Preschool Weather Experiment – Sun Painted Holiday Cards

Use sun painting to create holiday cards that are not only a fun holiday activity but educational as well. Using the sun you'll create patterns onto construction paper that you and your preschooler can turn into holiday cards. With this fun preschool weather experiment your preschooler will learn about the strength of the sun and why their plastic toys tend to fade if left outside.

What your Preschooler will Learn about Sun Painting:

1. The suns rays (UV rays) are so strong that they can actually change the color of paper
2. The importance of wearing sun-block, hats and sunglasses on hot, bright days

What you Need for Sun Painting:

1. A dark piece of construction paper such as black, green, blue, purple or a very dark red
2. A sunny spot
3. Thin cardboard that can be cut with scissors
4. Holiday cookie cutters
5. A pen
6. Decorative supplies such as paints, chalk, crayons and markers, glitter, glue etc.

What To Do for Sun Painting:

Step one: Have your preschooler choose a few holiday cookie cutters. Trace around the cookie cutters with a pen. If your preschooler is old enough and has enough dexterity, feel free to have them do this. Step two: Cut the cardboard along the tracings. Depending on the scissors and the thickness of the cardboard, an adult may need to do the cutting.

Step three: Place the piece of cardboard on your dark construction paper wherever you want the holiday design to be.

Step four: Leave your piece of construction paper out in the sun for at least a few hours. The sun will fade the paper not covered by the cardboard, leaving the dark colored holiday design behind.

Step five: Have your preschooler decorate their sun painting however they want. Let them use their imagination and any decorative supplies you have to create a special Holiday card for a loved one.

Suggestions:

Start this activity as soon as the sun hits your sunny spot. Depending on your region, this preschool weather experiment may take a couple of days during the winter.

Variations: 

You do not have to use a cookie cutter to create your holiday patterns. Feel free to use free-hand or whatever you want to create your holiday patterns.

You're not just limited to creating holiday cards with sun painting. Have your preschooler make holiday gift tags for all of those holiday gifts you're giving to friends and family.

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