I love celebrating and creating holiday traditions with my family. Last year, I created a DIY Advent Calendar and this year I wanted to do something similar. This is a lovely November countdown thankful tree for children and adults of all ages to enjoy. Each calendar tag is a Bible promise that can be read for that day of the month. Reading these promises together as a family is uplifting and reminds us to be thankful.
Materials Needed for the Thankful Tree
- One or two tree branches
- Ceramic Pot
- Small Rocks
- Twine
- Scissors and Magic Marker
- November Calendar Printable
- Thankful Tree Bible Promises Printable (see below)
- Hole Puncher
- Laminator (optional)
First of all, I laminated (optional) and cut out each square of the November Calendar printable found on the Counting Coconuts blog. Next, Little Bee cut short pieces of twine to loop through each punched hole on the cards. I tied a knot in the loop. These activities are wonderful for developing fine motor skills with a younger child. Older children can tie the loop themselves.
I wrote a few words of a Bible promise on the back of each card with the Bible verse as a reference. That way the older child can read the words and it will spark interest to want to learn what the remainder of the text says in the Bible. I created a printable for you that includes all the Bible promises that are hanging on our November Thankful Tree.
Thankful Tree Bible Promises Printable
The tree branch stands up straight because I filled the clay pot with small rocks. This created a sturdy base for our Thankful Tree - see the photo below.
Little Bee enjoyed hanging all the cards on the thankful tree - one by one.
The Bible promise thankful tree stands next to our worship shelves. We enjoy using these shelves for our worship time in the mornings. Please visit, Montessori Inspired Worship Shelves to learn more about how we incorporate these hands-on activities into our learning.
Each morning in November, I will ask Little Bee to find the next Bible promise for that day. Each card has a number on it for the days of November. Little Bee found day number four this morning and we read a promise for worship time about the lilies of the field.
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:28-33
You may also enjoy our Autumn activities for Toddlers -
8 Pumpkin Activities for Toddlers
Montessori Inspired Autumn Sensory Play
Follow Mama's Happy Hive's board Autumn Learn & Play on Pinterest.
Vanessa, I just fell in love with this beautiful idea. I know that little Bee is greatly enjoying and benefiting from doing this! I really like the idea of the “tree” being big and it decorates the room! I am always looking for ideas like this from nature and the heart. My grandchildren’s families are Buddhist and Jewish, but the sayings on the cards can be easily changed to adapt to the preferred religious tradition of every family. They could even be used in a classroom setting with nature based sayings. LOVE IT!
I just love this post. We did something similar when our kids were little, but your tree is much more appealing to the eye. I love how your son helped with everything.
Oh wow! I think we did thing a loong time ago. It was fun! How wonderful it is to have in inside your home!