Bright, cheerful, and simple to prep, this sunshine paper plate craft is a perfect art activity for Weather & Rainbows Week. It encourages creativity, color exploration, and fine motor development while fitting seamlessly into a play-based homeschool or preschool routine.
Free Weather Printable
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Why This Craft Works So Well for Weather Play
Weather is a big concept for young children. Hands-on activities help make abstract ideas like sunshine, rain, and rainbows easier to understand.
This craft supports:
Visual learning through color and texture
Fine motor skill development
Early science conversations
Play-based learning through art
To extend the learning, we like to pair art with weather visuals and vocabulary, such as weather-themed flashcards and matching games from our shop.
Materials Needed
Most of these are simple supplies you may already have at home.
Paper plates
Yellow paint
Paintbrushes or sponges
Tissue paper in rainbow or pastel colors
Child-safe scissors
Glue
Googly eyes (optional)
Table covering or tray
How to Make the Sunshine Paper Plate Craft
Paint the Plate: Paint the paper plate yellow to create the sun. Let it dry slightly.
Prepare the Rays: Cut tissue paper into strips or rectangles. Rainbow colors work especially well during Weather & Rainbows Week.
Glue the Rays: Flip the plate over and glue the tissue paper pieces around the edge so they hang down like sun rays.
Add a Face: Once dry, flip the plate back over and add googly eyes or draw a simple face.
Talk About the Weather: While crafting, discuss what the sun does and how it fits into the weather cycle.
Learning Extensions (Weather & Rainbows Week)
Extend this craft with simple, play-based learning activities:
Weather Vocabulary
Use weather flashcards to talk about:
Sun
Rain
Clouds
Rainbow
Wind
Matching & Memory Play
Follow up the craft with a weather-themed memory or matching game to reinforce concepts.
Memory & matching games for early learners
Sensory Weather Play
Pair the sunshine craft with a sensory activity:
Cloud dough
Water play for rain
Color mixing for rainbows
Sensory kits that pair well with weather themes
Where This Fits in the Playschool Calendar
This sunshine paper plate craft works perfectly as:
A Weather & Rainbows Week art activity
A mid-week calm table activity
A fine motor station
A visual anchor for weather discussions
It layers naturally with weather-themed flashcards, sensory play, and matching games used throughout the week. If you’re joining us for the Play School Planner, this craft activity is part of our Weather & Rainbows week.
Free & Low-Prep Pairings
To keep prep minimal, you can pair this craft with:
Final Thought
Weather play is most effective when children can see it, touch it, and create it. This sunshine paper plate craft turns a simple art activity into a meaningful learning moment that fits naturally into a play-based routine. It’s simple, joyful, and intentionally designed for real life.