Guest Author - Diane Claus

Guest author Jeanette Norman

In today’s American society, we are focused a lot on what we have, don’t have, and what we really want. It is important for children to learn to be thankful for what we have both materialistic and non-materialistic. With the American tradition of Thanksgiving coming up, one crafty idea to get young minds and hearts busy looking at their life is a Thankful Tree. This can be done in the classroom or as a family activity.

What you will need is some wall space that children or family will see often such as a wall near where you have circle time in a classroom setting or the dining room wall where everyone eats dinner. A simple tree trunk shape with or without leaves on it can be made from a brown grocery bag or construction paper or white paper the child can color. And, obviously, something to stick your lovely tree and leaves to the wall with.

When doing this activity, keep in mind a lot of preschool age children may say they are thankful for some self-centered things and materialistic things. You may have a slow start to this idea as well. Set an example for the children by starting yourself. Write something you are thankful for and put your name on the bottom of the leaf. After you have put yours on the tree, ask the children what they are thankful for. Write it for them on the leaf they choose, write their name or let him try to write his name. You can do this everyday or once a week. Don’t think any answer is too silly. This activity helps a child to reflect on their lives and daily activities.

I started doing this project with my son last November. I couldn’t bring myself to throw our leaves away. This year as we assemble our tree it will be neat to see how he has changed and stayed the same in his thought processes and views of his life. He is in kindergarten now also his world has expanded greatly from a part-time preschool and more home environment, to lots of learning and exposure to more diversity. I end this activity by reading all the leaves before our Thanksgiving Day feast. If this is done in a preschool classroom, you can do the same or wait until right before the end of the day.

I found this leaf pattern to be a nice one to use.