Before the Thanksgiving break, our PreK students in Willow connected their learning to the beauty of nature and the spirit of the holiday.
Students created gratitude sticks using materials collected from the outdoor classroom. They decorated them with paint, wrapped them with colorful pipe cleaners, and added a feather. During their Reflection meeting, students held their sticks and shared what they were thankful for: “This is my Padres Stick and I’m thankful for the Padres, mommy, and my daddy,” “Playing soccer and my family,” and “My mom and my dad and the whole family.” The children also made Thankful necklaces, giving them another tangible way to express gratitude.
One of the highlights was their weekly journaling. In the spirit of the season, students drew the things that made them happy and thankful, and glued their Thankful Cards into their notebooks, creating a keepsake. The result was beautiful pages filled with drawings and thoughtful messages. Through this activity, our Willow friends are learning to observe, reflect, and communicate their thoughts and feelings in meaningful ways. This approach aligns with the Reggio Emilia principles that value children as capable and thoughtful learners.