Materials
Real or artificial sunflower, or a picture of one
Yellow construction paper
Scissors
Snack-size paper plates, one per child
Glue
Paintbrushes
Yellow tempera paint or food coloring
Paint cup
Sunflower seeds in their shells
Instructions
1. Before class, cut small petal shapes from construction paper. Mix a small amount of yellow paintor food coloring with glue in a paint cup.
2. Invite the children to examine the sunflower or a picture of one. Identify the parts of the flower.
3. Ask the children to paint the entire surface of their plate with the colored glue, then place thepetals in the glue around the edge of the plate.
4. After the petals are glued in place, instruct the children to place sunflower seeds in the middleof the plate, representing the seed-filled center of the sunflower.
5. Make an arrangement of the finished sunflowers on your bulletin board for all to enjoy.More to doMath: Glue sunflower petals around the edge of a paper plate and write a number in the center.Ask the children to place the correct number of seeds on the plate.Science: Discuss how plants grow from seeds and invite the children to examine a variety ofseeds. Create a chart, matching seeds with pictures of plants and flowers.