The Sunflower

Note to Storyteller:

This is just a suggestion on how to tell the story, so feel free to modify it as needed to suit the ages and understanding of the children you are speaking to.

You may need :A real or fake sunflower or show a picture of one.

Introduction: Good morning, everyone! Today, I have something really special to show you. It’s a sunflower! Has anyone seen a sunflower before? Let’s take a closer look at this beautiful flower. [Hold up the sunflower or show a photo.]

The Story: Did you know that a sunflower isn’t just one flower? It’s actually made up of many small flowers all packed together! Look at the big, colorful petals on the outside. [Point to the ray florets.] These are called ‘ray florets’, and they can be yellow, maroon, or orange.

And now, if we look in the middle of the sunflower, we see even more tiny flowers. These are called ‘disc florets’, and they grow into sunflower seeds! [Show the seeds.] The seeds are actually the fruit of the sunflower. The hard outer part, or husk, is like the shell, and inside is the seed that we eat.

Another amazing thing about the sunflower is the way the little flowers in the middle grow. The florets within the sunflower's cluster are in a spiral shape. Typically, each floret is slanting toward the next (called a golden angle) forming interconnecting spirals. There are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other. On really big sunflowers, there can be even more—89 spirals one way and 144 the other way!

Now, let me tell you something really amazing about sunflowers when they’re growing. When they’re still just buds, they like to face the sun. In the morning, they look east toward the sunrise. As the day goes on, they follow the sun across the sky. This is a behavior called ‘heliotropism’ But when they bloom, they stop turning and usually face the toward the east.

Conclusion: Isn’t it amazing how much there is to learn about a sunflower? It’s just one of the many wonderful things God has made. Just as the sunflower follows the sun throughout the day, we can follow Jesus by keeping our eyes on Him. The next time you see a sunflower, let it remind you to follow Jesus, just as the sunflower follows the sun.

Suggested Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for creating such wonderful things like the sunflower. Help us to always follow You and grow strong in our faith. Amen.

Additional Suggestions and Activities:

• Sunflower Craft: Provide the children with paper and crayons to draw their own sunflower while you tell the story. They can add details like the ray florets and disc florets.
• Sunflower Seeds as Props: Give each child a sunflower seed to hold and look at as you explain how the disc florets turn into seeds.
• Time-Lapse Video: Show a short time-lapse video of a sunflower following the sun during the day.
• Interactive Questions: Ask the children questions throughout the story, like “Which way does the sunflower face in the morning?” or “What color are the big petals on the outside?”
• Magnifying Glass Exploration: If possible, provide magnifying glasses so the children can examine a sunflower up close. Encourage them to look at the tiny details in the florets and seeds, helping them appreciate the complexity and beauty of God’s creation.