Stonehenge and My Sun Rays

Stonehenge is a 5,000-year-old archaeological enigma on the Salisbury plain. “How did ancient people even begin to make something like this?” When we visited the site – not on the summer solstice, unfortunately – we found the megalithic circle awe-inspiring – we didn’t know why it was built and could barely imagine how it could have been constructed.

If you would like to inspire your child’s curiosity about this world wonder, let them become an ancient architect using our Stonehenge and My Sun Rays Fun Sheet!

A burial site, monument to the dead, giant astronomical calendar, site of pilgrimage and healing… there are many theories about the purpose of Stonehenge but no definitive answers – sadly for us, the ancient Britons who built Stonehenge left no written record   One this is clear, however: Stonehenge was designed to capture the movement of the heavenly bodies. The circular group of Dolmens – table like structures consisting of large slab on two smaller stone supports – is carefully located to catch the trajectories of the moon, the stars, and the sun in particular.

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone in the north-east part of the horizon and its first rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge. Catching these special sunrays, the ancient people were celebrating the longest period of daylight of the year. The sun rays were surely a symbol of hope, renewal and blessings to Stonehenge’s creators. Today we no less associate sun rays with joy and hope!

In the Stonehenge and My Sun Rays Fun Sheet, your child will become a little architect – they will make a model of Stonehenge and imagine what they’d use it for.

The Fun Sheet also invites your child to think about the ‘sun rays’ radiating to the surroundings. Any traits and characteristics of your child that make other people happy are like special sun rays. Highlight to your child just how much joy their sun rays can bring. It’ll be rewarding both for them and for you 🙂 Have fun!