Sunflower Theme Ideas

START WITH A SUNFLOWER SEED 

• Glue a sunflower seed (or any kind of seed) onto paper.
• Next paint an imaginary plant with the roots growing FROM the seed UNDERGROUND........and paint the leaves, and flowers or fruit of the plant above the ground level.
• Match the drawing of the flower/fruit to the kind of seed you have "planted."

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SUNFLOWER MASKS

• Cut the centers out of paper plates.
• Have children make and glue yellow paper petal shapes around the plate rims--- to create "sunflower masks."
• Staple a jumbo craft stick handle to the bottom of each mask.
• Have  children hold their masks so that their faces show through the open centers.

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Sunflower Necklace 
Need:
  •Sunflower seeds
  •Nylon string
  •Thin needle

 
What to do:
1. Once a sunflower head has gone to seed and started to dry, harvest the seeds to make a pretty necklace.
2. Thread a length of nylon string onto a thin needle and carefully push the seeds onto it, one by one. Push the needle through the fat end of the seed, from edge to edge. watch your fingers !
3. Tie 2 lengths of nylon to the ends of the necklace so that you can tie it around your neck. If you have the clasps from an old necklace, sew these to the ends of the string.

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PAPER PLATE SUNFLOWERS
Need:
Paper Plates, Construction Paper, Glue, Yellow Paint, Sunflower Seeds
Have children cut out several yellow petals and paste on small paper plate previously painted yellow. Fill the centers with sunflower seeds.

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MAKE SUNFLOWER STICK PUPPETS

• Paint small paper plates yellow.
• Cut triangle shapes out of the plate rims--- all along circular edge. This will give the "sunflower look"...
• Paint craft sticks green; glue or tape them to the back of the plate.
• You can either glue sunflower seeds in the middle...or have the kids draw/paint eyes, nose, moth, etc., to make sunflower faces for their stick puppets!

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ART with VAN GOGH (Oil pastels)

Also see bottom of page Van Gogh Bulletin Board/Display Idea

• Purchase a big and beautiful sunflower for the kids to do a still life. Show them examples of the artists' work, so they have a grasp of what the artist is about. There are many Van Gogh books and poster to be found.
• Set the still life with the giant sunflower in a plain vase. Use  9 X12 drawing  drawing paper; instruct children to lightly pencil sketch the still life. When they are ready to start coloring, encourage them to use a little bit of pressure, to release the oil pastel's  color.
• Always allow children to adapt art to their own unique vision! Encourge them to be creative with their vases, so they don't come out the same. As a final touch, have each sign their vase, just like Van Gogh did.
  

The sunflower paintings were made by third grade children.

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*Idea: CREATE MOSAICS with sunflower seeds.
You can arrange sunflower seeds in patterns and glue to cardstock to make cards and other crafts.
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SCIENCE

HANG SUNFLOWERS IN A BIRD FEEDER for the birds. A lot of birds such as blue jays and gold finches love sunflowers and will thank you with their presence if you put out some for them.

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KEEP SUNFLOWER SEEDS TO PLANT NEXT YEAR
Store the sunflowers in a dry cool place (such as a seed saver or plastic baggie). Make sure the sunflower seeds are completely dry before storing to be sure no mold grows on the seeds.

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SNACKS

A SUNFLOWER SNACK
Ingredients:
Small paper plates
Peanut butter
Sunflower seeds,  chocolate chips or raisins
Mandarin Orange slices
Bread slices

• On a small plate, take a round of bread and spread it with peanut butter; this makes the sunflower center.
• Have  children sprinkle on sunflower kernels in the very center. (You could also use raisins or chocolate chips to resemble the seeds)
• Last have children place mandarin orange slices around the sunflower centers for petals.

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 STUFFED APPLE SUNFLOWER Seed Snack
Ingredients:
1 apple
2 1/2 teaspoons sunflower seeds
1/2 teaspoon flax seeds (optional)
2 Tablespoons raisins
Dusting of ground cinnamon (to taste)
1 Tablespoon orange juice concentrate (thawed)
Peanut butter (to coat)

• Wash apple. With a sharp paring knife, cut the top off horizontally (so that it makes a lid). Hollow out the apple, and keep all pieces that do not have core or seeds.
• Cut all the usable apple (from the hollow process) into small pieces. Put them into a small bowl.
• Mix in the sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and raisins. Dust with cinnamon to taste. Add the orange juice concentrate, mix well.
• Next, coat the inside walls and bottom of the apple with peanut butter. Spread some peanut butter over the inside of the "lid" as well.
• Stuff the apple with the filling mixture and then cover with the lid. It may not all fit back into the apple
  You can either eat your stuffed apple right away or keep it in an airtight container or baggy and eat later. It does not require refrigeration if eaten within 12 hours. These would also be delicious baked…

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 CHOCOLATE COVERED SUNFLOWER SEEDS (These come from the Josolyn House B&B in Little Rock, Arkansas and are said to be very good; guests rarely guesing sun flower seeds are the main ingredient!) 

Ingredients:
Chocolate-flavored bark coating (Package containing 12 squares)
1/2 cup Roasted sunflower seeds
Directions:

• Melt 2 squares of chocolate in microwave oven.
• Stir in 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds. (Consistency should be that of a cookie, only you don't want these flat.)
• Drop in dollops onto wax paper. Let chocolate set up for approximately 20 minutes.
  Makes: 6 to 7 (medium size). Preparation time: 3 minutes. Set-up time: 20 minutes.
• Tip: Chocolate coved sunflower seeds can also be purchased on stores and are great in may recipes including muffins!

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GAMES

HARVEST DASH (OUTSIDE GAME)
Set up a fall relay with the kids. Fill large containers with SUNFLOWER SEED bird feed. Have smaller, clear containers at the opposite end.

• Kids fill up a cup with seed and race to dump it into the empty container. They sprint back to the start and hand-off the cup to the teammates. Goal of the race is to be the first team to fill up the small container with the seeds.
• As an extra challenge, give the kids an over-sized soup ladle instead of a cup. Don't worry if the seeds spill; that's part of the fun! The birds will easily find them later.
  Tips: Try a dollar store for inexpensive clear containers. They usually stock plastic ones in apple or pumpkin shapes in the fall.
  Popcorn or candy corn also can be used in place of seed.

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MISCELLANEOUS

*Guess the closest number of seeds in a live sunflower. The number can exceed 1000! Just put out the sunflower head---and pieces of paper and pencils. The children guess and---the closest is the winner!

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*Idea: If you have very young children and use a sensory table---you can fill it with unshelled sunflower seeds. Provide measuring cups, spoons, pie tins, etc....

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SUNFLOWER ART DISPLAY BOARD

For this bulletin board/display-- paintings, collage and color mixing work were based around the theme of Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Photograph by Mrs. P on Display Photos

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 I'd like to include more with 'Sunflowers'-If you have an idea, please share via the 'Contact Page' or Comment area below! Thank you  Barb

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