Why Do Constellations Change With The Seasons? with Room 14

In Room 14 in science, this week students were introduced to constellations and learned how there are different constellations visible each season. They explored the Mystery, "Why do the constellations change with the seasons?"  

We built a model that makes it easy for us to visualise the answer. We’ve named it the “Universe in a Box.”

Take this opportunity to have your child show you how their “Universe in a Box” works. Ask them:  Why do we see different constellations each season? What are some constellations we will see if we go outside tonight? 

PS: If you have an iPhone or iPad, check out “SkyGuide” for iPhone and iPad. It lets you point your phone at any part of the sky, and then it will show you what constellation you’re seeing. It costs $1.99 and can be downloaded at: http://tinyurl.com/nouzqfa

Who Set The First Clock? with Room 14

In Room 14 in science, we're answering the question: “Who set the first clock?" We made shadow clocks (sundials), learned about telling the time by the Sun and found out how (and why) people first divided the day into hours.

When your child brings the sundial home, maybe help set it up in the sun with the north-pointing arrow pointing north. When you watch the shadow move over the course of the day, which way will the shadow move around the dial? Clockwise or anticlockwise? Do people in the Southern hemisphere and the Northern hemisphere observe different things?