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20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

May 12, 2023 | 1 Comment
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I have 20 fun summer learning activities and we’re making a rock sundial. And look at 11 Fun Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers for more summer fun.

Are you looking for fun summer learning activities? Whether you teach year-round or take the summer off there is no reason that learning must end.

One of the best things about homeschooling is that learning can be fun and takes place all year long, even in the long hot days of summer.

20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

A simple rock sundial is not only a fun and frugal summer activity, but there is much to learn.

Look at what you learn when you make a simple rock sundial.

  1. good way to work on telling time
  2. problem-solving
  3. the history of telling time
  4. learning about the Earth’s rotation
  5. shadows,
  6. and enjoying some fresh air.

You can use this activity for preschool and up, creating more challenging tasks for different ages.

Table of Contents

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  • More Summer Learning Activities
  • How to Make a Rock Sundial
  • Kids Rock Sundial

More Summer Learning Activities

Also, look at more summer learning activities below.

  • 20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial
  • A to Z List: 100 Fun Summer Homeschool Unit Study Ideas
  • 25 Summer Homeschool Ideas To Keep The Learning Spark Alive
  • 30+ Summer Activities for Middle School Kids
  • 11 Fun Summer Activities for Middle Schooler
  • Free Coral Reef Printable Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study Ideas
  • Fun Pineapple Candle For Fun Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
  • Fun Making Ocean Layers Soap | Summer Activities for Middle Schoolers
20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

Then, look at these fun summer learning activities.

20 Summer Learning Activities

I am also giving you a wonderful list of fun summer learning activities to keep them busy all sunny summer long including water play, tasty treats, messy fun, and many more hands-on activities.

Photo Credit: preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com

Science Experiment: Elephant Toothpaste

"Elephant toothpaste" is a science experiment that I used to do with my high school students.  It is a strong multi-sensory demonstration that goes great with a lot of chemistry concepts.

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Marshmallow Shooter Summer Activity for Kids

These super EASY to make marshmallow shooters are a must for your summer bucket list.

Photo Credit: www.growingajeweledrose.com

Bean Experiment for Kids

To help with observation we used a jar instead of a bean this time, and I was delighted to discover that my kids were just as amazed by this simple bit of science as I was so many years ago. 

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Geometric Bubble Activity

Kids love blowing bubbles so learning, while you play, doesn’t get any better with this easy to set up geometric bubble STEM activity.

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Build A Marble Run Wall - Little Bins for Little Hands

Make a simple noodle marble run wall from pool noodles!

Photo Credit: www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com

Ice Cream Volcano Experiment - Summer Science Activity for Kids

Kids will be excited to learn and explore when making this ice cream volcano! This is a combination of an ice cream activity and easy volcano experiments for one EPIC, memorable summer activity for kids! 

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

Build a Nerf War Battlefield

Build a Nerf War Battlefield in your own backyard for an adrenaline-pumping, active play experience and STEM challenge.

Photo Credit: www.mombrite.com

Easy Sun Print STEM Activity: The Power of the Sun

In this simple experiment, your kids will learn just how potent the sun’s rays are, and why colors fade under the sun.

Photo Credit: www.steampoweredfamily.com

The Coolest Project For Kids With Craft Sticks – Engineer Launchers

This is a great engineering and crafting challenge for kids 7 years old and up. The result is part crossbow, part slingshot, all fun!

Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com

Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiments

Hands-on outdoor science activities for children, such as this human sundial experiment, can help children learn how shadows are created, and, measure the earth’s rotation.
Photo Credit: aroundthekampfire.com

Ice Cream in a Bag: Changing Matter Experiment for Second Grade

 Students investigate ways that matter can change and whether these changes are reversible. 

Photo Credit: funlearningforkids.com

Rain Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment with Printable Recording Sheets

This rain cloud in a jar is a weather science experiment gives young children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way!

Photo Credit: climatekids.nasa.gov

Make SMores With a Solar Oven!

Harness the energy of the Sun to make the best snack ever invented, S’mores!

Photo Credit: www.simplemost.com

Make A Fun DIY Mason Jar ‘Fairy Light’ With Your Kids

Check out this super easy DIY weekend project that will help you turn a regular old mason jar into a glow-in-the-dark fairy light. Your kids will love how they sparkle and shimmer at night, and it’s the perfect craft for when you’ve got a little free time on your hands.

Photo Credit: sugarspiceandglitter.com

Beach Water Table Invitation (with Video) ⋆ Sugar, Spice and Glitter

This fun DIY Beach Water Table Invitation brings all the best parts of the beach to your backyard!

Photo Credit: www.glitteronadime.com

Soda Geyser Eruption Experiment - Science for Kids

We kicked it off with a Soda Geyser Eruption Experiment. Have you tried this? It is so easy and the kids loved it! Like with most of our activities, it is extremely inexpensive and simple to set up

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Paint Gun Parts of Speech Game

Looking for an outrageously fun parts of speech game to help kids review nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Kids are going to have a blast with this fun parts of speech activity that is perfect for summer learning

Photo Credit: theresjustonemommy.com

Trail Signs Printable & Activity

When it comes to simple activities to keep kids busy and having fun, scavenger hunts are always popular.  They are also extremely versatile.  You can find easy scavenger hunts geared towards toddlers and harder ones for teen

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Pipe Cleaner Constellations - a Hands-on Constellation Activity

Calling all space lovers!  Whether you enjoy star-gazing on a clear summer night or are in planning mode for an upcoming solar system unit or astronomy study, this hands-on STEM activity will help your kids learn about constellations, stars, and the patterns stars form in the night sky! 

Photo Credit: theresjustonemommy.com

Dragon STEM Activities for Kids

Because everybody should study about dragons in the summer.

Finally, look at how to make the fun rock sundial.

20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

How to Make a Rock Sundial

Obviously, this wasn’t a foolproof way to tell time because it didn’t work at night. But it was an early innovative technique that paved the way for later more advanced time telling.

People used sundials to keep track of time by watching where the shadow falls on its surface.

The sun seems to move across the sky during the day due to the earth slowly spinning on its axis. 

The various positions of the sun in the sky during the day causes the shadow to move on the sundial, showing the change of time.

You will notice each day that the shadow falls very close to where it was the day before demonstrating the accuracy of the sundial.

In the morning the shadow continues to get shorter and shorter as noon approaches. 

Then, in the afternoon, the shadow gets longer and longer.

Observe the length of the shadow on the sundial throughout the day.

Is it longer in the morning or late afternoon?

Kids Rock Sundial

You will need:

  • A straight stick
  • 12 flat smooth rocks
  • Sharpie
  • Phone or clock
  • Compass
20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

Directions:

First, find an area of your yard that gets full sun all day, you can start any time of day when there is sun but it may take a full 24 hours or more to get all the times set.

Use a Sharpie or paint marker to write 1-12 on each rock.

20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

Set a timer on your phone to go off every hour on the hour.

Push a fairly straight sturdy stick into the soil, and tilt it slightly to the north.

You can find this out with a compass or use the compass on your phone.

20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

When you are on the hour, go check the direction in which the shadow from the stick is pointing and add your first corresponding numbered stone.

Throughout the day, on each hour add the next numbered rock to the end of the shadow until you have completed your clock.

You can repeat this experiment several times to make sure your numbers are in the correct space. Then try learning time at :30 as well as on the hour.

20 Fun Summer Learning Activities And Make A Rock Sundial

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, summer, summer activities, summer crafts, summerideas

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  1. 23 + Sun Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers - Bilingual Beginnings says:
    June 12, 2023 at 11:53 am

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