Sunflower Houses

The variety of things you can do with sunflowers is nearly endless! Did you ever notice how fast sunflowers grow? For young children, measuring the growth of sunflowers is a wonderful way to learn about inches and centimeters.

Varieties of sunflowers range from the giant Russian and Mammoth types to the maroon-streaked Sunset and multi-flowered Sunrise. Children love to have places to hide, so plant some in a large circle to frame a "house" for them. You can intersperse your sunflowers with vining climbers like sugar snap peas and sweet peas or mix hollyhocks between them for additional color. You could also try growing vining watermelon or cantaloupe during the summer, if you hold classes then, for a cool respite.