Preparations for our celebration of gratitude started last week as each class brainstormed ideas of what they could for another classroom. In the K-1 class they began with the question: What is it to be thankful? Children said, “It’s when you love people.” “It’s when you say thank you for all that people do for you.” “It’s when you say ideas out loud at the table about what you’re thankful for.”
Each class was assigned another class to show kindness toward in the days before Thanksgiving. The K-1 students came up with this list of ideas:
- make a box of notes of what we’re thankful for about each student
- make crafts with popsicle sticks and ribbons
- give them blobs or money
- invite them to a party
- sing a song for them
- make friendship bracelets or necklaces
- draw a picture of their favorite animals
- go around a circle and give them hugs
One child even suggested, “You could fall in love with someone in that class, because I did!” After much consideration and a vote, they decided on a handcrafted gift and a song.
As the week evolves, gifts are being delivered. One of our older classes read books and gave back rubs to their younger friends. Two-year-olds delivered laminated book marks to their assigned class. A preschool class made a jar of affirmations that their older friends could use for suggested activities to start their days in December. A couple groups painted rocks for their buddies with pictures of insects and their names. Balloons were gifted to a toddler class, and a preschool class gave and received materials for sensory experiences.
At the gratitude circle on Wednesday, before our delicious feast, each class will tell what they received. Then we’ll all move outside, weather permitting, to enjoy the fruits of our cooking labors this week. We hope you can all join us for this heartfelt celebration, as there is much to be grateful for in this Seed community.
I leave you with these words from David Whyte:
“Gratitude is the understanding that many millions of things come together and live together and mesh together and breathe together in order for us to take even one more breath of air, that the underlying gift of life and incarnation as a living, participating human being is privilege, that we are part of something, rather than nothing.”