Paper Plate Sun Craft with Puffy Paint (Free Sun Template)

Make a bright paper plate sun craft for kids using paint, paper, and optional puffy paint and craft template. A fun summer, weather, or solar system activity.

Bring a little sunshine indoors with this fun and easy Paper Plate Sun Craft for Kids! Using a paper plate, paint, paper triangles, and an optional puffy paint technique, kids can create a bright sun that is perfect for summer, space, weather, or solar system themes.

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What makes this craft extra fun is the optional puffy paint sun surface. Kids mix shaving cream and glue to create a fluffy texture, then swirl in colors to mimic the hot gases and fiery surface of the sun. Add the printable sunglasses and smile for a silly summer sun, or leave them off for a more science-focused project.

Whether you’re looking for a summer craft, weather activity, or solar system project, this cheerful sun craft is sure to brighten your day!

See our growing collections of Summer Activities, Crafts, and Printables.

Why Kids Love This Sun Craft

• ⭐ Easy to make
• ⭐ Great for summer themes
• ⭐ Encourages creativity
• ⭐ Includes sensory puffy paint option
• ⭐ Perfect for learning about the sun and space

Tips for Younger Kids

• Pre-cut the sun ray pieces for little hands.
• Use a glue sponge or glue sticks to make assembly easier.
• Skip the puffy paint if you’re short on time and simply paint the paper plate yellow.
• Print the ray templates on yellow cardstock to reduce prep work.

Learn About the Sun

While creating the craft, talk about some fun sun facts:

• The sun is a star located at the center of our solar system.
• The sun provides light and heat that make life on Earth possible.
• The sun is made mostly of hot gases called hydrogen and helium.
• It takes sunlight about 8 minutes to travel from the sun to Earth.
• The surface of the sun is covered with swirling gases and powerful energy.

The puffy paint technique is a great way to represent the movement and texture of the sun’s hot outer layers.

See our growing collection of Space Themed Activities, Crafts, and Printables.

Book Recommendation

Sun Craft

Materials Needed

• Paper plate
• Sun craft template
• Yellow paint
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Glue
• Yellow construction paper or cardstock
• Optional sunglasses and smile template

Optional Puffy Paint

• Shaving cream
• White school glue
• Food coloring or washable paint
• Craft stick or spoon for mixing

How to Make a Paper Plate Sun Craft

Watch the short video tutorial and print the directions that are available at the end of this post.

Step 1: Paint the Sun

Paint the paper plate yellow and allow it to dry completely.

Step 2: Cut Out the Sun Rays

Print and cut out the triangle ray template pieces. You can print them directly onto yellow paper or have kids color them.

Step 3: Attach the Rays

Glue the triangles around the outside edge of the paper plate to create shining sun rays.

Step 4: Make Puffy Paint (Optional)

Mix equal parts shaving cream and white glue in a bowl.

Spread the mixture across the center of the paper plate.

Add drops of yellow, orange, and red paint or food coloring. Use a craft stick or toothpick to gently swirl the colors together. The swirls create a beautiful effect that resembles the hot gases and energy moving across the sun.

Step 5: Add Sunglasses and Smile (Optional)

For a fun summer version, glue on the sunglasses and smile template pieces. Kids love giving their sun a personality!

Extend the Learning

Try pairing this craft with one of these sun-themed activities:

• Make a solar system model.
• Create shadow drawings outside and observe how shadows move throughout the day.
• Learn about day and night.
• Read books about stars and space.
• Experiment with melting crayons or ice in the sunlight.
• Track the sun’s position in the sky over several days.

Keep the Fun Going

• Soda Bottle Space Rocket Craft
• Space Playdough Mat
• Pineapple Popsicle Stick Craft

Download the Paper Plate Sun Craft Template

Ready to make your own shining sun? Download the printable template, gather a few simple supplies, and create a bright summer craft that combines art, creativity, and a little science fun!

The optional puffy paint technique makes this project especially memorable as kids explore the swirling colors and textures that represent our amazing sun.

Print the Directions