Craft · Colouring · Talking
Handprint shelter tree
Everyone adds a paper handprint leaf to one big tree for the wall, showing how we all shelter one another.
- 30 minutes
- Whole class, Small group
- Ages 5–7, Ages 7–9
- Classroom or at home
- Printable: planning sheet
What to do
- An adult cuts a big tree trunk and branches from brown paper and puts it on the wall.
- Each child draws round their hand on coloured paper and cuts it out, with help if needed.
- On their hand leaf, each child draws or writes one way they help someone, or someone who helps them.
- Everyone sticks their leaf on the tree, one at a time, saying what is on it.
- Read the saying and its meaning beside the finished tree: we live in one another's shelter.
Questions to talk about
- How many hands did it take to make the tree?
- What would the tree look like with only one leaf?
You will need
- Green, yellow and orange paper
- Pencils and child-safe scissors
- A large sheet of brown paper for the trunk
- Glue or sticky tack
Make it fit
Simpler: The adult draws round the hands and writes the words the child says.
More of a stretch: Add a second colour of leaf for kind things you notice other people doing over the week.
Printables
The instructions card is for the adult running the activity; the worksheet is for the children. Prints on A4 or US Letter at 100% / actual size; colour is optional.
The planning sheet
Handprint shelter tree
Name
Draw round your hand in the big box. Then cut it out to make a leaf for the tree.
The instructions card
How to run it · Craft · Colouring · Talking
Handprint shelter tree
Everyone adds a paper handprint leaf to one big tree for the wall, showing how we all shelter one another.
30 minutesWhole class, Small groupAges 5–7, Ages 7–9
What to do
- An adult cuts a big tree trunk and branches from brown paper and puts it on the wall.
- Each child draws round their hand on coloured paper and cuts it out, with help if needed.
- On their hand leaf, each child draws or writes one way they help someone, or someone who helps them.
- Everyone sticks their leaf on the tree, one at a time, saying what is on it.
- Read the saying and its meaning beside the finished tree: we live in one another's shelter.
You will need
- Green, yellow and orange paper
- Pencils and child-safe scissors
- A large sheet of brown paper for the trunk
- Glue or sticky tack
Talk about
- How many hands did it take to make the tree?
- What would the tree look like with only one leaf?
Make it fit
Simpler: The adult draws round the hands and writes the words the child says.
Stretch: Add a second colour of leaf for kind things you notice other people doing over the week.
Goes with the printable planning sheet.