As the old saying goes, “Once bathed in the apricot rain, there’s a lifetime of gratitude for teachers.” Teachers’ Day is a day filled with respect and warmth, and it’s a wonderful time to express gratitude to our teachers for their hard work. To promote the traditional virtue of respecting teachers and valuing education, the Shanghai You Dao Public Welfare Service Center ttle Hands make Little Flowers – Happy Gifts for Teacher’s Day” held a special flower-making activity at the Fifth Residential Committee of Fengpu Subdistrict on the afternoon of September 6, 2025. Children were invited to express their true feelings through their handmade creations, presenting handmade flowers full of childlike fun and gratitude to their most beloved teachers.
At the beginning of the activity, the teacher explained to the children the beautiful meanings of sunflowers and hydrangeas: sunflowers represent “sunshine and growth”, symbolizing the fact that teachers illuminate the children’s growth path like sunshine; hydrangeas mean “tolerance, gratitude and warm companionship”, just like the teacher’s selfless care and teaching every day.
The teacher then carefully showed them how to make potted sunflowers and hydrangeas using twist-sticks—from bending petals and shaping leaves to assembling the flower plates and assembling the bouquets. The children were delighted, their hands deftly twisting, securing, and adjusting the twist-sticks. From their fingertips, the ordinary twist-sticks gradually blossomed into vibrant, unique, and loving handmade flowers.
At the end of the event, the children held up the flowers they had made themselves and sent their blessings in the loudest and clearest voices: “Teacher, I wish you a happy holiday!” The sincere smiling faces and unique flowers, which were full of gratitude and love, warmed everyone present.
This activity not only honed the children’s hands-on skills and creativity, but also allowed them to deeply appreciate the meaning of gratitude and giving back in a warm and joyful atmosphere. Each handmade flower, a sincere gift from a child’s heart, added a unique touch of warmth and emotion to this Teachers’ Day.