Crafting is a wonderful way to engage children in creative activities that also help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. One fun and easy project is making a paper sun craft. This activity is perfect for kids of all ages, and with the help of a free PDF printable template, it’s both simple and mess-free.
Materials Needed:
Before you start, gather the following materials:
- Printable sun template (PDF) – Download and print the free template.
- Colored paper – Yellow, orange, or any color your child likes for the sun.
- Scissors – Safety scissors are best for young children.
- Glue stick – Easy for little hands to manage.
- Markers or crayons – For adding details to the sun.
- Glitter or sequins (optional) – For some extra sparkle!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Download and Print the Template: Start by downloading the free PDF template. Print it on regular or thick paper, depending on the sturdiness you desire for your craft.
Cut Out the Sun Shape: Using the scissors, cut out the sun shape from the template. If your child is too young to handle scissors, you can cut it out for them and let them focus on the decorating part.
Trace and Cut Out: Place the handprint template on colored paper and trace the outline. Cut out the handprint shape from the colored paper. Cut out as many handprints as you want to make sun rays. In our case, we made 8 rays. If you want to make the sun more vibrant, use a combination of yellow and orange paper for different sun rays.
Assemble the Parts: Use a sheet of colored cardstock as the base for your craft. In our case, we chose blue. In the center of the sheet, glue the sun rays (handprints). Then, glue the main part of the sun on top.
Decorate Your Sun: Choosing the black and white version of the template is a great opportunity to get creative!Use markers or colored pencils to color the sun’s smiling face. Draw rosy cheeks, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Add some glitter or sequins to give your sun a magical look.
Display Your Creation: Once the glue has dried, your paper sun is ready to be displayed. Hang it in a window to catch the sunlight, or attach it to a stick to create a sun puppet.
Educational Benefits
This simple craft is more than just fun—it’s also educational! By working on this project, children practice:
Fine motor skills: Cutting, gluing, and coloring help strengthen small hand muscles.
Color recognition: Using different colors for the sun encourages learning and recognition of colors.
Creativity: Decorating the sun allows kids to express their unique artistic abilities.
Following instructions: This craft helps children learn to follow a series of steps to complete a project.
Conclusion
Creating a paper sun is a delightful and straightforward craft that kids will love. The free PDF template makes it easy to prepare and set up, so you can spend more time crafting and less time planning. Whether it’s a rainy day activity or a fun project to celebrate sunny weather, this craft is sure to brighten your child’s day.
Download the free template, gather your materials, and let the sunshine into your craft time!
