Hello Gardeners!
With the new year upon us, there is no better time to reflect on the last 12 months - reflect on the triumphs, the disappointments, the struggles, and the friendships. As you may know, tree rings tell us a lot about the life of a tree - how old it is, the conditions it's lived through, and the health of the tree. Today, we have a great craft that allows us to draw the tree rings of our lifetime! Scroll down to learn more!
We have highlighted a few activities to help you reflect on the past year, while starting off the new one with positivity and an open mind!
Draw a Reflective Self-Portrait. Ask your students to draw a current self-portrait. Maybe provide them with mirrors so that they can really look at themselves - look at how they've physically changed over the past year and reflect on the non-physical changes.
Write a 2-part journal entry. The first entry reflecting on the past year and the second entry setting intentions for the next. Write about the things you tried, the goals you accomplished, or maybe the ones you still are working to accomplish. Be gentle with yourself and remember, it's a process. Celebrate the accomplishments and commit yourself to working on what's left.
Do our Reflective Tree Ring craft! Ask you students to draw tree rings - have them draw the same amount of rings as their age. Color each ring to distinguish each year you've been alive and inside of the rings, write some of your biggest, most memorable flowers from the last year.
Look at the contents of your toolbox. What tools have you realized need to be in your toolbox? How do you keep your garden healthy? It's so important to check in with yourself and ask these questions!
Take some time to grow a Gratitude Garden! On each flower you make, write a flower from the past year. Place all of your flowers together so you can appreciate and admire them.