Little Earth Friends (Ages 2-4)
📖 STORY (Read to child – 2 minutes)
“Every morning, the sun wakes up!
Hello, sunshine!
The sun is warm and bright!
The sun helps plants grow – big and tall!
The sun makes our day – so we can play!
When the sun goes to sleep, the moon comes out!
The sun gives us light and warmth!
Thank you, sunshine!”
🎨 ACTIVITY 1: Sun Hunt
Time: 10 minutes
Type: Outdoor exploration
You Need:
- Sunny day
- Your eyes and skin!
What to Do:
- Go outside on sunny day
- Stand in sun: “Feel the warm sunshine!”
- Stand in shade: “Now it’s cooler!”
- Point to shadows: “The sun makes shadows!”
- Look at how plants grow toward sun
- “Plants love sunshine too!”
What They Learn:
- Sun provides warmth
- Sun creates light and shadows
- Sun helps plants grow
- Observation skills (sunny vs. shady)
🎨 ACTIVITY 2: Make a Sun
Time: 5 minutes
Type: Art project
You Need:
- Yellow paper
- Scissors (adult cuts)
- Glue
- Yellow yarn or paper strips
What to Do:
- Adult cuts circle (sun)
- Child glues strips around edge (rays)
- “This is the sun! It’s bright and warm!”
- Draw happy face on sun (optional)
- Hang in window
What They Learn:
- Sun characteristics (round, yellow, rays)
- Creative expression
- Fine motor skills (gluing)
- Pride in creation
💃 ACTIVITY 3: Sun Dance
Time: 5 minutes
Type: Movement/creative play
You Need:
- Music (optional)
- Energy and imagination!
What to Do:
- “Let’s be the sunshine!”
- Start small (curled up): “Sun is sleeping…”
- Slowly rise and stretch: “Sun is waking up!”
- Dance with arms wide: “Sun is shining bright!”
- Slowly curl back down: “Sun goes to sleep… goodnight sun!”
What They Learn:
- Gross motor movement (stretching, dancing)
- Sun’s daily cycle (rises and sets)
- Creative play and imagination
- Following directions through movement
📝 VOCABULARY WORDS
- Sun – Big bright ball in the sky
- Sunshine – Light from the sun
- Bright – Lots of light, easy to see
- Warm – Nice temperature, cozy
- Light – Helps us see
- Shadow – Dark shape made when blocking light
👨👩👧 TIPS FOR PARENTS & TEACHERS
Age Adjustments:
- Age 2: Focus on sun/shade exploration, simple dancing
- Age 3: Can make sun craft more independently, talk about shadows
- Age 4: Can explain sun’s daily cycle, create elaborate sun dances
Safety Notes:
- NEVER look directly at the sun!
- Use sunscreen for outdoor activities
- Stay hydrated (sun makes us thirsty!)
- Seek shade if too hot
Best Times:
- Morning or late afternoon (not midday heat!)
- Watch sunrise or sunset together (safe to look when low!)
- Cloudy days: “Where is sun hiding?”
Extension Ideas:
- Trace shadows at different times of day (they move!)
- Sun prints: Leave objects on dark paper in sun
- Shadow puppets with flashlight (mini sun!)
- Read “The Sun is Kind of a Big Deal” book
What Success Looks Like:
- Child notices sunny vs. cloudy days
- Points out shadows
- Says “sun is warm!”
- Understands plants need sunshine
🌟 CONNECTION TO OTHER TOPICS
- Topic 1 (Earth): Sun shines ON Earth!
- Topic 2 (Water): Sun + water = puddles disappear (evaporation – simple!)
- Topic 4 (Trees): Trees need sunshine to grow!
- Topic 6 (Growing): Sun helps seeds grow!
Sun gives energy to everything! ☀️
Part of Little Earth Friends – Ages 2-4
Building love for Earth from the very beginning
