things you know

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
children lost in the city by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Josef Sowa
forest by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Yegor Larin
boy with backpack in the forest by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: upslim
eggs and toast by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: citr
sun peering through the forest by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Piotr Krzeslak
cottage in the forest by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Maciej Czekajewski
kid playing with toys by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Tomsickova Tatyana
man chopping vegetables by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Rommel Canlas
meadow pine trees by Ken Kistler
fallen tree by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: TairA
man walking through forest by Danny Jun Fitness
girl lost in forest by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: iraua
Credits
How can the Sun help you if you're lost?
Sun & Daily Patterns
4.7 (9577 reviews)

Featured Reviews

“ANOTHER great lesson! My students are ALWAYS engaged and we have a great time with each lesson. These lessons create teachable moments in class and we learn so much.”
· Kelly · Teacher
“How easy it was to follow and how engaging for the students. They loved the mystery! I loved the teacher tips along the way. Thank you!”
· Sarah · Teacher
“I LOVE how it is broken down into smaller increments. We were able to do them in planned times or when we had extra time. I didn't have to miss something to do them. I'm so glad we did it! ”
· Susan · Teacher
“The students did a great job of using what they learned from previous lessons to predict what they should do in this lesson. They enjoyed making the sun finders. I have had parents report that their child came home excited to share what they had learned.”
· Amy · Teacher
“The video showing the directions of the activity was perfect. In addition, the class really enjoy how Doug asks them questions and poses problems!”
· Tricia · Teacher
“Students loved the sun finder! ”
· Amy · Teacher
“This lesson encourages students to draw upon past experiences in a fun way. ”
· Erin · Teacher
“We puzzled it out and had great discussions before we came to the correct conclusion. The students also really liked the activity page.”
· Amy · Teacher
“I enjoyed hearing my kids discuss their reasoning as to how to find their way home using the sun. My kids couldn't agree if they should follow the Sun, walk away from the Sun or walk in a different direction entirely. By the end of the lesson, my kids got it!”
· Patricia · Teacher
“I loved listening to my children reason which direction they should follow. It really made them think!”
· Miranda · Homeschooler
“Perfect for kindergarten !! Simple activity with step by step directions. I felt they really understood the activity by the end of the lesson . ”
· Mary · Teacher
“The students were engaged and loved make the sun finder. We found the sun in the morning and we were able to determine directions due to the position of the sun. Great lesson with real life application!”
· Sheila · Teacher
“The kids really enjoyed this lesson. When we went outside they put the paper sun in the same position as the sun and they could see where east and west were. It was cool to see that light bulb moment! -Molly Craig 1st grade teacher at Twin Lakes Christian School Aptos, CA”
· Molly · Teacher
“The directions for Sun Finder were very easy to follow and kid friendly. I also liked that there were not many materials to gather.”
· Denise · Teacher
“video and activity were great!My kids love Doug's stories and the science was very clear.the activity was very basic yet a perfect example of the suns movement!”
· Courtney · Homeschooler
“Level of engagement was very high! The student thinking was very evident - they wanted to change their minds about which way Doug should go as soon as they watched the clip of how the sun moves across the sky before setting. Very grade level appropriate. Thank you Mystery Science!”
· Ellie · Teacher
“Everything is so engaging and perfectly timed. I like the video followed by discussion and then an activity that shows the children what to do step by step. ”
· Delphi · Teacher
“My class loved it! I did, too! It was so easy to prepare, and the kids could very easily follow and understand the directions for the project. This lesson generated lots of questions from the kids. One asked, "How does the sun get back to the other side every day?" Perfect!”
· Rise · Teacher
“Great lesson, we even expanded it with watching the sun and figuring out which direction our house is facing (N) and which direction their bedrooms are etc. The activity really helped my 5yo be able to retell how the sun moves and put it into action to retell the story. The 9yo also enjoyed it and we did more activities/lessons from our main curriculum.”
· Carrie · Homeschooler
“Keira says the best part was making the project. Lenna liked ALL of it! Luci liked the story with the lesson. Ava like the video of the real life sunrise and sunset. Mrs. Mele liked all it got all of the kids working and thinking.”
· Kelley · Teacher
“Great lesson! Extended the activity by taking it outside and watching how the sun moved above our house during the day. Good for teaching the children how to solve a problem. First mystery used on this site - will be happy to do more!”
· Maria · Homeschooler
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students develop a model of the sun’s daily path across the sky, then use this model to help someone who’s lost. In the activity, Sun Finder, students create a mobile paper model of the sun and earth to illustrate the position of the sun throughout the day.
Preview activity

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

I have a Mystery Pack

Sun Finder printout 1 per student
Scissors
1 pair per student
Three-Hole Punch
1 hole punch per class
Paper Fasteners
1 fastener per student
Prep Instructions

Each student will make their own Sun Finder.

Prepare Sun Finder Templates

Fold the Sun Finder template in half, lengthwise. You can fold 5 at a time, if you like.

Put the folded edge in a 3-hole punch and punch the templates. You can work with multiple copies at a time — depending on what your 3-hole punch will accommodate.

It's okay if the hole in the rectangle with the sun on it doesn't quite match the circle printed on the page.

Standards

Jump to

Exploration

12 mins

Hands-On Activity

20 mins

Extend this lesson

Activity

Activity

Activity: Vocabulary Cards let students practice reading and writing skills while learning science vocabulary.

Activity: Encourage your students to notice where the sun is in the sky at different times of the day. Ask them to show you these times, using their Sun Finder.

  • Where is the sun at lunchtime?
  • Where is the sun when you wake up in the morning?
  • Where is the sun just before dinnertime?

Transcripts

Credits
 
Sun Shadows Lesson 3: How can the Sun help you if you're lost?

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