It’s Turkey Time again! And I don’t mean the turkeys you eat on Thanksgiving; I mean the special turkeys that hang in our hallways and playrooms at Cherry Hill Montessori, decorated in their finest plumery by our Montessori students and families. Each turkey has its own character shaped by the child’s imagination and personality, the available materials in the home and the patience of the parents. We have turkeys beautifully feathered in matching hues of gold and brown, turkeys with crayon-colored features or mismatched macaroni pieces, turkeys adorned with beans, candies or pictures of animals, and turkeys with leaves and pipe cleaners. Our students worked hard on these family projects and I’m sure they had lots of fun.
As the mother of four CHM students, for 14 years I helped children decorate their Montessori turkeys. My turkey-decorating days are now over but the hours spent on this annual project with my children is something I will always cherish. Even though some years we were pressed for time, or one of us was out-of-sorts, or we did not have the desired turkey enhancements, we determinedly and excitedly completed the projects. I clearly recall the pride of each of my children as they carried their completed turkey into the school to be put on display.
Even now, when I see former CHM parents, they often tell me, with a twinkle in their eyes and a knowing look as if we share a secret, that they remember the Montessori turkeys. Most of all, I hope they remember the fun they had helping their children trim and garnish their paper turkey, and the special bonding time they shared. I sure do. We are all thankful for the Montessori Thanksgiving Turkey Project!
