Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year because of the focus on celebrating gratitude. It’s amazing what a simple refocus of our eyes can do, isn’t it? What a gift it is to shout the blessings we have been given on a daily basis! Why is it that I have such a hard time remembering this powerful truth? So often I am quick to focus on the things I don’t have and my heart shifts from praise and thanksgiving to grumbling and complaining. I’m slowly learning that there is a true miracle that happens we we take time to speak, write down, and reflect on our blessings. Creating a Chalkboard Thankful Tree has been the best visual reminder and has quickly become one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. I can’t wait to share it with you today!

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. Psalm 100:4

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Large Chalkboard
• Chalk
• Printed Thankful Banner (FREE download below)
• Leaf Template (FREE download below)
• Cardstock (In the colors of your choice)
• Twine or String
• Hole Punch
• Scissors
• Washi Tape

How to Make a Chalkboard Thankful Tree:

1. Use chalk to draw a tree on your chalkboard.
2. Print the Thankful Banner onto white cardstock and cut out the banner pieces with scissors.
3. Use a hole punch to punch two holes in the top two corners of each banner piece.
4. String twine or ribbon through the holes and hang the banner up with washi tape.
5. Print the leaf template onto cardstock in the color(s) of your choice.
6. Use scissors to cut around the leaves.
7. Write what you are thankful for on the leaves and use washi tape to add them to your tree each day.

There is something so powerful about the visual reminder of all we have to be thankful for. I can’t wait to see all of the leaves on our tree at the end of the month!

Be sure to download the FREE Thankful Banner and Leaf Templates by clicking the button below:

This is our families third year putting together a thankful tree, but this year has already become my favorite because of how eager Bridgett is to participate. It’s been so fun to ask her what she is thankful for each and every day. Her answers are so simple, yet profound. I have already been reminded about the power of looking at life through the lens of a child. There is so much wonder and awe in her eyes as she describes what she is thankful for. She is showing me day by day that there are so many simple things in our life that are truly incredible. What a gift!

So that we would be reminded to do this every day I put the cut out leaves, a pen, and washi tape in a small berry basket on our dining room table. Each morning or evening we talk about what we are thankful for, write or draw them on the leaves, and add them to the tree.

We adore our Chalkboard Thankful Tree! I’m almost tempted to leave it up year round. If you don’t have a chalkboard, you could also easily create a tree with construction paper or brown paper grocery bags.

No matter how you choose to make your thankful tree, I know you will be blessed by the act of writing down what you are thankful for. There’s so much power in speaking, writing, and focusing our eyes on the many blessings we have. I hope you and your family enjoy connecting and celebrating together!

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