Every fall, just after we return from summer vacation, we explore sunflowers. We’ve created large sunflower bulletin boards, have enjoyed sunflower sensory tables, and have enjoyed sunflower fine motor fun. Our preschoolers have loved our sunflower science unit, so we decided to try toddler science with sunflowers. I am happy we did, because they loved it!
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A couple of weeks ago we placed some sunflowers on our science shelf. Usually we explore sunflowers in the spring, but because we still had one in our outdoor garden this fall, we decided to add it to our curriculum a couple of weeks ago.
We placed a large circle of black paper on the art table with some sunflower seeds and glue.
While doing this art project, one of the children asked what was inside the shell. We decided to take the sunflowers from the science shelf to the art table.
That’s when the excitement began!
Little fingers poked and pinched the flower, seeds scattering to the table.
Of course, the teacher in me loved that they had to use their fingers to grasp those tiny seeds!
I love standing back, putting my camera on the zoom lens, and watching the discovery unfold!
Out came some tongs and tweezers. I really hadn’t anticipated the toddlers to be able to extract the seeds using these tools, but they loved the challenge!
Practical life skills took place as well, sweeping the seeds off the floor.
Last week we extended our exploration of sunflowers by putting seeds in the sensory table. We also completed and displayed our group sunflowers, which are now on the wall. Let’s just say they are large and happy and beautiful!
Books to go with the sunflower theme:
More activities for young children:
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