Beauty is all around us.

This week in my class, I tried a different way of teaching about Thanksgiving.

The usual question asked, “What are you thankful for?”  Most little ones will answer their mom and dad or their brother and sister. The lack of life experiences has yet given a wide range of answers.

I wanted to show instead of telling, so I took them on a walk, and we just stood under a tree.

For a few moments, there was complete silence.

Once one leaf fell, they all went running to catch it. The screaming of the tiny voices broke the silence.

As the wind picked up, the leaves fell faster, and they scattered just as quickly to catch each one.

A leaf falls in my hand, and they are now more determined to catch their own.

Some of the kids gathered up and made large piles of crunchy leaves and just rolled in them. One boy kept saying, “Miss Suzanne, I  love leaves so much.” Their hair was full of twigs and dirt but, they did not care.

Childhood has a way of having us reflect on our moments of gratitude.

I remember the street I grew up on had tons of leaves during the fall. My brothers and I would make huge piles and jump in them without fear of hitting the ground. The colors of the trees on my childhood street were red, pink, yellow, and orange. I can close my eyes and see them so clearly.

As we ended our walk, I asked them how they felt at that moment—the kids smiled.  I wish them a Happy Thanksgiving filled with color, laughter, and all the wonder the world has to show them.

Grateful for today and the beauty around us.