The kids will have fun making this Thankful Tree Craft and sharing what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving season. A template for the tree and leaves are included so just print and cut. It is the perfect Thanksgiving craft!

Two Completed Thankful Tree Crafts with leaves laying all around it.

Thanksgiving is great time to teach kids what it means to be thankful. There are so many things to be thankful for in life, and teaching them to acknowledge that is one of the biggest reasons we have Thanksgiving!

This easy thankful tree craft is a great idea to have a specific way for kids to mark things that they are grateful for or include the whole family in this great activity. Whether it is school, friends, family, or their favorite things, kids will love to have a fun way to express their thankfulness.

All you have to do to make this craft is print out the thankfulness tree template and grab a few simple supplies. Then you can make this adorable Thanksgiving craft with little to no headache! The perfect way to say Happy Thanksgiving and make a new family tradition!

This craft, pumpkin playdough, and a turkey paper bag craft are sure to keep them busy for a bit during Thanksgiving break. Make all of the fun fall crafts with kids of all ages!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love this Thankful Tree Craft

This gratitude tree craft is a fabulous keepsake. Just think, mom and dad — years from now you can look back on what your kids were thankful for at their young age. A wonderful way to reminisce!
Not only can you make this at home for personal use, but this easy thanksgiving craft is great for classroom use too. Label them with each child’s name and display in the classroom on a bulletin board or wall for fun fall decorations.
Cutting and glueing are great activities to help refine fine motor skills. Fun craft time with an extra goal in mind!

Overhead Image of the Thankful Tree Craft Supplies

Supplies Needed to make this Gratitude Tree Craft

Brown cardstock – If you don’t have cardstock, you can use construction paper. Just make sure it is brown because it will be used for the trunk of the tree.
Scissors – While adults may need to help with the cutting, using safety scissors is always a good idea if the kids plan to cut anything out.
Thankful tree craft template – Print out this template of a tree to cut out, it’s completely free! If you do not have a printer, you can try to freehand it.
Leaf Template – This template has printable leaves, so print it out, cut the leaves out then trace them on construction paper to make your leaves. If you do not have a printer, you can try to freehand leaves .
Construction paper – For the most fall-themed look, use red, orange, and yellow construction paper to make your colorful leaves. It will look like the leaves on your thankful tree craft have turned to fall colors!
Black marker – Use a permanent or washable black marker to write what the kids are thankful for on each leaf cut-out.
Pencils – Pencils are the best to trace the templates so that you can erase any mistakes. However, you can use any writing utensil.
Glue stick – A simple glue stick is all you need to construct this thankful tree.

Free Templates!

The best part is there are two free printables included in this craft to make it craft easy to make.

The first one is printable leaves. Print them, cut them out and trace them on colored construction paper for your leaves.

The second printable is a grateful tree. Simply print out the template, trace the tree onto brown paper and cut it out!

How to Make this Thankful Tree Craft

Print out the free printable thankful tree and leaf templates and then cut it out. Place the template onto the piece of brown cardstock and then trace it.
Cut out the brown tree trunk and place a thin layer of glue onto the back of the tree. Glue it down onto white construction paper and press down to secure. Allow it to dry for a few minutes.
While the glue on the tree dries, make the thankful leaves!
Print out the template for the fall leaves, then cut them out. Place the cut-outs onto red, yellow and orange construction paper and trace them with a pencil.
Cut out each of the traced leaves and then set them aside.
Have your child write each of the things they are thankful for on each leaf. If your kids are young, you may need to write their words for them!
Glue the leaves onto the tree, and even glue a few to look like they are falling! Make sure to add leaves on different branches to spread them out.
Once dry, hang the thankful tree craft in your favorite area to display!

Print off and cut out the Tree template and trace it on the brown cardstock.

Cut out the tree and glue onto a white piece of Cardstock.

How can I make my thankful tree reusable?

After glueing the tree trunk to the white construction paper and letting it dry, laminate the page. Then, trace the leaves onto construction paper but don’t cut them out.

Laminate the page of leaves, then cut them out. Add velcro dots to the branches of the tree and the other half to the back of each leaf. Then use a dry erase marker to write on each leaf! Now your thankful tree can be used for many years to come!

Pro Tips!

For extra thankfulness fun, you can add a leaf to the tree each day or week leading up to Thanksgiving holiday. Watch the tree grow in gratefulness!
Another great way to do this is make it the perfect activity around the thanksgiving table. Every family member fills out their own paper leaves during thanksgiving dinner! This way the entire family can get in having an attitude of gratitude.
While fall colors make the most “sense”, let those kiddos use their imaginations. Any color of construction paper will make a fun and unique tree with colorful paper leaves!
Add glitter or glitter glue to the leaves and/or trunk of the tree to give your gratitude tree craft extra pizzaz.

Close Up Photo of a completed Tree Craft.

This fun thankful tree craft is so exciting for Thanksgiving! This cute thankful tree has easy steps and a free thankfulness tree template, you can make this craft one of the best thanksgiving decorations.

More Thanksgiving Ideas You’ll Love

Print out some fun Thanksgiving Coloring Pages that are the best easy entertainment for children of all ages.
This Thanksgiving Activities Packet is free! Just print it out and get to having fun.
Put those empty toilet paper rolls to good use and make a Toilet Paper Roll Turkey!
This Pumpkin Pie Craft is so fun to make and perfect for kids to use for imaginative play.