Early Childhood

How can we use shapes, color, and texture to create a sunflower?

Students will create a sunflower using painted shapes (circle: flower center; oval: petals). Students will create visual texture in the center of their sunflower. Students will use painting and gluing materials appropriately.

• 12 x 12" (30 x 30 cm) blue paper
• tempera paints (yellow, brown, and orange)
• paintbrushes
• paper towels
• cups of water
• glue
• sunflower seeds or a non-food textural material such as tissue paper
• resource images of sunflowers

Step 1
Show students books, reproductions, and images of sunflowers.

Step 2
Discuss the geometric shapes found in a sunflower, as well as the texture in the center of the flower.

Step 3
Distribute materials. Demonstrate how to paint the center of the flower (a circle) in brown or orange. Then, with yellow paint, add petals (ovals) all around the center, using most of the paper. Add orange or yellow-orange paint to the petals to create color variation and texture.

Step 4
Show students how to apply glue to the center of the circle and then add textured materials (seeds or alternative material).

Step 5
Students begin creating their sunflowers. Assist them individually as needed.

Were students able to paint shapes to make a sunflower? Did students create a large sunflower using the available space on the paper? Did students create texture in the center of their flower? Did students use the painting and gluing materials appropriately?

Wendy Libby is an art teacher for the Bangor School Department in Bangor, Maine.