September 16th (25th of Shahrivar in the Iranian calendar) has been designated as National Date Day in our country—a day that is not only an opportunity to celebrate this sweet and nutritious fruit, but also a valuable occasion to introduce children to Iran’s natural and cultural heritage. On this occasion, our kindergarten organized a special, lively program for the young learners. The goal was to help children understand the importance of dates and date palm groves, learn through storytelling, and experience creativity in a hands-on craft workshop.

Storytelling

The children entered the classroom with great excitement. The teachers began the program with storytelling. The kids listened attentively, filling the room with their curious questions and childlike reactions. Storytelling created a joyful atmosphere where the children could connect with the theme of Date Day and gain a better understanding of its significance.

Date Palm Craft Workshop

After storytelling, the second part of the program began: the craft workshop. In this activity, the children made palm trees using colored paper. The teachers first demonstrated how to fold and cut the paper to create the trunk and leaves of the tree. Each child eagerly folded their own paper and made their very own palm tree.

To complete the craft, the children were given date pits to glue onto their trees as the fruit. This part was especially exciting for them, since using something real and tangible made their crafts feel more natural.