The Wishing Tree
By Caroline Wyman
Objective: The students will be able to think of a special wish for themselves or for someone else and write it on their handprint. Grades k-3
Initiation: Go online with your class to http://www.wishingtree.org.uk a great website that gives examples of all kinds of wishes that makes up a huge multi-colored tree that travels all around for people to add their wishes to. Have a discussion about this tree and how it might help our world.
Development: After a discussion about the website, tell your students that they will be developing their own wishing tree, but they will be making their tree into a beautiful Christmas tree for the holidays. Using green paper, pair the students up so that they can help each other trace each other's hands, depending on their skill level. Then have each student write their wish on their own hand that they cut out. The wish can be their own for themselves, or they can make a wish for someone else. They then can decorate their hand using glitter, paints, gems...whatever sparkles, being careful not to decorate on top of their wish. Collect all of the hands and carefully glue or staple, on a bulletin board, or some other large sheet of paper, arrange the hands facing downward into a tree shape. The hands will begin to look like leaves and branches. If making the hands into a Christmas tree, which is optional, put a big gold star on the top of the tree.
Closure: Have your students gather around the tree to read each others wishes.
Materials: Computer, green paper, sparkle decorations, glue.
Time: 30-40min.
Caroline Wyman has a degree in Sociology and a Masters in Elementary Education and is the administrator for TeacherNet.com.