While we finished setting up our sukkah and getting dinner on the table, I wanted a simple but engaging activity the kids could work on independently and these Harvest Tree Centerpieces were the perfect choice! They are quick and easy to set up, entertaining for the kids, and a great practice for fine motor skills while ending up a sweet decoration for your sukkah table. Warning: if your kiddo adds lots of beads the poor tree trunk won’t be strong enough to hold up the branches. This wasn’t a big deal for us, we just propped it up with one of the mini pumpkins on our table.
What You’ll Need
- 4 brown pipe cleaners
- Pony beads
- Tape
Putting It Together
- Take your 4 brown pipe cleaners and start twisting them together starting a couple inches from the bottom. Twist for a few inches, leaving 5-6 inches untwisted.
- Spread out the 4 strands on the bottom and flatten them so they are perpendicular to the twisted “trunk.”
- Spread out the 4 strands on the top to give room for beading.
- Invite your child to add beads to the “branches” at the top.
- If needed, tape the base to your table keep it from toppling over.
- Enjoy looking at the sweet Harvest Tree Centerpieces and perhaps discuss the significance of harvest to Sukkot (yep, it’s a harvest festival and time for thanksgiving for all the bountiful harvest we receive!). There are multiple sweet PJ Library books that showcase harvest foods that you could pair with this activity.
Finished & Loving It!
I prepped the pipe cleaner trees for my kiddos before inviting them to bead. But your kids might totally be into this step as well. I loved that it was fast and easy for me to put together, set out on the sukkah table, invite the kids over, then continue finishing the sukkah set up and bringing out dinner while the kids happily beaded.
As you know, my kids love beading! I try to come up with different variations so they can continue to enjoy this activity but it doesn’t feel repetitive.
These Harvest Tree Centerpieces actually had multiple challenges that other beading might not so it was a great variation and also a challenge. The tree footings and branches can get in the way so it takes coordination to move them around and continue beading. If you add a lot of beads the weight of the beads also unbalances the tree so the kids have to compensate for that. These are all great challenges to encourage them to think strategically and creatively.
I love how each Harvest Tree Centerpiece turned out a bit different. One of my kiddos wanted it to look more authentic and used fall colors. Another spaced out their beads. And some just liked to pile them on!
It was also special that the kids could work on this activity while the sukkah was built around them. When they finished, and the sukkah was finished being built, we taped them to the tablecloth and were able to eat dinner while seeing their beautiful creations right in front of them. They felt proud to have contributed to the decorations and I loved their sense of accomplishment and fun!
We have a whole page dedicated to Sukkot, our Sukkot Hub. Check it out! It includes some of the Sukkot activities we plan to do this year, as well as the activities we’ve done in previous years.
And don’t forget our Sukkot Montessori-Style 3 Part Cards, a wonderful way to introduce Sukkot! And, now we also have all 13 Jewish holidays bundled together in A Year of Jewish Holidays 3 Part Cards.
The following sites are amazing resources for learning more about this holiday:
Chag Sameach!
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