Sun Activities and Crafts for Kids

Whether it is sunny day outside or you are stuck inside waiting for the sun to come out, these sun activities and sun themed crafts for kids will be a huge hit. Here are the best ideas for a Summer craft or weather theme preschool lesson plans.

Easy Sun Crafts

How to Make a Sun Puppet

Materials:

Construction paper
Glue
Tape
Crayons
Craft Sticks or Pencil

Directions:

First, cut out the sun pieces or draw them and challenge your preschooler to cut them out.
Next, glue the parts together. Large googly eyes would work well with this craft, too.
Guide your child as they tape the stick onto the back of the puppet.

Paper Plate Sun Crafts

I’m a sucker for all handprint crafts so this paper plate sun craft with handprints (from Crafts on Sea) is right up my alley.

Materials:

orange construction paper
yellow construction paper
paper plates
paint

Paint the paper plate face.
Trace and cut out handprints.
Glue the handprints to the back of the paper plate.

If you have a styrofoam plate, you can make a styrofoam plate sun craft from Artsy Craftsy Mom.

A beautiful coffee filter sun craft from Busy Mommy Media would look cheery strung together into a garland. All you need is coffee filters, paint, and scissors for this preschool craft.

Sun Songs for Kids

The kids had fun using their puppets as we sang Mr. Sun, Mr. Sun. It was a fun way to get up and moving.

Here are some other sun songs that young children love to use with their sun puppets:

BRIGHT YELLOW SUN
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

Bright sun shining down,
Shining on the ground.
What a lovely face you have,
Yellow, big and round.

Resource: Susan A. Miller

SUNSHINE FINGER PLAY

The sun makes the outside a warm place to play
(arms above head in circle)
It makes the flowers grow each day
(holding up hands wiggling fingers)
The sun hides its face during the night
(cover face with hands)
But during the daytime it shines – oh so bright
(arms above head in circle)

Resource: From-Terry H. – http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-summer.htm

WEATHER SONG
Tune: “Oh My Darling”

What’s the weather?
What’s the weather?
What’s the weather, everyone?
Is it windy?
Is it cloudy?
Is there rain?
Or is there sun?

Resource: http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems17.html

Sun Sensory Bin

Look at how bright and inviting this sun themed sensory bin is (from Mrs. Plemmons Kindergarten). It just makes you want to scoop, pour, mix, and create.

How to Make a Sun Catcher Craft

Making a tissue paper sun catcher is a fun sun activity. Use contact paper to put different red, orange, and yellow papers between like they did at Nurture Store. Ripping strips of paper is beneficial for kids’ wrist rotation and fine motor skills. We’ve also made heart sun catchers that are beautiful to display on your window.

Paper Plate Sun Sewing Craft for Kids

Introduce or practice sewing with this paper plate sun sewing craft (from i heart crafty things). This is great for developing fine motor skills and I love that no matter which direction they thread their yarn in the sun shape, that it looks good. Threading the beads on while sewing adds a fun detail.

Facts about the Sun for Kids

Did you know that light from the Sun reaches Earth in around 8 minutes?

The Sun is made out of mostly hydrogen.

Find more Sun Facts for Kids at Science Kids

Sun Activities

Cooking with the Sun – Make Sunshine Tea

The sun is so powerful! How will the rays of sunshine help make this tea? Using a jar, water, and tea bags you can make Sunshine Tea like they did at How Things Work.

Older children might like to make their own solar oven from a pizza box. You can even use it to make smores! Such a great way to experiment with solar energy.

Sun Science Experiment for Preschoolers

What melts in the sun? This is a cool experiment that your kids can take the lead on. They can pick and choose different items to try out. Some things will take longer than others and some won’t melt at all. Is there anything that melts faster than ice? Observing how powerful the heat of the sun is is an awesome learning experience.

This idea is from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

Make Sun Prints using letters, shapes, and more. Construction paper fades except where the object was on the paper. The fact that sun is invisible light is a hard concept to understand, but this experiment helps make that connection.

We hope you love these fun activities as much as we do. Sun activities always seem to brighten our day and make us smile.