A Banner Thanksgiving

Have your child gather objects from the pantry and the yard, such as dry beans, cinnamon sticks, twigs, and pinecones. You'll also need 8 1/2 x 11 inch colored art paper, glue, scissors, pencil, tape, and raffia, yarn, or ribbon (to hang the garland).

Make a flag for each letter of your message. Fold in the corners on one end of a piece of paper, as shown, so that they meet in the middle.

Fold in the long edges of the paper as if making a paper airplane. Make sharp creases so the flag looks neat and hangs straight.

On the smooth side of each flag, print one letter of your message in pencil (we spelled out "Give Thanks"). Have your child glue objects onto each letter. Let dry.

Cut a length of raffia (or yarn or ribbon) long enough to fit your message. To attach letters, have your child flip over each flag and fold the top portion down over the length of raffia. Tape to secure.

To finish, knot a short length of raffia between each letter. To hang, use suction cups with attached hooks.