This Thanksgiving handprint tree is a great way to teach kids about being thankful. It helps them to realize how blessed they really are!

Why this project works

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Way back in 2001 my kids and I made this handprint Thanksgiving tree. It was a big hit with the rest of the family as they arrived for our holiday festivities. That was a long time ago, and my kids are all grown now, but it’s still a fond holiday memory!

Handprint crafts make great keepsakes. When kids grow up, it’s fun for them to look back on these projects and see how small their handprints were!

Helpful Project Information:

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• Age Level: 2 and up
• Mess Factor: Low
• Level of Difficulty: Medium
• Time to Complete: less than 20 minutes
• Cost Estimate: Less than $1.00 each

Craft supplies you will need

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How to Make a Thanksgiving Handprint Tree

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These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

1. Trace children’s hands on sheets of red, orange, green, and yellow construction paper.

2. Have kids write what they are thankful for on one side, and write their names and the year on the backside.

3. Cut the tree from brown paper using the template. Use a glue stick to attach the tree to your board.

4. Use a glue stick to attach the hands to the tree.

5. Use a piece of yellow construction paper as a border and a smaller piece of white paper glued on top of it, then write your family’s surname and “Kid’s Thanksgiving Tree” (i.e. Formaro Kid’s Thanksgiving Tree) with a black marker.

6. Attach it to the top of the bulletin board with a glue stick.

Expert Crafting Tips

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• In our original board (pictured below), we used a cork board. The border of the bulletin board can be painted with brown paint if you like.
• If you choose to grab a highly used cork board, you can cover the cork with plain white paper to cover up all the thumbtack holes.
• If you are using a plain cork board, use thumbtacks to attach the tree.

Be sure to display your Thanksgiving Handprint Tree somewhere that everyone can see! It’s a cute addition to your entryway or fireplace mantle as well.

Below is the original photo from 2001 and another photo from the second tree made in 2006. We’ve had new photos taken so that you can see them better!

2001

2006

More Tree Crafts

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• Thankful Tree (more appropriate for older kids and teens)
• Fall Magazine Tree
• Paper Bag Tree
• Four Seasons Felt Board

Be sure to print out our free Thanksgiving word scramble too!

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This post originally appeared on this blog on Oct 31, 2010 and has since been updated with new photos and crafting tips.