Thanksgiving is one of our household’s favorite holidays. It’s a great time to come together as a family and give thanks for all of our blessings! Besides the indulgence of food, we have a few traditions that we do in the weeks before the actual holiday.
Our first favorite is the blessing tree. You’ll need construction paper, tape, markers, and a large area on the wall to hang the tree. We’ve found that a sliding glass door is the perfect background for this project! Draw or cut out a large tree without any leaves. Using fall colors, trace each family member’s hand. You’ll need at least 10 hands per person. If you aren’t scissors adverse, cut out each hand. Give each member at least 10 hands. Using a marker, write down one thing you are grateful for on each hand. Now use the hands as leaves for your tree. You can put some of the leaves on the tree, falling from the tree or at the base of the tree. Another variation is to cut out leaf shapes in place of hands.
Our second favorite is to make a personalize handprint family table cloth. You’ll need a laundered white table cloth, foam brushes, acrylic paints in fall colors, a black sharpie, and a plastic table cloth overlay (available at most stores).
This one is also pretty simple to make and you’ll get to enjoy it for years! Spread the table cloth out on the table. Decide on where everyone will put their handprints, leaving the center portion of the table cloth clear. Taking turns, squirt acrylic paint of choice on each person’s hands and spread with a foam brush. Help each person press their hands down onto the table cloth. After the handprints have dried have each person write their name next to their handprints.
Finally, choose either a favorite saying or scripture to write in the center of the tablecloth. Choose one of our favorites or make your own!
“We are family.”
“Begin each day with a grateful heart.”
“Food, family, and fun.”
“A grateful heart is a happy heart.”
Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Psalm 107: 8 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Remember to use the plastic overlay on top of the tablecloth before you set your table.
Please feel free to add these to your homeschool celebration. Please also add your own in the comments!
Check out the many homeschooling resources at Rainbow Resource Center!
