Tu BiShvat, the Jewish “New Year for Trees,” is a wonderful time to connect with nature and appreciate the vital role trees play in our lives. Our Group 2 students celebrated this special holiday by getting creative and constructing their own paper trees!
This hands-on project not only taught them about the different parts of a tree but also fostered a love for the environment.
We transformed recycled paper towel rolls into the trunks of our trees, giving these everyday materials a new life. Pipe cleaners became the branches, reaching out and providing a framework for colorful beads that added a vibrant touch. Each student carefully threaded the beads onto the pipe cleaners, adding their own unique flair to their tree’s design.
To Complete the Arboreal Masterpieces
We cut the bottom of the paper rolls to resemble roots, anchoring the trees to paper plate “ground.” Green paper, artfully torn and arranged, became the grassy landscape surrounding each tree, and cheerful foam flowers added a burst of spring color.
This engaging project spanned two days, allowing the children ample time to explore their creativity and develop their fine motor skills.
How We Brought Our Paper Trees to Life
- Prepare the Trunks: Collect paper towel rolls and use a hole punch to create 4-5 holes on one side of each roll.
- Branching Out: Let the children thread pipe cleaners through the holes to form the branches of the trees.
- Adding Color: Provide a variety of colorful beads and let the children decorate the branches.
- Rooting the Trees: Cut the opposite end of each paper roll to create the appearance of roots.
- Planting the Trees: Glue or staple each “trunk” to a paper plate.
- Creating the Landscape: Have the children glue pieces of green paper around the base of the tree to represent grass.
- Blooming Beauty: Decorate the “grass” with foam flowers for a touch of springtime.
The students were absolutely thrilled to see their finished trees, resembling real trees and celebrating the spirit of Tu BiShvat. The project was a resounding success, combining learning, creativity, and a love for nature. We’re so proud of our budding artists and their beautiful paper trees!