Making Sundials out of Clay
A sundial uses the natural progression of the sun across the sky to track the passage of time. Sundials can come in any number of variations, including simple, home-made versions made of clay. Creating a sundial out of clay is not only an art activity, it offers a chance to learn about the natural processes of the physical universe and the movement of celestial bodies.
Things You'll Need
- Compass for drawing circles
- Sheet of card stock or construction paper
- Self-drying modeling clay
- Pencil
- Directional compass
- Watch
Instructions
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1
Use the compass to draw a circle on the piece of card stock. This paper circle is used to create a calibration sundial that will be used to ensure accurate measurements for the final product. Make this sundial slightly smaller than you would like the final one to be.
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2
Roll some clay into a ball about the size of a golf ball and flatten the bottom of the ball. Place the ball of clay in the center of the paper circle and press a pencil into the clay so that it stays upright. The pencil acts as the gnomon, the part of the sundial that casts a shadow.
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3
Use a compass to find magnetic north. Draw a line extending from the center of the clay circle that reflects the direction of magnetic north. This line marks noon.
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4
Find an outdoor location for your sundial that is clear of overhead obstructions. The sundial shouldn't be cut off from the sun at any point during the day.
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Go outside every half hour starting at 9 a.m. and make a mark on the circle where the pencil's shadow is cast. Repeat this process until around 3 p.m. You will now have created enough points to measure accurately the distance between the points that still need to be filled in. Use your compass to plot the marks for the remaining hours that have yet to be marked.
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6
Fashion a piece of clay into a disc that is approximately 2-inches thick. Use the calibration sundial to mark the clay disc with the hours of the day. Press the pencil into the center of the disc. Carve decorations into the sundial if so desired and allow the clay to dry.
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7
Place the sundial in the same location as your calibration sundial. The noon marker should be pointing north. You now have a functioning sundial.
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Tips & Warnings
After the clay is dry, the sundial can be further decorated with craft paints. Painting the sundial can make the notches that mark the hours easier to read.
During Daylight Saving Time, your sundial will be off by one hour. Subtract one hour from the time the sundial says in order to stay accurate.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
