Thanksgiving Crafts

Been a while! So the past four years I've been doing this Thanksgiving crafts thing at Jack and Kate's elementary school. I honestly don't remember how I got started, I have probably written about it before but am not going to look it up. Basically a week before the holiday I lead an after school program where 25 or so kids make turkeys out of paper plates and random food items.

The number gradually crept up to 35 over the course of the week through late additions who I couldn't say no to. I spent some time the last couple of days gathering the supplies and cutting out turkey components in construction paper. Fretted about the various things I could forget, or not having enough apples or paper bags, or whatnot.

But 2:30 today came, and I got everything together and went in. Rounded up all the kids in front of the auditorium. Including Kate who was doing it and Jack who was helping out with a friend of his. Wisely, I had it in a classroom instead of the gym this year, so fewer distractions for them.

The din of kids was, uh, incredible. The classroom teacher, old hat at this, quieted them all with a few stern words. And then I spoke loudly, something like, "Who wants to make an apple and marshmallow turkey?" And a big cheer went up and we started in.

Kids were pretty good. Some put their own spin on the turkeys - "Can I put the marshmallows on before the raisins?" "Sure!" - which was nice to see. Some made toothpick legs, some gave more feathers, some less. I believe some just ate a whole lot of marshmallows and candy corns, another part of the crafts.

But the kids generally worked together and helped each other. They took pride in their little creations. Kate kept showing me hers proudly. Jack and his friend helped the littler kids. One girl asked for help all the time. Another kid kept eating stuff and asking for more. I had extra! Ha! Everyone had fun.

It was kind of chaos and the hour ticked by slowly, but then it was over, one of the Moms helping me got the all together for a photo op and some cleanup, and it was time to go home. Kate had me carefully bring her apple for her. Jack ate his.

A nice activity to do with the kids. I can't imagine doing it all of the time, but I'm glad I can do it some of it.