Colorful Gourds
Instructions:
Use copper, bronze, and gold spray paint to dress up plain gourds.
Fill a glass or crystal bowl with the gourds, oranges, and nuts.
Thankful Trees
When my kids were very young, I wanted to give them a tangible way to understand the meaning behind Thanksgiving. I found a beautiful branch broken off in the wind and put it in a vase filled with colored glass rocks. I cut up old holiday cards and punched a hole in each one to string a piece of yarn through. I asked the kids what they were thankful for and wrote their answers on the cards, which I hung on the tree. I asked them again at different times to see their changing answers. I also asked friends and family who came over to contribute to our family tree. When I finally took the tree down, I kept the leaves, as they will never fade.
To make a tree you will need:
Find one or two shapely tree branches.
Find a vase, clean flowerpot or other interesting bowl.
Use sand, rocks, marbles or glass stones heavy enough to balance the branches in he container
Colored craft foam, old cards, or kids artwork as long as the paper is heavy enough to hang.
Yarn, ornament hangers or straightened paper clips
Instructions:
Place tree branch in vase using marbles or stones to hold it in a standing position.
Cut out leaf shapes from handmade paper
Attach with yarn, ornament hangers or straightened paper clips.
Write names, dates and what you are thankful for.
To keep this tradition alive the whole year, ask each person at dinner to say one thing they are thankful for that day. We all benefit from practicing gratitude. Many thanks.
Pilgrim Hat Candy Cup
What you'll need:
- Cardboard paper towel tubes
- Yellow & black construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
Instructions:
Cut a cardboard circle from the tube about 3" wide per hat.
Cover with black construction paper.
Cut a 3 Ω" circle with black construction paper.
Glue to the bottom to form a base.
Cut a Ω" white strip of construction paper for band of hat. Glue together.
Use yellow construction paper to create a buckle. Attach with glue.
Fill with candy corns and enjoy!
Tot Decorated Tents Style Place Cards
Tent-style place cards are the easiest type of place cards to make, but they create quite an impact when they are decorated creatively. This is the perfect time to put those tiny children\'s hands to work and let them color and decorate the place cards with markers, colored pencils, glitter, stamps, and stickers. If you use heavy paper, they might even be able to watercolor paint the paper and then it can be cut into lengths for the place cards. Use a permanent marker to write each guests' name on the cards and hot glue a decorate length of ribbon or a Thanksgiving decoration to the card.
Adding place cards is a great way to brighten and lighten your table for Thanksgiving. They not only help guests feel more comfortable and welcome, but they also give your table added decor. By taking the time to create them you will find that your Thanksgiving table is even better than you imagined.
Thanksgiving Poem
"The Pilgrims Came"
By Annette Wynne
The Pilgrims came across the sea,
And never thought of you and me;
And yet it's very strange the way
We think of them Thanksgiving Day.
We tell their story, old and true,
Of how they sailed across the blue,
And found a new land to be free
And built their homes quite near the sea.
Every child knows well the tale
Of how they bravely turned the sail,
And journeyed many a day and night,
To worship God as they thought right.
The people think that they were sad,
And grave; I'm sure that they were glad--
They made Thanksgiving Day--that's fun--
We thank the Pilgrims, every one!
Click Here for More Thanksgiving Poems and a Thanksgiving Prayer
Turkey Day Games
Turkey Strut: Strut your stuff!
Candy Corn Hunt
Pumpkin Roll and more....
Greta is an educational psychologist, parenting expert, artist and author of “Do siblings influence one another?
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