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Scout says: "Here's a secret, Rangers — you can PROVE the Earth is spinning using just a stick and a sunny day! The shadows will tell you everything. Let's go outside and become real scientists!"
🎒 What You Need
A straight stick (30-40cm)
Sunny outdoor spot
Chalk, pebbles, or tape
Ranger Field Journal
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
MORNING
Long shadow (left)
AFTERNOON
Long shadow (right)
The shadow moves because the Earth is rotating — not because the Sun moves!
📋 How To Do It
Plant your stick: Push it firmly into the ground in a sunny spot. If you're on a hard surface, use clay or a bottle filled with sand to hold it upright.
Mark the shadow: Use chalk or a pebble to mark the very tip of the shadow. Write the time next to it (e.g., "9:00 AM").
Come back every 30 minutes: Each time, mark the new shadow tip and write the time. Do this at least 4 times.
Connect the dots: Draw a line through all your marks. You'll see the shadow has moved in a curve!
Ask the big question: "Did the stick move?" No! "Did the Sun move?" It looks like it, but actually... the Earth rotated beneath the Sun!
The Science:
Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours. As it turns, the angle of sunlight changes, making shadows move and change length throughout the day. This is the same reason we have day and night — the side facing the Sun gets light, and the other side is dark!
Journal Challenge: Draw your shadow pattern in your Ranger Field Journal. Label the morning shadows, midday shadow, and afternoon shadows. Can you figure out which direction is North from your shadow pattern?