Experience the Southwest Austin Human Sundial

Kiker Elementary School located at the corner of LaCrosse Avenue and Dahlgreen Avenue in Southwest Austin is inviting the Circle C Ranch and Southwest Austin community to explore their human sundial that has been constructed in the front of the school.

The construction is the result of a project team lead by Kiker parent, Margit Szabo-Higgins.  She says, "This sundial will directly show students how the relationship between the Earth and the sun can be used as a tool for measuring time.  It was created to support academic learning by giving students the opportunity to explore, discover and experiment; thereby developing a greater understanding of themselves and their place in our solar system."

Here are Sundial rules:

• Always enter at the opening and never walk on plants or tiles
• You, the individual, are the gnomon (perpendicular rod; pronounced no-men)
• Hour numbers are located on the arc.  Black number signify Standard Time and Blue numbers signify Daylight Savings Time.
• Stand on the appropriate month of the year on the Scale of Dates.  Make sure you are standing straight and in the correct location within the month.  Example:  near the front if it is the beginning of the month, middle if it is the middle or back if it is the end of the month. 
• Observe your shadow and it will tell  you the time.