Resources Page (experiments for schools)

Each of the experiments below can be done over the course of an hour or so. The idea of these experiments is to show simple methods to discover our Universe using only rocks, stones, string and, occasionally, pieces of metal. 

Each experiment will have a surprise ending concerning a neolithic monument.

1: The North Star and rotation: Make your own Heavens' Hinge (Part 1)

• How to record, using sticks and string, that the stars rotate like a 24 hour clock.
• The surprise ending is that The Long Man of Wilmington is ideally set up for this purpose.

2: Solar planes and our World: To draw the Universe (Part 2)

• How to draw the 'fixed world' universe as described by Ancient Greece. Experiment uses sticks & stones at solstice (needs Part 1 to have been done first).
• The surprise ending is that Stonehenge appears to be ideally set up for this purpose.

3: Defining solar movement: The Number of the Sun (Part 3)

• How to define a 'fixed world' universe using sticks, stones and checkers (needs Part 2 to have been done first).
• The surprise ending is that Stonehenge appears to be ideally set up for this purpose.

4: The latitudes of the stars: Before the Sun (Part 4) 

• How to define the latitudes of the stars in a 'fixed world' universe. using sticks and pegs (needs Part 1 to have been done first).
• The surprise ending is that Stonehenge's Aubrey Holes appear to be ideally set up for this purpose.

Notes and links:

As I compile the experiments (there's about a dozen in total that seem to be good for this), I'll link the experiment into this index page.

This page can be linked to by using http://www.hengeland.co.uk