Thanksgiving Activities that Teach Gratitude Through Making
The following is a guest post from Dr. Jacie Maslyk.
Maker Education has been finding its way into classrooms and library spaces for the last 10 years. It is connected to STEM in the hands-on way students can create and design. These are meaningful strategies for developing skills and learning dispositions in students. One important outcome of making is the fostering of empathy and understanding for others. At this time of year, it is important to show gratitude for others and express thanks. We can do this through opportunities to engage in making.
Maker education can be enacted in a lot of ways both at home and in school. Gathering simple materials and offering the time and space to create is something that both parents and teachers can do to foster a creative mindset with kids. Offering hands-on learning activities and projects that will prompt divergent thinking skills and creativity has many benefits for learners. Students can develop their curiosity, build an understanding of tools, and materials, and gain confidence as they engage in maker learning.
As we head into the Thanksgiving season, we can incorporate making into our classrooms and our homes. Creating things related to giving thanks and celebrating Thanksgiving as a holiday can be one way for students and families to work collaboratively on projects that are both fun and meaningful. Here are a few ideas to include maker learning as a way to give thanks.
Make a Gratitude Box
The gratitude box is similar to a gratitude journal, as it can collect sentiments of thankfulness or even small items or keepsakes. Using a shoebox or other small box, students can decorate with paint or stickers. Then, learners can write or draw on index cards or small pieces of paper things they are grateful for. This can be a great creative project but also one of reflection as kids place each piece inside the box. Students can revisit their cards at the end of the Thanksgiving season and repurpose them to build a gratitude tower.
Personalize Thanksgiving Dinner
Kids can make the dinner table personalized by creating a variety of items for mealtime. Placemats, name cards, and other decorative items can get kids in a maker mood. Napkin rings or centerpieces can be made from recycled materials like cardboard, fabric scraps, or paper. These additions to your family celebration don’t have to cost any money, rather they can be an inexpensive way for family members to connect and engage in creativity together.
Extend Thankfulness
Expressing thanks to our family and friends can be extended to others during the holiday season through making. Things that we design and create can be used to serve others. When we make something it might be helpful to someone else, solve a problem for them or it might simply brighten their day. Think about all of the potential community groups and organizations where you might share a token of gratitude.
Make homemade greeting cards and say “thank you” to someone in your life. Send the card to them or hand-deliver it to express your gratitude.
Create holiday decorations like paintings, sculptures, or wall art for nursing home patients.
Contact your local animal shelter and find out if they are accepting games and enrichment for pets. Egg carton cat toys, no-sew blankets, toilet paper roll dog treats are all things that can be made at home or school and donated to local organizations.
These are all ways to offer opportunities for making while also extending kindness and thanks to others. Building empathy in our schools is an important responsibility. When paired with making, it can also be a powerful way for students to get involved in their community and give back to others.
Maker Mentors
In my book Unlock Creativity, I share the idea of establishing peer mentors for students. For example, you might connect your class of 1st graders with older mentors in 4th or 5th grade. By creating these connections among students, not only are you building communication and collaboration skills, but you are also giving students the opportunity to learn from one another.
Use the idea of maker mentors (or whatever creative name you’d like to give it) and suggest a Thanksgiving maker project. The older students can guide the younger students in these maker activities. What types of things can the student mentors engage in with their mentees?
Design a book (physical or digital) to share the history of Thanksgiving. Then read aloud the book to the younger students and provide the book as a gift when finished.
Make a paper circuit using copper tape, coin cell batteries, and LED lights to make a Thanksgiving table topper
Create a Thanksgiving-themed engineering design challenge. Use simple directions and a few materials and encourage students to meet the challenge together.
Thanksgiving is a great time to try some hands-on maker learning at home or at school. Students at school? Try some of these activities prior to the holiday break. This will keep students engaged while getting them to think creatively. Students at home? Maker learning can happen at home with family or friends during the time off from school.
For more ideas on maker education, check out my blog at Creativity in the Making.
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