One of my favorite things to do at the end of the year is add to my class memory tree. The end of the year is so bittersweet – saying goodbye to the students you’ve been with all year and getting ready for a new bunch of students to enter your classroom.
I created a class tree at the end of my first year of teaching. First, I painted a simple tree trunk and branches on a large canvas. Then each student placed their fingerprint on the tree as a leaf. I used all green my first year. It is a quick and easy project to do with your class. Finally, when the fingerprints dried, I wrote the students’ names on the leaves.
The next year I picked a new color and repeated the process. I display the tree in my classroom all year and it is a beautiful piece of artwork that holds a special place in my heart. This is a project that you could easily start no matter what point you are at in your teaching career.
It is really neat to see my class memory tree growing. I taught siblings and was able to put their leaves together on the tree. All of the leaves on the tree remind me of the students who have helped me to grow as a teacher and I will forever be thankful for each one of them.