Make a small hole in the center point of a protractor using the point of a needle.
Pass a piece of light-weight string, 12 inches long, through the hole and tie the string to keep it in place. Attach a washer to the free end of the string and ensure that the weighted string hangs vertically.
Tape a drinking straw to the protractor so that it aligns with the line that joins the 0 and 180 degree points on the protractor.
Hold the device so that the 0 to 90 degree quadrant of the protractor is closest to you and the curved edge of the protractor is pointed towards the ground. Point the straw towards the sun. Do not look directly at the sun.
Hold a piece of paper behind the device. Move the straw slowly until it forms an image on the paper that comprises a dark, circular shadow with a bright spot of light in the center. Hold the device steady once this image forms. Be careful to allow the string to swing freely until it comes to rest.
Pinch the string gently between your thumb and the protractor at the point where the string passes over the curved scale of the protractor.
Read the scale where the string passes over the degree markings. Subtract this angle from 90 to obtain the angle of elevation of the sun with respect to the earth's surface.