Activity 4 - Using the Sun to Find Cardinal Directions

In this activity, students can use a stick and the sun to find cardinal directions. By observing the movement of the sun's shadow and drawing lines connecting points, they can establish East/West and North/South directions, facilitating the use of a grid reference system for describing locations and developing angle measurement skills.

Step by Step guide 

Many Aboriginal stone arrangements are oriented to either North/South or East/West. One simple way to measure this is to drive a stick or stake into the ground on a sunny day. 

1. Place a stick vertically in the ground, and mark the tip of the stick’s shadow at two different points in time (say, a half hour to an hour apart). In the Southern Hemisphere, the sun’s shadow will move from left (Position 1) to right (Position 2) in Figure 4. Draw a line connecting these points. This line points to East and West. Draw a line 90° perpendicular to this, which gives the North/South line (Fig. 4). 

Fig. 4: Finding Cardinal Directions using a stick and the Sun. Image source: Darren Edwards www.trailhiking.com.au. Mount Howitt in Victoria's high country. Used with permission.

This will function as a grid, enabling students to measure North/South and East/West. They can see what landmarks are found in those directions and discuss how classmates are oriented relative to themselves. In Warlpiri traditions (Central Desert, NT) they refer to people and objects in terms of cardinal points. So rather than saying “Jack is sitting to the left of me”, they would say “Jack is sitting East of me” (if that’s the orientation). 

This enables students to use a grid reference system to describe locations and routes using landmarks and directional language (ACMMG113) and further develops their ability to estimate, measure, and compare angles (ACMMG112).