Park Forest Elementary in State College, PA, has long been known for its exemplary commitment to outdoor learning. Under the leadership of administrator Donnan Stoicovy, the school has dozens of schoolyard enhancements that have encouraged both outdoor learning as well as a sensitivity to environmental concern.

The latest addition to Park Forest’s schoolyard is sundial, planned and constructed as part of an Eagle Scout project. This great learning tool has a carefully placed pad that has markings for the twelve months of the year.

On a sunny day, when you stand in the appropriate month block, your shadow falls on one of the Roman Numeral tiles that tells the correct time. What a great way to illustrate the rotation of the earth, with a bonus lesson about Roman numerals!