Thankful Tree
Teach kids the meaning of Thanksgiving by creating this paper gratitude tree. Use it as a table centerpiece or as a lovely Thanksgiving decoration.
Featured Crafts
Supplies Needed
- Brown cardstock (medium to heavyweight)
- Paper in fall colors (red, yellow, orange, brown)
- Scissors
- Markers
- Glue
STEPS
1Print out the tree template.
Choose from any of these large tree trunk templates. Print out four copies of your chosen template on brown A4 or Letter size cardstock.
2Cut out the top and bottom.
The large tree trunk template consists of a top (with branches) and a bottom. Cut out both pieces. Similarly cut out the other three copies you printed out so that you come up with a total of four tree trunks.
3Glue the top and bottom.
Glue the top of each tree trunk onto the tab area of the bottom piece.
4Score along the middle line.
This step is necessary if you printed out the trees on heavy cardstock. Scoring along the line makes folding easier. Find a scoring tool such as a blunt plastic knife or a spent ballpoint pen. Place the edge of a ruler on the tree's middle line. With the ruler to guide the tool, score along the entire line. Do not score too hard as this may tear the paper. Do this for all four tree trunks.
5Fold each tree in half.
Fold each tree along the middle line.
6Glue the first pair of trees together.
Glue two trees together along one half side, aligning them at the edges.
7Glue the 2nd pair of trees together.
Similarly glue the two remaining trees together. You now have the two sections of your three-dimensional tree trunk.
8Assemble the tree trunk.
Glue both paper tree pairs together, aligning them along the edges. Your three-dimensional paper tree should be able to stand on a flat surface.
9Make the leaves.
You can create your own paper leaves or print out some leaves:
a.) Make your own leaves - fold a square or rectangular piece of paper in half. Cut a half-leaf shape along the folded edge. Unfold to reveal the leaf.
Make about 20 fall leaves from yellow, orange, red, and brown paper. You can go with the same shape for all the leaves or cut a variety of leaf shapes. Match the size of the leaves with that of your tree.
a.) Print out some leaves - print out any of these leaf sets on yellow, red, orange or brown paper. The smallest leaves in each set (first page of the oval-shaped leaves, heart-shaped leaves, star-shaped leaves, maples leaves, and oak leaves) are just about the right size for the large tree trunk. Cut out the leaves.
10Write thankful thoughts.
Write thankful thoughts on the leaves—it can be a single word, a phrase, or an entire sentence.
11Glue the leaves.
Glue the leaves onto the branches of your tree. This thankful tree is a great activity for a meaningful Thanksgiving. Use the tree as a table centerpiece or as a colorful Thanksgiving décor.
More Ideas
Make a Thanksgiving tree picture.
For an easier version, make a Thanksgiving tree picture instead of a three-dimensional tree. Print out any of the tree trunk templates on brown cardstock. Cut out the tree trunk and glue onto a large sheet of construction paper (e.g. 12" x 18"). Cut out paper leaves, write thankful thoughts on them and glue onto the tree branches.
