THE SUN




Sunny Faces

Tape white constructions paper circles to a tabletop. Let the children paint the circles yellow. When the paint has dried, untape the circles and help the children draw on happy faces with felt-tip markers. Then have the children glue short yellow streamers around the edges of their sunny faces.




Sun Puppets

For each child, cut two small circles out of yellow construction paper. Help each child glue his or her circles together with a Popsicle stick handle in between. Then let the children glue short pieces of yellow yarn around the edges of their circles to make sun rays.




Paint Blob Suns

Give each child a piece of white construction paper and a Q-Tip. Place a blob of yellow paint in the center of each paper. Have the children use their Q-Tips to draw the paint out from the blobs in long rays to create suns.




Plant Experiment

Set out two identical plants. Help the children place one plant in a dark closet and the other on a sunny windowsill. Water the plants as needed. Check the plants every day and have the children observe the differences between them. Which plant is healthier? Why?




Sun Prints

Have the children place objects such as erasers, pencils, or blocks on pieces of dark colored construction paper. Set the papers in direct sunlight. At the end of the day, have the children remove the objects and observe what has happened to the paper. Which spots are lighter than others? Why?




Sunshine Everywhere

Recite the poem below with the children, letting them take turns filling in the blanks.


The morning sun peeked through the trees

To kiss the _________ and the honey bees.

It danced by the _______ and the fields of hay

Until it reached the ______ where it stayed all day.

Sun, sun, don't you run.

Stay with me and have some fun.

Shine on the _______, shine on me.

Shine on the _______, shine on the tree.

Shine on the _______, shine so fair.

Shine on the _______, shine everywhere!




Suns in the Sky

Have the children stand about 3 feet apart and give them each a yellow balloon "sun". Have them bat their balloon suns up into the air and try keeping them up without moving from their spaces. When a balloon falls outside of a child's space or reach, have the child sit down. Continue the game until no one is standing.




Sing a Song of Sunshine

Sung to : "Sing a Song of Sixpence"


Sing a song of sunshine,

Be happy every day.

Sing a song of sunshine,

You'll chase the clouds away.

Be happy every moment,

No matter what you do.

Just sing and sing and sing and sing,

And let the sunshine through!




Sunshine Shake

In a blender, combine one 6-ounce can unsweetened frozen orange juice concentrate, 3/4 cup milk, 3/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 6 ice cubes. Makes 4 servings.


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Visitors since July 4, 1998