Learn how to make a sun paper craft that actually rises and sets. This simple sun craftivity is perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners or any kid who wants to play with their craft when they are finished.

Sun Paper Craft

This simple sun craft is perfect for little ones. Because it rises and falls with the pull of a string, it becomes a fun toy when you are done.

Kids love to play with their creations after they are completed.

My daughter has loved playing with her flying witch, floating ghost, and climbing spider.

But now we want something that isn’t seasonal. So we created this fun paper sun.

This craftivity uses simple supplies, which makes it perfect for a classroom craft or a quick craft at home.

Grab some construction paper and a paper tube and create this bright and fun papercraft.

While the kids put together their sun craft, they will be learning about the basic circle shape. Plus, you’ll be sneaking in some good cutting practice and fine motor skill-building.

You can use this construction paper craft in several ways.

Hang them in your playroom or classroom.
Use them to help with a solar system lesson plan.
Display them on your classroom bulletin board.
Decorate a summer party with them!

Why do we love crafting with construction paper?

Why do we love paper crafts? Because they secretly teach so many important skills for kids.

Fine motor skills
Cutting practice
Following instructions
Colors
Counting
and more!

If you’re looking for more ways to inspire your kids, check out our construction paper book!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, we may receive an affiliate commission.

No time to make this sun craft for preschoolers? Pin it for later!

If you’re currently in planning mode, that’s ok! Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board. That way you’ll be able to grab instructions when you’re ready!

Tips for creating this circle craft:

These suns are very simple. But here are some tips to help you along the way.

We chose classic yellow and orange for this sun. But you can let your kids experiment with colors.
Younger children may need help cutting the cardboard. Either cut the circles ahead of time or choose easier cardboard, like cereal boxes.
Play around with the size center circle for older children.

Yield: 1

Rising Sun Craft

Create the fun paper sun and when you are done you can have it rise and set!

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Difficulty Medium

Materials

Yellow and Orange Construction Paper
Cardboard Circle
Cardboard Tube
Yarn
2 Pony Beads

Tools

Glue Stick
Scissors
Hole Punch

Instructions

Stack the orange and yellow paper. Place your cardboard on top of the paper stack and trace a circle.
Fold the paper in half.
Cut out the circle. This should give you 4 even circles, 2 of each color.
Using the rest of your folded paper cut out 2 triangle shapes. This will give you 8 total triangles, 4 yellow and 4 orange.
Add glue to the cardboard circle and attach the triangles around the edge.
Add more glue and glue one of the yellow circles onto the cardboard. This should cover the glued edges of the triangles.
Fold the rest of the circles in half, like a taco shell.
Stack the folded circles orange, yellow, orange with glue in between each layer.
Now glue the outer orange edges to the center of the sun.
Open to get a 3D center.
Cut a paper tube to be shorter than the width of the sun. Punch 4 holes in the cardboard tube. 2 on each side lined up with each other.
Tie a bead onto one end of a piece of yarn. Double the knot so it will not come undone.
Take the other end of the string and go up through both holes, across the top and back down the other two holes. Add a bead to the second end.
Glue the tube to the back of the sun.
Tape the center of the yarn to the wall and grab the 2 beads.
As they pull apart string, the sun will rise.
And Rise!! They can release or bring the hands back together for it to come down.