22 Nov 3 Gratitude Inspired Thanksgiving Activities

With Thanksgiving approaching, coming up with ways to keep your children engaged in meaningful activities may make it stressful. Let Meadow Montessori help with 3 gratitude-inspired Thanksgiving activities to do this holiday season! This holiday is about expressing gratitude. Being thankful is something we at Meadow Montessori strive to instill in our students. Keep reading to get inspiration for fun gratitude projects!

Are you interested in learning more about Montessori teaching for your children? Are you located in Richmond, TX, or Fort Bend County? Contact Meadow Montessori today to schedule a tour!

Practicing Gratitude, the Montessori Way

1. ‘I Am Thankful’ Book

Our first activity is great for younger and older children alike, as this craft allows for them to reflect on what they are thankful for with their own creativity. Teaching gratitude to children is not an easy task, but with consistent encouragement and activities like this one, they can begin to develop a gratitude mindset on their own.

The materials needed for this craft include:

• Construction paper (one color or various colors)
• Pipe cleaner, staples, twist ties, or ribbon
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Folder
• Decorations (glitter, sequins, tissue paper cutouts, etc.)

Steps to create the ‘I Am Thankful’ book:

1. Create the cover page of the book. It should state “ I Am Thankful For” with “Written and Illustrated by” and the date underneath. Encourage the child to decorate the page to make it unique to them.
2. Ask your child or students what they think it means to be thankful. Discuss with them the meaning of being thankful. Explain how being thankful means recognizing when we receive something and showing appreciation for it.
3. This step can be drawn out over the course of a few days or as one large crafting project. Ask the child what they are thankful for, and let them draw on a piece of construction paper what they explained to you. If this is a home project, try to do this everyday leading up to Thanksgiving. In the classroom, encourage the students to think of 5-10 things they are grateful for and encourage them to draw and decorate their pages as much as they please!
4. Once the drawing and decorating is complete, write down what they have drawn (if your child is older, encourage them to practice independence and write on their own.) On each page should be what the child is grateful for as well as numbering the page in the bottom corner.
5. At the end of the month, or whichever time frame you choose for this project, assemble the pages in order and punch holes in the edges of each page. This is where they will be secured together. Using either ribbon, pipe cleaner, staples, or more, fasten them together and the project is complete!

2. Gratitude Jar

Gratitude jars are a fantastic, easy way to let children be creative while also practicing being thankful. The best part is that this project encourages practicing daily gratitude throughout the entire year, not only during the holiday season! This project can be completed at home or in the classroom.

If you do this craft at home, we encourage parents to make their own gratitude jars! Not only does it set a great example of thankfulness for your children, but according to scientific research, practicing gratitude helps improve our sleep, improves levels of positive emotions, and more!

The materials needed for this craft include:

• Clear jar (glass or plastic)
• Art Supplies (ribbons, stickers, magazine cutouts,
• Gratitude slips (blank strips of paper, or slips with gratitude prompts)

Steps to creating a Gratitude Jar:

1. Begin by helping your child or students decorate their jars with the decorating materials that have been prepared.
2. Once the jars are decorated, the children can begin to add their first three gratitude statements. A gratitude statement is a statement that acknowledges someone or something that a person is thankful for.
3. Once the participants have written their gratitude statements, educators or parents are encouraged to discuss each statement briefly before putting it in the jar.
4. We encourage parents to make this jar a daily habit for the family! This actively works great as a part of their bedtime routine. It allows them to reflect on their day and focus on positives, which helps develop a positive mindset.

Gratitude Statement Prompts include:

“Today was special because…”
“Something I like about my family is…”
“The people who make me happy are…”
“I felt happy today when…”
“I appreciate (person), because…”

3. Cooking With the Family

The last Thanksgiving activity we recommend is cooking with your loved ones! Montessori philosophy inspires independence, critical thinking, and free choice. A wonderful way to teach and put these practices into action is through helping prepare food. Whether it is something simple like applesauce or more complex like baking a pie together, this activity not only helps prepare you and your loved ones for the Thanksgiving feast but also educates your child.

Practice Gratitude This Holiday Season

There are many ways to instill gratitude in your children or students this holiday season. Meadow Montessori hopes that you have fun crafting, cooking, or writing about what you’re thankful for alongside the children.

If you’re interested in learning about the Montessori approach this holiday season, don’t hesitate to contact Meadow Montessori in Richmond, TX, today to schedule a tour!