Some crafts take over your entire afternoon (and your kitchen table). The paper plate sun craft doesn’t.
If you’ve got a paper plate, some construction paper, and a marker lying around, you’re basically already set up.
The paper plate sun craft is one of those sweet spots where kids feel genuinely proud of what they made and you’re not still picking up glitter at midnight.
It works beautifully for preschoolers and early elementary kids, and it’s easy to simplify for toddlers or add complexity for older crafters.
Parent tip: Prep the triangles in advance for kids under 4. They can focus on gluing and drawing, the most fun parts, without getting frustrated by the cutting.
Why This Craft Is Worth Your Time
Beyond the fun, this project sneaks in a surprising amount of skill-building. Here’s what kids are actually practicing:
Fine motor skills – cutting, gluing, and placing small pieces builds hand strength and coordination
Early math concepts – color sequencing and alternating patterns lay groundwork for pattern recognition
Emotional expression – letting kids draw the face gives them a low-pressure way to project how they’re feeling
Task completion – finishing a project from start to finish builds genuine confidence in little ones
What You’ll Need
Chances are you already have everything at home:
- 1 white paper plate
- Yellow construction paper
- Orange construction paper
- Glue stick or school glue
- Scissors
- Black marker
- Pink crayon or colored pencil
How to Make the Paper Plate Sun (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Gather your materials and prep the rays
Cut triangle shapes from the yellow and orange construction paper, these become the sun’s rays. Aim for roughly the same size, but don’t stress about perfection.
Having everything at hand before you sit down with your kids keeps the momentum going.
Tip: Make 10–14 triangles total for a full-looking sun.
Step 2: Draw the sun’s face
Using a black marker, draw a cheerful face in the center of the plate, curved eyes, a big smile, and soft pink cheeks from a crayon.
Let your child draw it themselves if they’re ready. There’s no wrong way to make a sun smile.
Tip: This is the part kids love most; hand them the marker!
Step 3: Glue the rays around the edge
Apply glue around the back rim of the plate and attach the triangles, alternating yellow and orange as you go. Press each one firmly and hold for a few seconds.
Slightly uneven spacing? That’s what makes it look handmade which is exactly the point.
Step 4: Let it dry and show it off
Continue adding rays all the way around until the sun looks full and bright. Set it flat to dry for 5–10 minutes.
Once it’s set, punch a hole at the top and thread a piece of yarn through for a ready-to-hang window decoration.
Tip: Hang it in a sunny window, the colors look amazing with light behind them.
Fun Variations to Try
Once your kids get the hang of it, try switching things up:
Rainbow sun — Use red, orange, yellow, and pink rays for a more vibrant, colorful look
Glitter rays — Add a stripe of glitter glue along each triangle before it dries
Emotion suns — Make a set with different faces (happy, sleepy, surprised) — great for toddler feelings chats
Tissue paper rays — Crumple tissue paper squares instead of construction paper for a fun texture-based variation
More Paper Plate Crafts to Try Next
Once kids are in craft mode, it’s the perfect time to keep the creativity flowing. Here are some other simple paper plate projects they’ll love:
Paper Plate Ice Cream Craft — fun and colorful, great for summer afternoons
Paper Plate Watermelon Craft — bright, fruity, and perfect for warm-weather themes
Paper Plate Fish Craft — a great starting point for an ocean-themed week
Paper Plate Turtle Craft — cute, calm, and easy for little hands
Easy Bunny Craft for Kids — beginner-friendly and endlessly customizable
Final Thoughts
This paper plate sun is one of those crafts you’ll reach for again and again; quick to set up, genuinely satisfying to finish, and always worth the 20 minutes. The best part is watching your kid carry it around the house afterward, beaming almost as bright as the sun they just made.
