Learn how to make a Paper Cup Sunflower Craft in time for Fall. This easy arts and crafts activity is perfect for kids to make either at home or in the classroom. Use it as part of either a Summer or Fall themed lesson plan. Your children will love it.
If you want to make your Fall themed lessons a breeze, then check out the Fall Activity Pack. It’s filled with math and literacy centers, fine motor activities and arts and crafts templates. All of which are aligned with preschool learning standards. Check it out today.
Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.
More Fall Themed Arts and Crafts to try
Autumn is a great time of year to make crafts with nature. The beautiful colors of the Fall leaves are so inspirational. If you want more kids craft ideas to try, check out these Fall themed arts and crafts for toddlers and preschoolers.
- Fork Painted Hedgehog Craft
- Fall Leaves Silhouette Art
- Scrape Painted Fall Leaves
- Sunflower Suncatcher Craft
- Coffee Filter Sunflower Collage
For more ideas, take a look at these 30 Amazing Fall Arts and Crafts for Kids.
Materials Needed
- Paper cup
- Scissors
- Yellow paint
- Brown paint (2 different shades)
- Glue or sticky tape (optional)
- Paintbrushes
- Q-tips (optional)
How to Make a Paper Cup Sunflower Craft
1. Take your paper cup and cut the side section into roughly ½ inch (1.5cm) strips.
Make sure that you cut all the way down to the base of the cup, without actually damaging the base. These sections will be the petals of your sunflower.
2. Spread the petals outwards.
You find that the closer to the base you cut, the easier it is to spread the petals. But remember, that this is a kid’s craft and doesn’t have to be perfect. If your children are unable or don’t care about cutting all the way down to the base, don’t worry about it. Let them make a sunflower however they like.
3. Fold the petals in half.
Since sunflowers have short petals, in comparison to the center, you’ll need to either cut or glue the petals in half.
Younger children, like toddlers and preschoolers will most likely find it easier to cut the ends of the petals off with a pair of scissors.
Older kids may want to bend them in half, and glue the two together to make the petals shorter instead.
Which way you decide to go (cutting or gluing) will depend on the age and capabilities of your kids, as well as which skills you want them to work on.
4. Paint the petals with yellow paint.
If you don’t want to use acrylic paint, you don’t have to. You can also use watercolors, crayons or even paste yellow tissue paper to the flower petals instead.
5. Paint the inside of the sunflower with a dark brown paint.
6. Use cotton buds to make dots in the center of the sunflower, in a lighter shade of brown paint.
This step is optional. I like how the two different shades of brown make it look like the sunflower has seeds in the middle.
If you don’t have q-tips handy, then use fingers or just dot with a paintbrush instead. Or, of course, you can skip this step entirely and just use one shade of brown for your sunflower craft.
7. Let your adorable sunflower craft dry.
If you like, you can then pick a colorful sheet of construction paper and glue your paper cup sunflower to it. You can even do this with a large piece of paper and use all of the sunflowers your class makes to create an entire sunflower field picture instead.
What You’re Learning
Creativity
Arts and crafts are a great way to use your imagination and then create something that represents that idea in the real world. This is important not only for artistic pursuits, like painting or music, but also for problem solving. Which is an essential life skill that everyone needs to develop.
There are many different ways your kids can use their creativity to make unique sunflowers. They can:
- Forgo the yellow paint and choose a different color instead.
- Cut the petals into different lengths and shapes.
- Draw a face in the middle of their sunflower
Science
This craft activity is the perfect opportunity to talk to your kids about some sunflower science. Discuss things like:
- Where do sunflowers come from?
- What do they need to grow?
- What can we make with them (e.g. sunflower oil)
Planning and Organization
This paper cup sunflower craft has several steps that need to be done in a specific order for this picture to work. For example, you need to cut out the petals first, before you can spread them out.
Organizing the required materials beforehand, as well as planning out each step before you do it, is a great way for kids to strengthen their executive functioning skills.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the hand and fingers. Developing these skills are important in being able to write when the kids go to school, as well as being able to complete tasks independently. (For example, dressing and feeding themselves).
Cutting with scissors, holding a paintbrush and a q-tip are all going to help young kids develop:
- Pincer grip
- Hand-eye coordination
- Dexterity
- Hand strength
Are you going to make this Paper Cup Sunflower Craft with your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.
87 Pages of Fall themed play based learning activities. Perfect for preschool and kindergarteners.
