Daylight hours maths activity
Looking at the length of the day through the seasons and predicting the longest and shortest days
The length of the day varies with what time of year it is. Can you put your maths skills to the test and work out the longest and shortest days of the year?
This activity is one of a series of resources designed to allow learners to use the festive season theme to develop their knowledge and skills in Mathematics and Engineering.
Activity: Looking at how daylight hours differ with each season
In this fun STEM challenge, learners will use a data sheet to plot a graph and then interpret the data to determine the fate of the longest and shortest days of the year in the United Kingdom.
This activity could be a main lesson to teach about the different times of the day and the use of the 24-hour clock. It could also be used as a part of a wider scheme of learning focusing on keeping time or how the solar system works.
Some learners may already know when the shortest and longest days are. If this is the case, they can try to see if their calculations back up their knowledge. The rest can have a go at guessing before the answer is revealed.
The history of time measurement
The history of measuring time dates back thousands of years; ancient civilisations like the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Greeks developed sundials and water clocks to track the passage of time. The invention of mechanical clocks in the Middle Ages brought greater precision. The pendulum clock, followed by the quartz clock, revolutionised timekeeping. Today, atomic clocks are the most accurate timekeeping devices. Time measurement has evolved from celestial observations to sophisticated technological advancements, shaping our understanding and organisation of daily life.
The engineering context
Engineers must be able to interpret data to understand how things work. For example, drawing a graph of how much material in a product is lost over time due to corrosion so that they can determine when to replace the product.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand how to plot a graph from data, they will be able to interpret data, and they will be able to determine the longest and shortest days of the calendar year.
Download the free activity sheet below!
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable so that you can tailor them to your students and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, helpful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Oh ho ho, please share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM
