Our Brilliant Sun

Today we became space artists as we created our own magnificent Sun. We began with a sheet of black paper to represent the darkness of space. Using a sponge and bright yellow and orange paint, you carefully dabbed and printed a large circle, watching the colours blend together to create the glowing surface of the Sun.

Once the paint had dried a little, we added tiny white stars to our night sky. You enjoyed flicking white paint from a toothbrush across the black background, creating hundreds of sparkling stars. It was exciting to see how each flick made a different pattern, just like the stars scattered throughout our galaxy.

The final step was creating the Sun's fiery solar flares. A small dot of orange paint was placed around the edge of the Sun, and you used a straw to gently blow the paint outwards. You watched with fascination as the paint stretched into long, flame-like rays, making your Sun look powerful and full of energy. Every solar flare was unique, showing that no two pieces of artwork are ever the same.

Throughout this experience, you explored a range of artistic techniques, including sponge printing, paint flicking and blowing paint through a straw. You showed wonderful concentration and perseverance as you experimented with each process and proudly watched your artwork develop step by step.

Te Whāriki Links

• Mana Aotūroa | Exploration: You experimented with a variety of art techniques and discovered how different tools and movements created different effects.
• Mana Reo | Communication: You expressed your ideas creatively through art and talked about the Sun, stars and space.
• Mana Tangata | Contribution: You confidently participated in a shared learning experience, following each step and celebrating your own unique creation.

Our Intentional Teaching
Through this activity, we introduced children to different painting techniques while extending their understanding of our solar system. Children developed fine motor control, breath control, hand-eye coordination and creativity while learning that the Sun is a star surrounded by millions of other stars in space. Opportunities to combine science with art encourage curiosity, imagination and a deeper appreciation of the world beyond our planet.

Marianne, Genna and Sue x

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