How to Make a Sundial in Your Backyard

Build a simple sundial with your family using basic materials to teach kids about time and the sun's movement.

  1. Gather Your Materials. You'll need a flat stone or wooden board (about 12 inches across), a straight stick or wooden dowel (8-12 inches long), a drill or hammer and nail, 12 small stones or wooden markers, a watch or phone for timing, and a compass or compass app. If you don't have a compass, you can find north by noting that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
  2. Choose the Perfect Spot. Find a location in your yard that gets full sun all day long. Avoid areas near trees, buildings, or other structures that might cast shadows. The spot should be level and somewhere you don't mind having a permanent fixture. This will be your sundial's home, so choose wisely.
  3. Create Your Sundial Base. Place your flat stone or wooden board in your chosen sunny spot. Make sure it's level by placing a small ball on it - the ball shouldn't roll to one side. If using wood, you can drill a hole in the center. For stone, you might need an adult to help hammer a small nail partway in, leaving enough sticking up to hold your stick steady.
  4. Install the Gnomon. The gnomon is the fancy name for the stick that creates the shadow. Insert your stick vertically into the center of your base. It should stand straight up without wobbling. The shadow this stick casts will move around the dial as the sun moves across the sky throughout the day.
  5. Mark the Hours. Starting at 6 AM on a sunny day, check your sundial every hour on the hour. Place a small stone or marker where the tip of the shadow falls, and write the time on it with a permanent marker. Continue this process until 6 PM. You'll need to do this on a day when you can check consistently, so weekends work best.
  6. Test and Adjust. After you've marked all the hours, test your sundial on different sunny days. You might notice it's off by a few minutes - that's normal. Sundials show 'sun time' which can differ from clock time depending on your exact location and the time of year. Make small adjustments to your hour markers if needed.