Special Lecture: Sundials in London – Linking architecture and astronomy

Summary

Sundials in my life

Following the inclusion of Astronomy in the revised National Science Curriculum for England and Wales the Association for Astronomy Education, AAE, embarked on a programme of in-service training workshops for teachers to help them to understand the new ideas and deliver the new curriculum. Teacher confidence and knowledge has been the greatest challenge to establishing astronomy in school curricula. As part of the the AAE team I gave presentations on a host of activities including simple cut and paste sundials for pupil projects. We are now seven years on from the revised Science Curriculum and my interest in sundials has stepped up a gear. I have developed an interest in real dials, both studying existing dials and making dials for the homes of friends and families and for schools. This presentation, which has as its focus, the sundial as an architectural feature, uses slides I have taken of some of the dials to be seen in the central London area including some of my own. I am grateful to the British Sundial Society for a list of dial locations in London.

Understanding the hour lines – a model helps

To help explain how hour lines are related to the Suns motion I have developed a three dimensional stick and card model. The model, in four pieces, builds up gradually during a workshop presentation. I start with an equatorial dial showing 15 degree angles marked on an equatorial plane. (360 degrees / 24 hours – the only maths you really need to understand dials.)