The summer sun is high and hot. The low winter sun makes long shadows in the snow. During spring and fall there are neither the long hot days of summer nor the bitter, cold nights of winter. Why do such serve weather changes occur? Are these seasonal changes as dramatic everywhere on earth? And why do these changes occur every year? For many of us, these events are so common that we don't even notice or think to ask why they happen.

You are about to duplicate some of the first science ever performed on the planet earth. This SUNWATCH investigation will show you how to measure the sun's position in the sky throughout the year. As you measure, chart and graph the sun's changes in position over the entire year, you will see why seasons occur.

The sunboard is an ancient device that measures the position of the sun. It was used by the Greeks, among others, to create clocks and calendars.

Performing the Sunwatch Investigation