JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

Introduction:

Another name for the Torah, the most special book in Judaism, is the "Tree of Life". In this activity, students can create a different type of a Tree of Life with each of them being represented by his/her own individual tree.

This is the time when leaves, in certain regions, are turning colors and falling to the ground. Soon the trees will be bare so now is the time to take advantage of this natural art form. Create these child-sized trees in your classroom using leaves the students have collected or cutout leaf shapes.

Materials

Leaves (collected by students) or colorful leaves made out of construction paper
Large Sheets of Paper, preferably from a roll of paper.
Rolls of newsprint, which can be purchased inexpensively from your local newspaper are perfect for this activity. (The sheets need to be big enough for the children to lie down on.)
Colored Pencils, Oil Pastels, crayons, etc.
Collage materials (Yarn, photographs, etc.)
Glue
(Optional)Laminating machine or contact paper

Directions:

Have each student lie down on the paper and place his/her arms in a bent position or in a "V" shape above his/her head (to look like branches) and keep his her/ legs together (to look like a tree trunk).
Draw an outline around each student, including the body (from the waist up or from the feet up depending on the size of the child) and the arms without the head.
Have students decorate their "Trees of Life" with drawings, pictures, yarn, collage materials, etc.. Have them include pictures and drawings of things that have special meaning to them.
Have students tape or glue leaves (real or cutout) on the tree. Each leaf could contain a drawing of something that the child likes to do, eat, etc. or the names of people (mom, dad, siblings, pets, etc.) that are important in the child's life.
Note: When using real leaves, you can protect each leaf by laminating it or covering the leaf with clear contact paper.
Put the children's names and ages on their trees. Hang the trees throughout the classroom and admire the students' creations!

Related Discussion Topics:

Let students know that another name for the Torah, the most special book in Judaism, is the Tree of Life. Tell them that they have just made a different type of a Tree of Life, with each of them creating his/her own special tree.
Have students discuss their trees and the items that they decided to include in their special tree.
Talk to students about how many things we get from trees (fruit, nuts, wood for building, a place where birds and squirrels can nest, cool shade in the summer, etc.).