Thankful. {In a "Platefull"}

Thanksgiving!  One of my absolute FAVORITE times of the year, especially as a teacher!  I am SUPER PUMPED about my annual Thankful Platefull Projects!  I have been doing these for about 5 years now, and each year, they just get better and better.  {And, yes, platefull is totally another made up word.  I'll just call it a "Cooley-ism."}  Anyway, I love hearing my sweet little ones share everything that they are most thankful for each year!  First, I have my students make a list of people and other things they are thankful for.  After that, they plan their plates {in class} on a planning page.  I send home the project notes with a sturdy plate, and wait anxiously for the due date!  Easy!  

{Check out my Thankful Platefull Project Packet on TpT!
It includes everything you will need to spread the Thanksgiving cheer this season!}

Below is a photo of my "platefull"!  I used clear plastic plates this year, and I think I will continue!  They look so pretty, and it is easy to tape items to the plate and remove them.  I shared my plate with my first graders when I introduced our project.  This year  I am SO thankful.  I feel blessed beyond measure!  God has truly blessed our family with so many gifts. 

My "platefull" of thankful:  I am thankful for all kinds of delicious food {the fork}, pretty things like jewelry and clothes {bracelet}, my sweet Emma, my husband Jon, my new home, great music, LOVE, my pug Teddy, flowers, and teaching {the apple}.  

I got really excited and went ahead and put up "Our Thankful Platefull Projects" header!  One adorable project was turned in early!!!  So, there it is, waiting for more plates to join it!

I want to create a classroom community in which we are giving of ourselves, and I want to make sure we are all spreading the joy of Thanksgiving this season.  I added little "Thankful" notes to our writing station, explaining to my students that their little notes can make a BIG difference in someone's life!  We should all take the time to tell others just how much they mean to us! I put 50 letters in the basket the first day. And they were ALL GONE.  The kids couldn't wait to give their notes to our Principal, specials teachers, friends, family, and Kindergarten teachers.  I got 2 the first day.  Here is one of them:

{What a sweet guy!}