Daytime in China: Where does the sun go?

When I was in 3rd grade, my grandparents gave me a globe. I still have it, many, many, many years later. Yes, the political boundaries on it are wrong. It still has East and West Germany, and many other things that have changed since the early 80′s. It is still perfect, however, for answering the question of “Where does the sun go when it sets?”

I believe in giving kids factual answers to their questions, not made-up ones. No, the sun does not go to bed, the earth rotates on its axis so that when it is nighttime here in the USA, it is daytime in other countries, like China. Saying “Goodnight” to the sun is a-ok, but as kids grow toward their preschool years, it is time to learn what really happens.

All you need for this is a flashlight, a sticker, and a globe, and a curious little kid.  It works best if you do this activity in a room without direct sunlight so your kiddo can see the flashlight’s beam when it is turned on. Help your child find where you live on the globe, and put a small sticker (or post-it note) on your “home.” Now, ask your child to hold the flashlight and shine it on your “home” — that’s daytime. Ask your child to stay very still and keep the flashlight pointing straight ahead. Turn the globe so your little one watches the “sun” pass across the globe as it spins.  Talk about what’s happening. Pick another country, like China, that is on the opposite side of the globe. Talk about how when it is daytime at home, it is nighttime in China, and vice versa. So, the sun doesn’t go anywhere — we do. Take turns being the sun and rotating the globe. Watch your child make the connection!

I realize this does not take into account the earth’s rotation around the sun, etc., but it is factually accurate enough for the preschool level!

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