Community building starts with a shared jar of butter

 Under the banner of ‘Friendship Treats’, my daughter’s teacher sought to do something special to celebrate the harvest season and honor the children for their seamless transition to the new school year. No longer allowed to have elaborate feasts for the Thanksgiving holiday due to food allergies and fear of vermin, she tailored this celebration to engaging the children in creating a treat that thanked them for connecting and building friendships with their fellow classmates.

While silently reading their own book selection, a representative from each table was invited to gather the mason jar filled with whipping cream and a dash of salt. With clean hands all around, every child at the table was given multiple chances to shake the jar, eagerly watching the two simple ingredients change before their eyes from liquid to semi-solid butter. As the children worked together, their butter began to form, their books were closed and their eyes opened wider as they dug in to taste their group effort; smeared, smothered and dabbed on saltine crackers.

They chatted about the taste, their love of butter, the crumbs they were making on the floor and then they slowly returned to their work, some reading silently, some reading to each other, some working together to complete their morning work.

The teacher quietly walked around, engaging a few students but mostly observing; with few words she set into motion a unifying movement, focusing on each student as a participant, regardless of their clothing choices, the books they were reading, their inherent abilities or struggles or their various backgrounds and family beliefs, they all lent a useful, helping hand and together built a stronger classroom; on a jar of butter. Reminding us all, without ever speaking it, to work better together, be thankful and give thanks this harvest season. #collaborationrevolution #collaborationalwayswins