I Am Thankful for... Sunflower Paper Plate Craft Keepsake

Inspire preschoolers to express gratitude this holiday season with this sunflower paper plate craft. Each petal represents something they’re thankful for.

It is important that we teach our young children to be thankful for what they have. Whether it’s a material item, a family member, or the sunshine up above, when we take a moment to think about what we have it’s harder to be upset about what we don’t have.

This simple flower craft allows your preschoolers to create a visible list of things that are thankful for. You could create this craft in one sitting. Or, you could prep the craft at the beginning of November, and have your preschooler add a petal a day throughout in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Sunflower Paper Plate Craft

No matter how you decide to present this craft to your preschoolers, they’re going to LOVE having it on display thoughout the holiday season.

What You’ll Need

• 7 Inch Yellow Paper Plate (or color/paint a white paper plate)

• Yellow & Brown Scrapbook Paper

• Alphabet Stickers (Any Color)

• Wide Green Craft Stick

• Green Felt Leaf

• Hot Glue or Elmer’s Glue

• Black Marker

What You’ll Do

Cut twelve 3-inch tear drop shape petals from the yellow scrapbook paper. I used a template that I drew and cut out, so all the petals would be more uniform. If you don’t have scrapbook paper on hand, you could use yellow cardstock or construction paper.

With the brown paper, cut out a 5-inch circle and glue it into the inner circle of the paper plate. Then, apply alphabet stickers to the inner brown circle to spell out I’m Thankful For.

Now, help your preschoolers write twelve things they are thankful for on each petal. Many preschoolers will need you to help them write out these words, but many older children can do this step on their own.

Glue the petals around the outside of the plate with the tip end pointing outward.

Glue the felt leaf to a craft stick. If you don’t have a felt leaf, you could cut one out of paper the same way you did the flower petals. Now, glue the stick to the back of the paper plate.

This is a fun kids craft to make for Thanksgiving! Have Fun!

More Ways to Express Gratitude

Another fun way for preschoolers to express their gratitude is with a printable Thanksgiving Gratitude Journal for Kids.

A few years ago, I created a delightful gratitude journal that encourages your kids to draw and write about the things they’re thankful for. Things in their house and in nature. Fond memories and favorite friends.

They’re are fifteen pages on which they can record their gratitude this holiday season. I think it would be fun to print them out year after year and record your preschooler’s childhood thoughts each year. What a fun thing to look back on each year as you start a new kids gratitude journal.