DIY November Thankful Tree
Foster thankfulness in your children every day in November with a thankful tree! This DIY craft will inspire gratitude, and can be repeated year after year.
Thankful Tree: How it Works
Everyday in November, ask your kids what they are thankful for, and write it on a leaf. Place the leaf on the branches at the top of the tree. At the end of the month you’ll have a tree full of thankful thoughts.
Projects like this can be intimidating, especially if you feel like you are getting a “late” start. Please remember that the benefits of expressing thankfulness will come regardless of if you start on November 1st or the 21st. It is also okay if you miss a day.
Thankfulness is the goal. Not perfectionism.
This post contains affiliate links.
Supplies Needed
- Brown Paper – You can use butcher paper or bulletin board paper. I bought 6 feet of bulletin board paper from my local educational supply store. My tree is really big. I could have gotten away with 4 feet.
- Construction Paper – I explain more of how I created the leaves below.
- Tape – Get something that is safe to use on your painted walls! I bought Mavalus tape (used for classrooms). You could also use painter’s tape.
- Dry Erase Marker – I used this for my laminated leaves, but any marker would do if you don’t laminate your leaves.
How to Make a Thankful Tree
Watch this video of me creating our thankful tree on Instagram.
The Tree:
I drew my tree free hand with a pencil. It was helpful to draw it on the back side of the bulletin board paper so that when I adjusted the drawing, none of the pencil marks were visible on the front of the tree.
Make sure your tree has a solid trunk and plenty of branches.
If you would like some inspiration, here is a helpful tutorial on how to draw a tree without leaves.
The Thankful Tree Leaves:
I made 1 leaf for each day in November, which has 30 days. When I originally made my first thankful tree, I only had 2 kids. I made one set of leaves for each of my children, for a total of 60 leaves.
Since then, we have added 1 more to our family, but we still only have 60 leaves. Without fail, we end up missing days – so the 60 leaves always feels like enough.
I originally laminated my leaves so I could use them again and again each year. Years later, I am really glad I made that choice. It is a little annoying to clean off the writing every year, but in the end it is worth it.
I cut out different colors and shapes of leaves using an Ellison Die Cut machine at the educational supply store. I brought my own paper from home. They didn’t charge me to use the machine, but asked for a donation. Check your library to see if they have one for the public to use. My mom’s library does!
If you don’t have access to a die cut machine, you could cut them out free hand (here is a simple tutorial) or order this pack of 120 fall leaf cutouts.
Here is where the all the teachers reading are going to laugh at me…
I had no idea what I was doing with the laminating and the die cut machine. I was planning on cutting out all the leaves, laminating them, and then cutting them out again. Thankfully, the owner of the store explained to me how much easier it would be to laminate my sheets and then cut out the leaves. What a time saver!
I made my leaves at an educational supply store, but here are some products that will help you accomplish the same thing at home:
It isn’t too late to create a thankful tree in your home for this month! If you do, I would love to hear some of the things your kids are thankful.
When I came across Bargain Bound’s Thankful Tree, I knew right away it was something I wanted to try. I’m thankful for the inspiration!
More Fall Inspiration:
- Our Festive Fall Bucket List
- Pumpkin Painting Party
- How to Cook an Amazingly Moist Turkey
- Best Homemade Pumpkin Spiced Latte Recipe
What are other ways your family has expressed gratitude in November?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may receive compensation based off of your purchase.
Yes, I was hoping you didn’t cut them out before laminating them : ) I LOVE THIS IDEA! I hope Grace loves it too! Good work Mom!
Do you ever have problems with laminated pieces peeling?
When she was a teen, my niece bought a white tablecloth and thin colored markers. Each year we all write one thing we are thankful for. Mine have ranged from football to having my son home for Thanksgiving to food. It’s funny to see the girls’ husbands read the years the girls were thankful for their former boyfriends! 🙂
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