BOOMbox at Home: Time
January 23, 2025
My, how time flies! This winter, the BOOMbox is focused on all things time. We’re exploring timekeeping devices, ancient civilizations, timed races, and more. Here are some of our favorite activities to try in the comfort of your own home.
What is time? We use time as a unit of measurement to help us measure how things move and change. Often, time is described in seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. But time doesn’t just have to do with clocks and calendars; it’s connected to everything around us, including the movement of the Earth and how fast or slow things happen.
People, animals, and even plants have biological clocks. A biological clock is a natural, internal system that helps living organisms keep track of time and regulate various functions like sleeping, eating, and waking. It’s like a built-in timer that helps the body understand when to do certain things. The most well-known biological clock in humans is called the circadian rhythm. It’s a 24-hour cycle that helps control things like sleep and wake patterns. For example, at night when it is dark, your biological clock signals your body to feel sleepy, and in the morning when the sun comes up, it helps you wake up and feel alert.
Let’s take a minute to explore ancient methods of tracking time. Civilizations over time created different methods of tracking time, including water clocks, sundials, mechanical clocks, and now atomic clocks. Clocks and calendars have evolved from the ancient Egyptians to the modern ones we use today. The Mayan calendar is a complex calendar that involves different cycles used for religion, agriculture, and ceremonies. The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, which means it’s based on the moon’s cycles but has been adjusted for the modern solar year. The Gregorian calendar is the calendar most widely used in the world today. It has 365 days in a year, with an extra day added every four years, known as a leap year.
BOOMbox team members have created some fun activities that you can try at home. This first activity is from Aaron, with instructions for making your own timepiece. Our second activity is from Hafsa, who will lead you in some speed races.
Have you ever noticed that the clock in your car, on your stove or microwave, or even on your phone are all slightly different? Different types of clocks let us measure time: analog, digital, and atomic are just a few we use today. Analog clocks are traditional timepieces that display time with a dial or face, numbered hours in a circle with rotating hands to measure the passage of time. Digital clocks display the time using numbers on a screen. The time is shown with numbers instead of with hands on a face. Atomic clocks are the most accurate type of clock and measure time based on the vibrations of atoms. They measure electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by atoms. Use these three types of clocks to influence what type of timepiece you make at home!
Time has been measured in different ways throughout history. Today we use clocks, watches, computers, phones, and more to keep track of time. Sundials were used in ancient civilizations. The oldest sundial that we know of was invented in Egypt in 1500 BC. That is more than 3,500 years ago! Want to learn more? Last summer, BOOMbox at Home shared how you can make your own sundial using a paper plate, a straw or stick, and a sundial template.
Happy exploring!