1-2-3 Come Make A Thank You Card With Me

As Bob Hope was fond of singing: "Thanks for the memories." The end of the school year is near!  Woo hoo.   I always found myself with a bit of time on my hands for that last week of school, particularly when we had to make up a bunch of snow days.

Making some thank you cards to show your appreciation for staff and others that have helped you through the year, is an educationally relevant activity, plus a great way to teach this valuable life skill. Letting people know you care, especially fits in with those schools who have taken part in a bucket-filling program.  

I find that children are anxious to make something for these individuals, as they have really come to care for them.  With that in mind, I designed the "Thank You! End-Of-The-Year Appreciation Packet", which includes a nice variety of "craftivities" for you to choose from.

The "Thanks a Bunch Bouquet" is a quick, easy and lovely thank you card for a room helper, librarian, secretary, student teacher, or whomever else you’d like to show your appreciation for.  A parent could also make this for the teacher.

Simply print off the vase of flowers, along with a color or black and white copy of your class’s group picture.  Cut the children’s head shots into circles. You or they can glue to the center of the flowers. 

I made enough centers for 30 students and one teacher.  I’d put your photo in the flower that’s fallen, as it stands out.  For a less feminine option, I’ve also included a "Thanks a bunch!" pattern, with a set of  balloons. 

I’ve also written a little thank you poem that generically fits just about anyone.  You can glue this inside the card as well, then sign Love, Mr(s) ______________’s  2015 kindergarten class etc. (You fill in your name, the year and grade.)

If you want this activity to include some writing practice, students can also complete the “Thank you for . . .” writing prompt worksheets or bookmarks that can be glued inside, or on the back of the card as well.   Each child simply writes one sentence. 

This can be done at an independent center, or you can fill in the page as a whole group.  For preschool children, have each child dictate what they’d like to thank that person for and you write it down.

Another option is the Thank you acrostic poem.  Older students can each do one.  I’ve included a completed sample for you to share.  This is a great activity to reinforce adjectives.  A helpful adjective site is: http://adjectivesstarting.com/  

To make things easier, I allow students to write a "sentence" or phrase, if they can’t think of an adjective that starts with that letter; such as "A" = “Always there for us.” or for the letter "Y", “You are great!”

Younger students can do this with you during a whole-group brainstorming session.   Choose children to color in the letters.  This too, is another little something that can be glued inside the card along with the heart that says: "Thank you! Thank you! You're so nice.  Simply had to say it twice."

For another option, I’ve also included large 8x10 letter cards that took me quite awhile to design.  They spell out “Thank you!” .  Break up your children into small groups and have them color their group's letter.  For a truly awesome-looking stained-glass appearance, remind them to color each section a different color.

Glue each letter to a variety of colors of construction paper. Arrange your students in a group.  The front nine children each hold a letter and the exclamation point card, so that they spell “Thank you!”  Take a picture.  Use this photo to glue to the inside, or for the cover, of your thank you card(s).

I also used these letter tiles to design several sizes for a "stained-glass" Thank you” template.  These too can be used as a cover, or an inside page.

If you have the time, why not thank the bus drivers?

Simply run off the bus pattern on yellow construction paper.  Children trim and “hinge” the "grill" to the matching section of the larger bus, so that it flips open to reveal a handwritten message from the child. 

For that finishing touch, add a photo of themselves in the bus seat. I cannot begin to tell you how many of my students' bus drivers LOVED this card.  Theirs is often a thankless job (I certainly couldn't do it!) and they were truly touched.  Some taped them inside the bus!

And now for some FREEBIES.  One of the really quick and easy cards to make in the packet, is the "Thank you 'berry' much for lending a helping hand!" strawberry card.  It's especially "sweet" for secretaries and classroom volunteers. 

Trace one of your student's hands to make the leaves, flip the card up, add that group "Thank you!" photo and have all of your kiddos sign the back.  Click on the link to grab the strawberry thank you card.

Finally, teachers definitely need to be thanked for all they've done throughout the year. 

The "Teachers take a hand, open a mind, and touch a heart" poster, makes a wonderful keepsake card. 

Simply mount it on construction paper and have all of the children sign it, or send the note home to parents and enlist their help. 

They trace their child's hand and jot down a message on it.  You glue the hands around the poster, or inside, as additional pages to a stapled card.  Click on the link for the teacher thank you poster.  If you'd like the entire Appreciation Packet click here.

These simple acts of kindness, go a long way in touching an individual’s heart and making them feel truly appreciated.  I hope you make the time to "pay it forward" today. You just never know how far that "ripple" of joy grows. 

Thanks for visiting. I popped out of bed early because a zillion "want-to-do things" are buzzing through my brain.  Fun, fun, fun in the sun!  These will definitely be taking precedent over the "should-really-dos".

Wishing you a happy day, filled with light-hearted moments and lots of giggles.

"Direction is so much more important than speed.  Many people are going nowhere fast!" -Unknown