ISSUE #26 | NO VEMBER 2023
GIVING THANKS! With a big helping of gratitude for everyone!
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04 WHAT IS GRATITUDE? 06 A GUIDED GRATITUDE PRACTICE 06 MAKE YOUR OWN GRATITUDE JOURNAL 08 THANKFUL TURKEY 10 DRAW YOUR GRATITUDE 11 THANKSGIVING TREATS 12 MYTHS OF THANKSGIVING PLUS: 14 MAKE BIG CHANGES 16 INDY WITH KIDS 18 WORDSEARCH 19 BOOKSHELF
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WHAT IS GRATITUDE?
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BIG FEELING OF THANKFULNESS FOR SOMETHING SOMEONE DID FOR YOU OR A GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN? What about when you just have a really great day? Or maybe your kitty curled up on the couch next to you in just the perfect way? When you feel this sensation of thankfulness for the good things in your life, you are experiencing gratitude.
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GRATITUDE FEELS GOOD There are plenty of times when parents might prompt you to say a “thank you” (even when you don’t really mean it). Although it is important to use our manners to say “please” and “thank you,” feeling true gratitude should come from somewhere deeper inside of you. You might be wondering just how to find something like that. The answer is actually simple: paying attention. Attention is a huge key to gratitude. When we pay attention to the world around us and the people who love us, we can see the goodness present everywhere. This grows a sense of gratitude within us. In the big moments, like receiving a birthday present you have been asking for, it is easy to pay attention and find thankfulness or gratitude. But what about the small moments?
FIND GRATITUDE IN THE SMALL MOMENTS OF YOUR DAYS Pay attention to your friends and family members (and even your teachers or bus drivers) throughout your day. Did your trusted adult pack you a delicious school lunch? Did your teacher smile at you when you walked into the classroom?
when you dropped it? These
YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL GRATEFUL ALL THE TIME
small moments, when people
As good as gratitude feels and
show they care, are great
as great as it is for your mind
places to feel gratitude. If you
and body, it is also okay to have
feel it big enough, you can
days when you feel grumpy,
even say something like
overwhelmed, or sad. On these
a heart-felt “thank you.”
days, it might be hard to find
Did a friend pick up your pencil
your thankfulness or gratitude. Once you get into the groove
Because you are a wise and kind
of feeling gratitude, see if
kid, you could take the kindness
you can feel it even when
you might show to a friend who
nothing particularly special
is having a hard day and shine it
is happening. Pay attention
onto yourself. This is called self-
to your own breath and feel
compassion.
grateful for your healthy body. Check out the trees, animals
When we are kind to ourselves,
or the sky and feel gratitude
even on the days when we don’t
for the beauty of our amazing
feel grateful, it can help us to
planet. Give your pet some love
overcome whatever obstacles are
and feel a sense of gratitude
holding us back. Maybe you will
for having them in your life.
even wake up the next morning
GRATITUDE IS GOOD FOR YOU, TOO!
feeling grateful for your own ability to show kindness! This Thanksgiving, see if you can
Feeling gratitude can help
practice gratitude all day long!
us to feel less stressed and
And keep reading this issue of
more connected to the people
Boomerang for a guided gratitude
we love (even those pesky
practice and to learn how to make
siblings). It can even help
a gratitude journal!
boost our immune system to fight off germs! When we pay attention so we can experience gratitude, we feel better about our lives, and we are more likely to take care of ourselves and those around us. If your family practices a religion or spiritual tradition, feeling grateful can also help you to feel connected to something bigger than yourself. Boomerang
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A GUIDED GRATITUDE PRACTICE Do you want to feel thankfulness in your mind, body, and heart? Practice these steps to see if they can help you open up to the experience of gratitude. 1.
Come into a comfortable position. You can be sitting or even lying down.
2.
Notice the breath moving through your nose. Can you feel the inhales and the exhales tickle your nostrils as
UR O Y E MAK ATITUDE GR N W AL O N R JOU
the air moves? 3.
Imagine there is a balloon in your belly. When you inhale, can you inflate the balloon? When you exhale, can you allow the balloon to get smaller and smaller? Do this for a few rounds of breath.
4.
Now, bring your attention to your chest, also called your heart center. Bring someone or something into your heart that you are really grateful for. Go with the first thing that comes to mind, no matter how small or big. Allow yourself to feel the gratitude that comes in along with this someone or something.
5.
Can you feel that sense of warmth and goodness that this creates? Focus now on the sensation instead of the someone or something. Sit for a little bit and just feel how warm and fuzzy it is inside.
6.
Coming back to your breath, see if you can inhale and make this gratitude bigger. Then, can you exhale and send it to yourself and everyone around you? You can keep doing this for as long as you want.
7.
When you are ready to be done, put your hands on your heart and say a “thank you” to yourself for this feeling.
8.
Now you can journal about this experience or just carry it with you today!
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T STAR O T WANT ICING T LY? PR AC TUDE DAI ce I st pla GR AT u he be
t g yo rnal is rythin e v A jou e wn , you ite do to wr . Sure r ne, o f l ase o tefu h a c r r g u are nd p out a o e fun g d e som coul v a h t hy no own? but w r very u o y easy ing ity is v creat i t c a uires imple ly req n o This s d an l ages for al ies. suppl a few
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED
NOW YOU ARE READY TO WRITE! There are many different ways to keep a gratitude journal. Some
Plain white paper (and
people prefer to write a few things every day that they have felt
maybe one thicker or
grateful for. This practice is great to do at night before bed. Other
colored piece for the cover)
people like to follow prompts. Prompts are questions or statements
•
Hole punch
that you can have the chance to answer in your journal.
•
Small metal brads
•
Markers
•
FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO MAKE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL JUST RIGHT FOR YOU 1.
Fold the cover of your
HERE ARE A FEW TO GET YOU STARTED: •
favorite memory with each of them? •
What is one thing you look forward to every week?
•
What were the last three kind things done for you by others?
•
How do you feel when others show you gratitude for doing nice things and being kind?
journal in half. This can be a slightly thicker type of
• •
Fold the rest of the plain white paper in half so the two shorter ends meet.
3.
Think about someone who is driving you crazy right now. Can you find something about them you are grateful for?
art you have created. 2.
Write a letter to someone important to you telling them why you are grateful for them.
paper, construction paper or even a painting or piece of
Name three friends you have made. What is your
•
If you are feeling down and need to think of something happy, what are three things you think about?
Place these papers inside of
Great job! You are on your way to feeling truly grateful this
your cover.
Thanksgiving. Make sure to share this craft with family and friends
Punch holes along the
who want to feel grateful with you!
folded edge of your journal. This might be difficult (especially if you have a thick journal) so ask an adult for help if you need it! 4.
Insert the brads in each of the holes to hold the book together.
5.
Color the cover (if you haven’t already) or add any other special touches to make it your own, such as stickers, pictures and more! Boomerang Boomerang
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A THANKFUL TURKEY CRAFT TO GROW YOUR GRATITUDE Now that you know all about gratitude, why not create an adorable turkey displaying all that you are thankful for? This craft is suitable for all ages, so if you have some little cousins or siblings and you want to help them learn about gratitude, have them craft this with you!
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A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR
Gratitude is the feeling we get when we pay attention to all the goodness around us. Whether your gratitude comes from things others have done for you or you are simply grateful for all that you have, writing it down for all to see is a great way to remind people to be thankful this time of year. Here is what you need to create your turkey and her gratitude feathers: •
One paper plate OR a piece of paper cut into a circle
•
Toilet paper roll
•
Brown, yellow, red, orange, green and blue construction paper
•
Googly eyes
•
Markers
•
Scissors
Once you have all of your supplies, you are ready to get to work! 1.
Wrap a strip of brown construction paper around the toilet paper roll and glue it fixed to create your turkey’s body. Next cut a beak out of yellow paper and glue that and the googly eyes onto the toilet paper roll to create a face.
2.
Glue the turkey’s body and face to the underside of the paper plate. If you want to, before gluing, you can color the plate brown to match your turkey’s body.
3.
Now, using the other colors of construction paper, cut a variety of feathers. 8-10 might be a good number, but it will depend on the size of your paper plate.
4.
Using your markers, write one thing you are grateful for on each of the feathers. If you need help coming up with things, ask your family members what they are grateful for and turn it into your family’s gratitude turkey!
5.
Now that you have your feathers done, glue them to the back of the paper plate, letting them poke up enough over your turkey so you can see all of the things you are thankful for.
6.
Display your turkey in the center of your Thanksgiving table or somewhere else where your family can enjoy it!
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DRAW YOUR GRATITUDE DO YOU LOVE TO DRAW? Some people like to keep
But, if you enjoy making pictures, drawing or painting the things you are grateful for might be a fun way to create a beautiful art display for your home this Thanksgiving! You probably already have all or most of the supplies for this craft at home, making it an easy one to do this fall. Here is what you will need: •
drawing or painting •
Pencil, markers, colored pencils, paints, or crayons
•
This issue of Boomerang to see the prompts listed below
a gratitude journal and write down the things they are grateful for.
Paper, canvas or any other blank medium for
GET THINKING ABOUT GRATITUDE If you don’t know what gratitude is, just check out our article “What is Gratitude” in this issue of Boomerang. Once you are ready, draw the answers to as many of these prompts as possible! If you use paper, you can even staple them together at the end to create your own gratitude book! •
Draw something that makes you happy.
•
Draw something you couldn’t live without.
•
Draw your favorite activity to do with friends or family.
•
Draw someone who has helped you.
•
Draw someone that makes you smile.
•
Draw something you love to do.
•
Draw something you are grateful for.
•
Draw something you think is fun.
•
Draw something that makes you laugh.
•
Draw some special skills or talents you are grateful for.
•
Draw the food you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving.
•
Draw something you are most thankful for in nature.
When you are done, show your family members your drawings and ask them these prompts so you can learn what they are grateful for, too! 02 10 08Boomerang 02 Boomerang Boomerang
A THANKSGIVING APPETIZER YOU CAN MAKE (ALMOST) BY YOURSELF Are you just dying to help with the Thanksgiving feast this year? If you are a kid who is into cooking and baking, stick around. We have a recipe below that will not only delight your family and friends but will have you feeling like you really pitched in! The Turkey Cheese Ball Appetizer This is a great recipe for kids because it requires no cooking and a super creative assembly! Here is what you will need: For the cheese ball: • (1) 8 oz package of cream cheese • 1 cup of shredded cheddar • ½ cup chopped up mixed nuts For the turkey: • Candy eyes • One Slim Jim (or other beef jerky stick) • Small pretzel sticks • 1 round chocolate candy • 1 candy corn • Few teaspoons of melted chocolate chips (to act as a “glue”) Here are your directions for making the cutest appetizer in town: 1. Allow the cream cheese to soften to room temperature before mixing it together with the shredded cheddar. Then, place it in a piece of plastic wrap and form it into a ball. Stick it into the refrigerator for about 1-2 hours to firm up. 2. Once your cheese ball has set, roll it in the chopped mixed nuts to evenly coat. Place it in the center of a serving plate.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Now comes the fun part! To create your turkey’s head, take the Slim Jim and dip one end in the melted chocolate. Then, using it as glue, affix the chocolate candy ball to the top. You may need to refrigerate it after each of these “gluing” steps to harden the chocolate. Use the melted chocolate to affix the candy eyes and candy corn beak to your turkey’s chocolate candy head as well. Place the entire creation into the refrigerator. While your Turkey’s head hardens, place your pretzel sticks one by one along the “back end” of your turkey to create a tail. They will stick up out of the cheese ball and fan out along the edges. Now, remove your creation from the refrigerator and stick the end of the Slim Jim with nothing on it into the center of the cheese ball to create the turkey’s head and neck. If you are serving this right away, place crackers, pita chips, bread or more pretzels around the base of the turkey on the plate. If you are waiting to serve, keep refrigerated.
You can serve up this appetizer specifically for the younger crowd, but we think everyone will want a taste!
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If you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family by having a large meal and enjoying time together, you are probably like most American families today. But, even if you celebrate it, there are many things you might not know about this national holiday. Like, what was actually served at the first Thanksgiving? And did Pilgrims and Native Americans really sit down to eat together?
MYTHS OF
MYTH #1:
THANKSGIVING WAS A FEAST TO CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP Although we would like to think that it was a peaceful time full of celebration between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, the truth is that Thanksgiving was made a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, 300 years after it was thought to have happened. Many historians believe that the first Thanksgiving was simply a traditional harvest feast held by the Pilgrims who had come from England.
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At the time, tensions were high between Pilgrims and Native Americans. Pilgrims had landed on Indigenous land (indigenous describes the first people to live in a place; Native Americans were indigenous to Plymouth Rock and the entire United States) and, believing that the Native Americans were nothing but savages, claimed the land as their own. Have you ever had something taken from you? How did that feel? If the Native Americans had attended the harvest feast held by the Pilgrims, they may have had those same feelings of sadness and anger and may not have felt like celebrating.
MYTH #2:
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING HAD THE SAME FOODS WE EAT TODAY No matter who attended this harvest feast, one thing is for sure: they did not eat the same foods we eat now. Well, except for the turkey and cranberry sauce! Your favorite food at your Thanksgiving table might be mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, or rolls. But if you were a kid during the time of the first Thanksgiving, you might have enjoyed deer, cod and even eel or oysters. Yum!
MYTH #3:
THANKSGIVING IS ALL ABOUT FOOD
MYTH #4:
Whether you are thinking
EVERYONE CELEBRATES THANKSGIVING
about the first Thanksgiving
You read above about the
or your family’s feast this
tension between the Pilgrims
year, one thing is for sure: it
and the Native Americans.
isn’t all about the food. As a
Because of the fighting and
celebration of the harvest, food
bad treatment of Indigenous
does take the spotlight, but
people during that time in
the more important thing is the
history, many Native American
gratitude we have about the
groups do not celebrate
abundance of food available
Thanksgiving today. In fact,
to us.
many of them are sad during this time of year, remembering
In the days of the Pilgrims, the
that the land they cared for
harvest was very important.
was taken.
There were no grocery stores, and everyone had to grow their own food. If your village had a harvest that didn’t produce very much, you knew that people could starve during the long winter. Therefore, when communities came together and celebrated a big harvest, it was a cause for much joy and relief among the people.
If you are living in Hancock County, the Native Americans who used to live on this land included the Delaware and Shawnee, among others. You can learn more about these tribes, what they ate, how they lived and how they cared for the land by heading to this website and having a grownup
Most cultures around the world
help you!
celebrate harvest for similar
indianahistory.org/education/educationresources/educator-resources/ curriculum/native-americans-in-indiana/
reasons.
in your pumpkin pie this
THANKSGIVING IS WHATEVER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WANT IT TO BE!
Thanksgiving, why not say
Because we don’t know
a thank you for the delicious
everything about the “first
food you get to enjoy?
Thanksgiving,” we can create
Before you stick your fork
our own traditions right in our homes. Whether that means enjoying a feast or learning more about Native American history, we hope you have a fun day filled with gratitude for all that you have! Boomerang Boomerang
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Being a kid is hard. You might feel small while at the same time you see suffering around you that makes you want to help others. Many adults may tell you that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a huge difference, and they aren't wrong, but contributing to a cause with a team of people can make your impact even bigger. Seeds of Caring Indianapolis is an exciting website that can help!
Service projects through Seeds of Caring Have you ever heard of a service project? If you go to a local church or you are in a club or scouts, you may have heard of this type of volunteer
Local families can help make the world a better place We talked to a family about their volunteer experience packing snack bags for families whose children were in the hospital. Could you imagine one of your siblings being really sick and you needing to spend extra time in waiting rooms or hospital lobbies? Katy Mann and her children created amazing snack bags and wrote letters of encouragement to help fellow kids get through the wait. Then, they dropped the snack bags off to a designated team captain in their community, who made sure they got to the right place.
Mann said, “I loved that it’s instilling in my children that giving back is important. And that it doesn’t always have to be a big thing to make a difference. You can be a small part of a big project. If you can incorporate giving back in a small way every single day, there is no reason why caring for people shouldn’t be something you should do.”
Check out SeedsOfCaring.org for opportunities Seeds of Caring offers already open service projects and they are also looking for team captains to lead projects right here in our community. You can create wellness kits for kids this month or check back to
work before. A service project
find opportunities to create
brings together a group of
shelter kits for dogs, meal
people, whether that means
kits for homeless community
friends, family, a class or a
members and more!
team, to work for a common cause. Seed of Caring is
So, being a kid means you
an amazing website that is
might feel small, but innovative
dedicated to helping you find
websites like this one are
and create service projects
allowing families and friends
right here in Indianapolis!
to band together to make a big change right here in Indiana! Have your grown up check our Seeds of Caring website (www.seedsofcaring.org/indianapolis) and register to make a difference together!
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According to a fun October poll we ran in collaboration with our friends at Indy with Kids, over half of you are MOST THANKFUL this year for your family, friends, and community! We love that!
HERE ARE TEN SIMPLE WAYS TO CELEBRATE ALL THAT THANKFULNESS AS A FAMILY.
1 Make handwritten cards for family, friends, and neighbors
2 Compliment someone on their strengths
3 Fill a gratitude jar
4 Volunteer together as a family
5 Focus on the good
6 Appreciate the little things
7 Lend a listening ear to a friend
8 Bake someone a thank you treat
9 Paint gratitude rocks for your garden
10 Go on a family gratitude walk Boomerang Boomerang
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H A R V E S T Q D H X X S U T F P D L P P X H N W P P X J G K R P R P M U W O M O O Y E C M Q I P U H P M N U X E T R L W C F E V M T I P A S H H C W P Z R N N J S Q L K T I B D B T C F A K D K T T G I I G G F U L A X N I S Z I V R N V Y O R H M H T B L Z U C E I R E O K O I L Q W E X T H K K M K D E Q L R P M A R J N Z N Z S Q Y M Y O S D Y P R E V M J N B T P I E O A M E R I C A N P A
J J T T Q Q Q V F E E R G Q S T M Z Z P W A Y X S D S E N T
LET'S GIVE THANKS 02 18Boomerang Boomerang
CRANBERRIES | AMERICAN | PUMPKIN | FAMILY DRUMSTICK | FRIENDS | TURKEY | PILGRIMS HARVEST | NATIVE | PIE | FOOD
BOOMERANG BOOKSHELF THE THANKFUL BOOK BY TODD PARR THE MOST THANKFUL THING BY LISA MCCOURT THE AWESOME BOOK OF THANKS BY DALLAS CLAYTON DAY BY DAY BY SUSAN GAL THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING BY JULIE MARKES BEAR SAYS THANKS BY KARMA WILSON GRACE’S THANKSGIVING BY LISA BULLARD SPLAT SAYS THANK YOU BY ROB SCOTTON IT COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE BY MARGOT ZEMACH THANKS A MILLION BY NIKKI GRIMES WHAT IS THANKSGIVING? BY ELAINE LANDAU ALL THE WORLD BY LIZ GORTON SCANTON Boomerang Boomerang
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