Lesson 3 of 9
In Progress

Thankful Tree

Description

Teaching children the art of gratitude creates a habit of mindfulness and does wonders for their health and well-being. Once assembled, our Thankful Tree makes a beautiful centerpiece for the family dinner table and serves as a reminder that no feeling of gratitude is too small!

Ask your child to think about something for which she is grateful. Put simply, what is one thing (place, person, etc.) that makes her heart happy? If your child has trouble coming up with something, give her a few concrete examples.

Separate the leaves and write one thing for which she is grateful on each leaf. We suggest taking dictation for pre-writers and allowing early-writers to write independently.

Add a touch of color to the leaves by offering watercolors and painting a light wash over top of the leaves. When the leaves are dry, you may opt to go over the writing on each one with a sharpie marker. Then, punch a hole in the top and string them onto a branch of the tree. Want to get more people involved? Hand out leaves to friends or family members and ask them to add each on to your tree!

Materials

From Your Kit:

  1. Thankful Tree*
  2. Leaf Cut Outs (printable version)

You Provide:

  1. Writing Tool
  2. Watercolor and Paintbrush
  3. Child-Friendly Scissors
  4. Hole Punch
  5. String, Ribbon, or Twine

Optional Add-Ons:

  1. Sharpie Marker

*For online members, simply find a large branch outside and anchor it inside a mason jar using small rocks or glass beads. Then hang the printable leaves from your homemade tree. 

 

Books to Inspire

  1. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell
  2. Thankful by Elaine Vickers
  3. The Thank You Book by Mary Lyn Ray 

More to Explore

  1. Giving Thanks
  2. Gratitude Cards