Chapman Elementary School, Dublin, Ohio, USA Final Report 1. We decided to participate in the noon day project because the students were studying a unit on the impact of technology on our lives.  We felt this project would be a good example of using technology (computers and internet).  To prepare for the noon day project, the students and teachers read a book on Erastosthenes and did a lesson on earth modeling based on the book and the Foss science kit . 2. On Thursday, the week of spring solstice we had a clear day; three classes made shadow and angle measurements at 10 minute intervals using a vertically placed meter stick:  12:25 -  Kristi Jerger's 5th grade class 12:35 - Flora Marlatt's 3-4 grade class 12:40 - Mike  Wagner's 3-4 grade class We got the shortest shadow (high noon) at 12:35 and a sun shadow measurement of 39.5 degrees north latitude.  We discussed why high noon in Columbus, OH, is past 12:00 ... we are located near the western edge (vs. midway) of the eastern time zone.  Later, we noted that our sun shadow measurements and our geographic north latitude were nearly the same. 3. Later I did the following lesson to calculate the earth circumference with Flora's students. We chose and emailed a "high noon" partner school near Atlanta, Georgia, but got no reply. On a highway map We chose Portsmouth, OH, a city south of Columbus and looked up it's latitude on the internet.  Portsmouth is almost exactly ONE DEGREE LATITUDE south of Columbus, Ohio. We used the highway map to calculate the mileage from Columbus to Portsmouth along Hywy #23 due south between the two cities.  The map mileage is 70 miles. The students reviewed their knowledge that a circle (and the earth's circular shape) contains 360 degrees.  The 3-4 graders were excited when one of the students figured out that we could get the earth's circumference by multiplying. Every student in the class multiplied 70 X 360 to calculate the earth's circumference = 25,200 miles. We reported our earth circumference measurement of 25,200 miles to the High Noon Results website. Comment:  My judgment is that the kids grasped (at a limited level) the basic concepts and were pleased that our calculations came out pretty close to what is understood today to be the earth's circumference.  Over the years  that the noon day project has been running, what is your opinion about the success of elementary school age children participate in the noon day project. Written by Marlin Languis, School Volunteer Professor of Science Education, Ohio State University (retired)

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