The earth moves around the sun even though it appears as if the sun is moving around the earth. The shadows will vary depending on the height of the sun in the sky, the time of day and year and also the distance of the observer from the equator. Shadows are longest at sunrise and sunset and in winter. Shadows are shortest at midday, when the sun is high in the sky.
Shadows show clearly how the sun moves, so they can be used to tell time on a simple sundial.
Every day, the sun rises in the east, moves higher until about noon, and then moves lower until it sets in the west. To demonstrate how shadows can help us to tell time. Securely place the stick in the middle of the flower pot or the paper plate, using the piece of clay. Each hour by the clock, mark the position of the shadow on the pot or the paper plate as the sun moves. If using a flower pot, at midday the light incidence is greatest.