NESQUIK® - Sunflower Scarecrow Craft Project

twitter

facebook

youtube

Sunflower Scarecrow

This fun, summer learning activity combines an art project with a science and learning experience.

Ages: Adults and Kids 6 and Up
Duration: Over One Hour

TOOLS AND TEMPLATES

To Plant the Sunflowers:

WHAT YOU NEED

HOW TO DO IT

Pick a sunny area in the garden to plant the sunflowers.
Have the children help to mix the bag of peat into the soil.
The sunflower seeds should be 1” deep into the soil and 6” apart when planted. The children can use a garden spade to do this.
Water well.
When the seedlings start to pop up, thin them slightly so that there is about 1 1/2‘ between each plant.
While the children are waiting for the sunflowers to sprout, have them make a sunflower scarecrow to sit in the garden. (see directions below)
The sunflowers will start to pop out of the ground in 1 - 2 weeks. This is the time for the kids to chart their growth.
Print out the sunflower growth chart from the template.
Have them go out into the garden with a ruler or tape measure every 2 or 3 days and measure the sunflowers to see how much they have grown.
Be sure they measure carefully so that the plants are not disturbed.
You might suggest that each child picks his or her own sunflower to measure.
When the sunflowers are in full bloom, your child can decide what to do with his or her flower. It can be picked to enjoy in the house or remain to bloom in the garden.

Sunflower Scarecrow

WHAT YOU NEED

HOW TO DO IT

Print out the sunflower scarecrow templates.
Use the template as a pattern to cut out the smaller sunflower from yellow craft foam and the larger one from brown craft foam.
Center the yellow sunflower on top of the brown sunflower and glue them together.
To make the sunflower's face, glue the NESQUIK lid onto the yellow sunflower cutout.
Position the dowel rod 3” up the center back of the sunflower face (the brown side) and glue in place. Allow to dry completely.
Use the template as a pattern to cut 2 leaves from green craft foam and 1 pair of shorts from blue craft foam.
Glue the leaves to the dowel 2” down from the sunflower face. Glue them at their tips, 1 on the front of the dowel and 1 right behind it on the back of the dowel.
Cut about 20 strands of yellow raffia into 5” long strips. Divide into 2 groups and glue to the back of each leg of the shorts.
Glue the shorts to the front of the dowel 1” down from the leaves.

TIPS

To help the sunflower scarecrow keep away hungry birds, you can also cover some of the sunflower heads with cheesecloth or mesh bags.

FOLLOW-UP FUN

When the seed heads start to turn brown, trim the stalk to 2” in length.
Hang them to dry in the garage or attic.
After they have dried completely, rub the heads to loosen the seeds.
Spread them on baking sheets and roast for 3 hours at 200°.
Store them in an airtight container for eating.
Be sure to keep out a handful prior to cooking to be placed in an envelope and saved for next summer's planting!
To make this a bird-watching project, leave the flower heads uncovered, and let your children record the kind and number of birds that come to feed.

GET OUT
AND PLAY!

Check out our
awesome activities..

Got an idea for an
article? Want to
share a great recipe?

Tell us about it, and we just might feature it on our site.


	Sharing is caring and it’s easy. To forward this page to a friend, fill in all the fields highlighted in blue and then click Forward to a Friend. It’s that simple. Required fields Your name: Your e-mail address: Yes, I would like to receive future communications from NESQUIK Please review our PRIVACY POLICY. Your friend's name: Your friend's e-mail address: The information provided will be used to deliver this message and will not be retained. Thank you!


	Select your state: Enter your birth date: / / Sorry! This service is not available.