Giving thanks and remembering to express gratitude are good ideas all year, but in the fall we focus on those ideas even more. And what better way to keep track of those things than with a little journal shaped like an ear of harvest corn!

Kids often love making little books, so this is a fun project for individuals at your house or as a classroom activity. But it’s also a great addition to your Thanksgiving table.

Start thinking about what you’re thankful for as you pull out your crafting supplies!

• Cardstock
• Paper
• Raffia
• Scissors
• Stapler (optional but helpful)
• Hole Punch
• Printable gratitude books

Step 1
Print the Harvest Corn Gratitude Book cover pieces on cardstock. One page has kawaii faces on the corn and the other says “I’m thankful for…”

Cut out the pieces.

Step 2
Print the last page of the Harvest Corn Gratitude Book PDF on regular paper. Print one page for every two books you want to make.

To save time and cut several pages at once, staple 3 plain pieces of paper behind the printed piece. Staple several places around the page and near the cutting lines. Stapling the pages is optional, but it helps hold the layers together as you cut through all of them at once.

Cut out the corn-shaped ovals through all the layers. Stack two sets together so you have 8 pages ready for a gratitude book.

Step 3
Punch a hole in one end of the pages. The whole should be at least 1/4″ from the end.

Punch a hole at one end of the front and back cover pieces. Use the pages as a guide for the cover so they match up when you assemble the book.

Step 4
Cut 3 pieces of raffia that each measure about 15 inches long. Hold them together and fold them in half.

Sandwich the pages between the front and back cover of the book with the holes lined up. Push the folded end of the rafia through the holes in the book.

Pull the other end of the rafia through the folded loop. Tighten up this knot so it fits close to the pages. Trim the ends of the rafia if you need to even them out or if you want them a little shorter.

All that’s left to do now is start filling the pages with the things you’re thankful for. You can write out a list or draw pictures. You could even have friends and family sign your book to show that you’re thankful for them!

Want to use these little journals as part of your Thanksgiving celebration? Make a book for every guest and place them on the table settings, then let them add the things they’re thankful for throughout the meal. (Be sure to have a few pretty colored pencils at the table too!)

When everyone finishes eating, have each person share their favorite thing they wrote down. You can also make a game of it by seeing who wrote down some of the same things or who wrote down something no one else did!

When everyone goes home, they can take their Harvest Corn Gratitude Book with them. It’s a way to remember the things they’re thankful for, as well as another year gathered around the table.

Happy crafting!