8x10 peice if brown constuction paper and folded it in half to make >a card, then the kidders that were able to traced and cut the shape of their >own hands. Then, we glued feathers on the "fingers" to make the turkey. That >went on the outside of the cards. On the inside, we wrote the turkey poem~ >Turkey red, Turkey blue, Turkey says, I Love You! And then the kids signed >them. For the turkeys, we used orange constuction paper, and multi colored >small feathers. I used printer paper for the inside note, I also used the wavy >edged scissors to cut the out side of the note and the cards. Tis the season to be thankful, and I am thankful to have discovered a cornucopia of links so you can plant new seeds and sprout a harvest full of ideas, techniques, and activities for your children and students. History Of Thanksgiving: http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm Paper Plate Turkey: http://familycrafts.about.com/library/weekly/aa101801a.htm Pilgrims And American's Thanksgiving: http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/pilgrims.htm Thanksgiving Day Crossword Puzzle: http://www.sunniebunniezz.com/puzzles/thankcr.htm Thanksgiving Goodies: http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/goodies.htm Thanksgiving Recipes: http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/recipes.htm Happy Thanksgiving: http://www.marvelicious.com/thanksgiving.html Rexanne's Thanksgiving: http://www.rexanne.com/tday.html Thanksgiving: http://www.alphabet-soup.net/hol/thanksgiving.html Thanksgiving Arts And Crafts: http://www.preschooleducation.com/athanksgiving.shtml Thanksgiving Crafts: http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/turkyday.htm Thanksgiving Snacks: http://www.preschooleducation.com/cthanksgiving.shtml Tis the season to be thankful, and I am thankful to have discovered a cornucopia of links so you can plant new seeds and sprout a harvest full of ideas, techniques, and activities for your children and students. How To Cook A Turkey: http://abcteach.com/Christmas/turkey.htm Let's Talk Turkey: http://familyeducation.com/quiz/0,1399,22-3733,00.html Mayflower: http://abcteach.com/Thanksgiving/mayflower.htm Pilgrim Hat Pattern: http://abcteach.com/Shape%20books/Holidays/hat.htm Thanksgiving History: http://wilstar.com/holidays/thanksgv.htm Thanksgiving Menu: http://abcteach.com/Thanksgiving/menu.htm Thanksgiving Printables: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/thanksgiving/printables.htm *More great Thanksgiving links listed at the end of this newsletter* Letter Of The Week: Pp For Pilgrim Every Monday issue I will suggest a letter to learn and master plus a link to the Alphabet Kid who matches the letter: http://mrsalphabet.com/peter.html The letters I choose are based on the mini units. Looking for fun ways to teach these letters go here: http://mrsalphabet.com/letteroftheweek.html http://mrsalphabet.com/links.html ********* More Thanksgiving Links ********* A Feast Of Fun: http://www.bonus.com/bonus/search.cache/thanksgiving.right.html Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade: http://www.nyctourist.com/macys_menu.htm Thanksgiving: http://familyeducation.com/quiz/0,1399,22-10308,00.html Thanksgiving Activities: http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/thanksgiving.htm Thanksgiving Card: http://abcteach.com/Thanksgiving/card.htm Thanksgiving Day Online Games: http://akidsheart.com/holidays/thanks/thgame.htm Poem Of The Week: Every other Friday I will give you a tongue twister or poem to use with your child or class. The poem I choose is based on the mini or maxi unit and integrates with the materials in the theme. Thanksgiving By Mrs. Alphabet Pilgrims and Indians sharing a feast together, Working, planting, and building altogether. When you sit at your Thanksgiving table, Remember this is a legend, and not a fable. Looking for fun ways to teach your child poems go here: http://mrsalphabet.com/poemoftheweek.html ********* More Thanksgiving Links ********* Heather's Happy Thanksgiving: http://www.heathersholidaze.com/thanks/index.html Pilgrim Hat Candy Cup: http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/pilgrimhat.html Turkey Pattern: http://abcteach.com/Thanksgiving/turkpattern.htm Thanksgiving Story: http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/story.html Thanksgiving Theme: http://www.childfun.com/themes/thanks.shtml Thanksgiving Tree: http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/husktree.html What A Turkey Thinks About Thanksgiving: http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/turk.html Songs and Poems ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY Sing to tune of "O' My Darlin' Clementine" Albuquerque was a turkey, and he's feathered and he's fine and he wobbles and he gobbles and I'm awfully glad he's mine. He's the best pet you can get yet better than a dog or cat He's my Albuquerque Turkey and I'm awfully proud of that. And my Albuquerque turkey Is so cozy in his bed 'cause for our Thanksgiving dinner We had Egg Foo Yung instead. Although Albuquerque is by far my favorite turkey I do include others. Here are a few A Turkey A turkey is a funny bird, Its head goes wobble, wobble, All it knows is just one word, "Gobble, gobble, gobble Five Little Turkeys Five little turkeys Went outside to play. Mother said, "Be careful! It's Thanksgiving Day!" The first little turkey Didn't even see The Indian who was hiding Behind the maple tree. The second little turkey Decided she'd better scoot When she heard the sound Of the little pilgrim's boots. The third little turkey Went to climb a tree. He climbed too high And fell and skinned his knee. The fourth little turkey Didn't have a care. She went running in the woods And saw a pilgrim there. The fifth little turkey Was left all alone. He started to cry And ran all the way home. Mr. Turkey Tell me, Mr. Turkey, Don't you feel afraid When you hear us talking 'Bout the plans we've made? Can't you hear us telling How we're going to eat Cranberries and stuffing With our turkey meat? Turkey, heed my warning: Better fly away; Or you will be sorry On Thanksgiving day Ten Fat Turkeys sung to "Ten Little Indians" 1 fat, 2 fat 3 fat turkeys, 4 fat, 5 fat, 6 fat turkeys 7 fat, 8 fat 9 fat turkeys 10 fat turkeys ready for Thanksgiving Gobble Gobble Fat Turkeys (sing to tune " the more we get together") Gobble Gobble Gobble Fat turkeys fat turkeys Gobble Gobble Gobble Fat turkeys are we We're NOT for Thanksgiving We're just here for living Gobble Gobble Gobble I'm a Little Turkey (sung to I'm Little Teapot) I'm a little Turkey I like to play I'm very hungry I eat all day When I see the hunter with his gun Then I know it's time to run Gobbler This is Gobbler Happy. This is Gobbler Sad. Now you see him sleepy. Now you see him mad. This is gobbler cut up small. But for Thanksgiving he's best of all! Tommy the Turkey Tommy the Turkey had pumpkin pie And oh, he loved it so. He danced and he wobbled Then chuckled and gobbled And ordered a piece to go—oh!! Tommy the Turkey had dressing, too And gravy on the side. The potatoes were whipped, Sweet iced tea he sipped, When finished Tommy sighed: "This Thanksgiving dinner was pretty good But it was not complete. All veggies won't do it, Let's face it, we blew it, It needed a little white meat—so... "It's time that we make the sacrifice That gives us turkeys fame, So cook us up nice With sweet tasty spice. We star in the Thanksgiving game." (Repeat last two verses) Strut Mr. Turkey Strut Mr. Turkey, Big and fat, Strut Mr. Turkey, Just like that, Strut Mr. Turkey, Strut, strut, strut. Strut Mr. Turkey, Prance and play, Thanksgiving Day Is on the way, So strut today, Strut, strut, strut. Stories This is a really cute flannel board OR puppet story. You will need a clipart turkey copied on colored paper or flannel pieces in the colors of brown, red, blue,purple, green, yellow, and white. On the brown turkey (if paper) you will need to fasten a feather of red, blue, purple, green, and yellow to the back of the brown turkey with a brad. If you make a flannel turkey, you could just add the feathers as you tell the story. Here is the story: How the Turkey Got His Tail Feathers Once there was a little brown turkey who had a terrible temper! He often flew into tantrums and screamed and cried until he was the nuisance of the farmyard. One day, he lost his temper because one of the chickens wouldn't share a toy. He got so angry he flew into a tantrum and turned as red as a beet! (show the red turkey) The other turkeys laughed at him and teased him and sang: "You're red! Red! Red as a beet! Red from your head to the tip of your feet!" Tom Turkey didn't like the other turkeys laughing at him so he ran away and hid. He sat and sulked for a long time. When he calmed down he looked at himself and saw that he really was red all over! Red from his head to his feet! He hurried to the edge of the farm to visit Dr. Owl who was wise and knew the answers to everything. "You will have to learn to control that temper of yours." hooted Dr. Owl. "If you don't, no other turkeys will want to play with you." The next morning Tom Turkey was brown again, except that he had a red feather in his tail. (Add a red feather to the puppet). He was very glad to be brown again, but he still thought it was everyone elses fault that he had gotten angry. Tom's mother called him to come help with the Monday wash. But Tom got the Blues as soon as he had to start working. He moaned and groaned until Mother told him, he was acting like a baby. Well, you can guess what happened next! He lost his temper again! This time he turned blue. His face was blue - from his head to his toe he was blue all over. When the other turkeys saw him, they teased and sang: "You're Blue! Blue! From your head to your toe, Blue all over, Wherever you go!" Tom ran away and hid. He sat and sulked and blamed his mother for his losing his temper. By morning, Tom was a brown turkey again, but now he had a blue feather next to the red one in his tail. (Add the blue feather) Well, you can about guess what happened the rest of the week. On Tuesday, Tom didn't want to help clean up the yard. He said he hated cleaning with a purple passion! Just as soon as he said it, he threw a terrible tantrum and then he turned Purple all over! All the turkeys saw him and shouted, "You're Purple! Purple! That's all we can see! You'd better go hide Under your favorite tree!" Of course, Tom Turkey sat and sulked and blamed everything on everyone else! On Wednesday morning, Tom was brown again, but he had a purple feather added to his tail. He was beginning to feel ashamed to think he couldn't control himself when he wanted to. He went out for his daily walk when he saw a turkey friend eating a big corn cob. Tom was green with envy because he didn't have one. Before he knew it, Tom turned green all over! And when he saw his color he threw another temper tantrum. The turkeys again saw him and shouted, "You're green! Green! Green as grass! Why don't you get wise And stop all of your sass!" Of course, Tom Turkey went and hid under his favorite tree. He sat and sulked and felt sorry for himself. Thursday morning, Tom was brown again, but he now had a green feather added to his tail. His tail was becoming very bright and colorful. But something was happening to Tom Turkey. He was beginning to really want to change. He wanted to keep his temper. He was really going to try. Of course all the turkeys like to tease Tom and so while they were playing a game of "Gobble and Waddle" someone called Tom a Scaredy Bird. Before Tom could stop to think he threw another tantrum. This time his face turned yellow, his neck was yellow, he even had a yellow streak down his back! All of the other turkeys laughed and cried, "You're yellow! Yellow! That's what we said. Why don't you go home and hide under your bed!" Tom Turkey did turn yellow, but instead of blaming others he blamed himself. He knew he had to control his own temper. He was the only one who could make things better. When he woke up in the morning he was brown again but he had a yellow feather added to his colorful tail. Tom decided this was the day to really change. He didn't say a word to anyone and kept saying to himself, "I can do it, I can do it!" Friday, Mother Turkey asked Tom to keep an eye on the little Turkeys while she went to the store. While she was gone the little turkeys ran through the house with muddy feet. When Tom saw what they had done he ALMOST lost his temper. But this time he held his breath as long as he could. He turned pale as a ghost, but he didn't lose his temper! Pretty soon, he went white all over and the turkeys shouted, "You're white! White! But your temper didn't show! Maybe you're changing, We really hope so!" Tom didn't mind being a white turkey for a day, and he was rather proud of the white feather in his tail the next morning. Even when his mother scolded him for letting the dirt get tracked on her clean floor, Tom didn't lose his temper. All day Saturday and Sunday, he kept calm and he was tickled pink to think he had gone two days without a temper tantrum. He was still a little brown turkey and a very happy one too. He reported back to Dr. Owl on Monday and Tom thanked him for his help. Dr. Owl told Tom he had earned the right to wear the brightly colored tail and that he should show it of proudly from now on. So, when you go to the farm and see the turkey strut about with his fan shaped tail all unfolded, remember this story about the turkey with the terrible temper. BOOKS A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting Gracias,the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley 1,2,3 Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa Albert's Thanksgiving by Leslie Tryon The Turkey Saves the Day by Shelagh Canninj Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' by Eileen Spinelli The Squirrel's Thanksgiving by Steven Kroll Thanksgiving:Stories and Poems by Caroline Feller Bauer Turkey Facts * Male turkeys are called toms. * Female turkeys are called hens. * Young turkeys are called poults. * The long piece of loose skin hanging beneath the turkey's lower jaw is called a wattle. * Many domestic turkeys have white or light-colored feathers. * Wild turkeys have brown or bronze-tipped feathers. * Wild turkeys usually weigh only about 10 pounds. * Only wild turkeys can fly. * Wild turkeys rest in trees at night. * Turkey eggs are twice as big as chicken eggs Cooking In The Classroom Gobbable Gobblers Need: rice crispies, marshmallow cream, chocolate cookie (oreo), chocolate icing, candy corn Mix rice crispies and marshmallow cream together and form small balls. Take one chocolate cookie and dab chocolate icing on one side of the cookie. Place the rice crispie ball on top of the iced cookie. Dab chocolate icing on five spots on one side of the ball and one time on the front of the ball. Place candy corns on the dabs of icing to form five feathers and one head at the front of the turkey. Candy Turkeys Need:Carmel,round stripped shortbread cookie,candy corn,Chocolate kiss Soften caramel in the microwave, about 10 seconds--but don't get too soft Take the caramel, place the cookie- stripes facing, on the back of the caramel, the candy corn piece goes on top of the caramel for the beak, then place a chocolate kiss, on top of carmel for head.You can add candy corn feet. You have a candy turkey Apple Turkey Need: 1 medium sized apple, 7 toothpicks ,1 large marshmallow ,25 mini marshmallows, 2 raisins per child To make an apple turkey: 1.Place apple on the side 2.Place 5 toothpicks in a row next to each other(like a fan) 3. Place 5 mini marshmallows on each toothpick( turkey feathers) 4.Place 1 toothpick in front of the turkey feathers and place large marshmallow on it( the turkey head) 5.Place 2 raisins on 1 toothpick and place in the large marshmallow(head) ( the gobbler) Children may take apple turkey home and use as a decoration on Thanksgiving Day. Gobble Gobble!! Gum-drop Turkey - Make a gum-drop turkey - great for class art and a wonderful center piece for the Thanksgiving table. You will need: 1 apple, a pack of assorted colored gumdrops, one larger gum-drop, such as an orange slice gum-drop, toothpicks. Lay apple down on the side where the stem is facing the child. Have child place one toothpick in the front top of the apple to be its head. Place 3 gum-drops onto the toothpick pushing the first one down to the apple and the other two stacked on top. Place the larger gum-drop on the end (the orange slice or whatever you have picked. This will be the turkey's neck and head. Next, place 4 (or more if they choose) toothpicks into the other end of the apple. These will be the feathers so you might want to put them at an angle to make room for more feathers. Add 4 or more gum-drops onto the toothpick feathers in alternating gum-drop colors. You now have a colorful and yummy turkey. These are great for table decorations for Thanksgiving dinner. Does this remind you of another turkey? Mini Cornucopia Treats Bugle's snacks Prepared cream cheese frosting (in the plastic can)or white frosting Trix cereal Have the children put a small amount of frosting into the opening of the Bugles, then put some trix ceral pieces on the frosting. Voila, a cornucopia you can eat! Thanksgiving Paper Chains To make a paper chain for a table decoration, or anywhere else you might think to decorate, take a piece of paper and fold it using an accordian fold. Fold the paper the same width as the design you are going to use. Print one of the designs below, or make your own. Cut out the design to use as a pattern. Place the cut out turkey or hat on top of the paper. Make sure you don't cut the edges that are on either end! Use black paper for the hat, brown paper for the turkey, or color your own designs onto white paper. You can stand the chains up in a circle for a table decoration, or tape onto a door as a border decoration. Patterns Mr. Turkey Flannelboard Mr. Turkey was so sad. He lost the feathers he once had. Now he wants us to help him find all the feathers of his kind. We will look both high and low, we will find them, don't you know. Here's a red one and a blue. Look, we've found a green one too. Here's an orange one and a yellow soon he'll be a feathered fellow. Now we've found the purple one, Black and white-we're almost done. If we just look up and down, I know we'll find the feather brown. Now Mr. Turkey is so glad, We found the feathers he once had. (Make large turkey from brown felt, and feathers from coordinating colors; give each child a feather. Place the turkey on the board and let each child place a feather on Mr. Turkey). On Thanksgiving (Sung to the tune of: "Clementine") On Thanksgiving, on Thanksgiving, Friends all gather for a feast, Giving thanks and eating turkey And a pumpkin pie so sweet. Handy Dandy Turkey You will need: copies of turkey poem (listed below), brown paint, colored feathers (or colored macaroni, or colored paint), tagboard. Let each child dip his/her hand in paint or use paintbrush to paint his/her hand brown. Press onto tagboard. Then decorate the fingers, which would be the turkey's feathers with desired medium such as feathers or noodles. OR you can paint the child's thumb and palm with brown paint and press onto paper. Then paint each finger a different color, chosen by the child, and press onto paper. This isn't just a turkey. As anyone can see. I made it with my hand, Which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love, Especially to say, I hope you have a very, Happy Thanksgiving Day! Thanksgiving Setting Give each child a large piece of paper for a placemat and let them decorate the outside border. Provide magazine pictures, or large communication pictures of typical Thanksgiving food (turkey, ham, corn, pie, etc;). Let each child choose food to glue onto his/her placemat. Laminate. Growing corn Need: Popcorn kernels, a ziploc bag, Dirt, and water. Place some dirt in a ziploc bag, sprinkle enough water to saturate the top part of the soil, and drop in some popcorn kernels. Seal the bag and place it in a sunny window. Look for sprouts to appear within 7-10 days. Growing Sweet Potatoes Help children stick toothpicks around the middle of a sweet potato. Fill a glass two-thirds full with water and place the potato in a glass. Have the children check the water level daily and add more water as needed to keep the bottom of the potato covered. In about two weeks roots will appear. Help the children observe the growth each day. Bring in sweet potatoes, one raw, one cooked, and let the children compare the three. Explain to the children that sweet potatoes is a food many people eat at Thanksgiving. Five Little Pumpkins Five little pumpkins sitting on the ground The first one said, "I'm big, orange and round!" The second one said, "I'm fresh off the vine!" The third one said, "I taste divine!" The fourth one said, "I'm ready to be tasted!" The fifth one said, "Bake my seeds so they're not wasted!" Someone from the kitchen picked them up and we know why.... The five little pumpkins all became Pumpkin Pie. Line 1: hold up hand ( make fist) Lines 2-6: count-off on five fingers. Line 7 : Use other hand to grab the five finger "turkeys". Line 8: Hold out both hands together palms facing up. Five Little Turkeys Five little turkeys standing in a row: First little turkey said, "I don't want to grow." Second little turkey said, "Why do you say that?" Third little turkey said, "I want to get fat." Fourth little turkey said, "Thanksgiving is near." Fifth little turkey said, "Yes, that's what I hear." Then the five little turkeys that were standing in a row, All said together, "Come on, let's GO!" Lines 1 through 6: count-off on five fingers. Lines 7 & 8: scuttle the fingers away as though the turkeys are running. Five Little Pilgrams Five little Pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day: The first one said, "I"ll have yams if I may." The second one said, "I'll have turkey roasted." The third one said, "I'll have chestnuts toasted." The fourth one said, "I'll have pumpkin pie." The fifth one said, "Oh, cranberries I spy." But before the Pilgrims ate their turkey dressing, They bowed their heads and said a Thanksgiving blessing." Line 1: hold up hand Lines 2-6: count-off on five fingers. Lines 7 & 8: fold down all fingers, representing the Pilgrims with their heads bowed. *Leaf Necklace >>Cut out many leaf cutouts using many fall colors. Have the child decorate >>with markers and crayons. Laminate the leaves (optional), then punch a >>hole >>in the stems and give the child some string or yarn, and have them thread >>them on. Add some beads for extra color! >> >> *Finger Tree >>Gather colored paper (red, orange, brown, green, yellow). Trace the >>child's >>hand onto several sheets of several colors. Cut out. Then cut out a brown >>tree trunk & branches in proportion to the amount of leaves. Have the >>child >>glue the hand shapes to the tree branches to form the leaves of the tree. >>Option: Have the child think of things to be thankful for and label the >>hand/leaves. >> >> *Visiting A Farm >>As the seasons begin to change, now is a good time to plan a trip to a >>nearby farm to watch the harvesting. Have the farmer explain how the >>garden >>and the farm animals are prepared for winter. Pack a picnic snack to have >>at >>the farm. Optional: You can gather stories about farms, sing songs about >>animals and farms, Have a coloring sheet with the theme, and have each >>child >>wear overalls, and have them decorate a kerchief to wear around their >>neck, >>or on a hat. >> >> *Apple Crunch Toast >>Ingredients: Butter, apples, wheat bread,cinnamon sugar mixture in a >>shaker >>Directions: Slice and peel the apples. Have the child spread the butter >>on >>the bread. Have them place the apple slices on the bread. Then have them >>sprinkle the sugar mixture on the apples. Place in the toaster oven, and >>toast till slightly brown. Enjoy! 8x10 peice if brown constuction paper and folded it in half to make >a card, then the kidders that were able to traced and cut the shape of their >own hands. Then, we glued feathers on the "fingers" to make the turkey. That >went on the outside of the cards. On the inside, we wrote the turkey poem~ >Turkey red, Turkey blue, Turkey says, I Love You! And then the kids signed >them. For the turkeys, we used orange constuction paper, and multi colored >small feathers. I used printer paper for the inside note, I also used the wavy >edged scissors to cut the out side of the note and the cards. Turkey Plate Have your child paint a paper plate with lots of different colors, or have them sponge paint all over the plate. Let the plate dry. Cut out a brown construction pear shape to resemble the body of a turkey. Cut out a yellow triangle and red teardrop shape to form the beak, and punch out two black "eyes" with a hole punch out of black paper. Have the child assemble the turkey and then glue onto the plate as the turkey's feathers. Thankful Wreath Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents." Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath Turkey Trays Set out leaves, plastic foam trays, and construction paper. Make turkeys by gluing arrangements of real leaves for the feathers onto construction-paper bodies. Then glue bodies onto trays. Draw in features Indian Headbands and Vests Make Indian Headbands. Stripes of paper with a paper feather in the back. Indian vests. Use large brown paper bags and cut the arms out and decorated with paint. Mayflower Ships Give each child a walnut shell half, a small piece of playdough, a toothpick and a small square of white paper for a sail. Let the kids decorate their sails with crayons. Help each child put holes in his or her sail. Show the child how to stick his or her toothpick in one hole and out the other hole. Have the kids roll th plaudough into a ball and place in the bottom of the walnut shell.. Then stick the toothpick in the playdough. Hanger Turkeys Take a wire coat hanger and bend into an oval with the hook at the top. Stretch a leg of brown, tan panty hose over hanger, tie at the top. Children cut out and glue on six feathers, three each side. Two eyes, pupils, triangle orange nose, red gobbler, and two orange feet. We hang ours from the ceiling - they are adorable Gobble-Good Turkey Casserole 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can cream of celery soup 1 package onion soup mix 1 cup rice 1 1/2 cups milk 2 or 3 cups leftover turkey Songs & Fingerplays - (cont.) Mr. Turkey Mr. Turkey's tail is big and wide. (spread hands) He swings it when he walks. (swing hands) His neck is long, his chin is red. (point) He gobbles when he talks. (open and close hand like a mouth) The Turkey A turkey I saw on Thanksgiving. Her tail was spread so wide. Shhh. . . don't tell that you've seen her. For she's running away to hide. Five Little Pilgrims Five little Pilgrims on Thanksgiving Day. The first one said, "I'll have cake if I may." The second one said, "I'll have turkey roasted." The third one said, "I'll have chestnuts toasted." The fourth one said, "I'll have pumpkin pie." The fifth one said, "Oh, cranberries I spy." But before they ate any turkey or dressing, All of the Pilgrims said a Thanksgiving blessing. Thanksgiving Mr. Turkey went for a walk On a bright, sunshiny day. And on the way he met Mr. Duck, Gobble, Gobble . . .Quack, Quack. And they both went on their way. (children can take turns being turkey and duck, also fun for flannelboard) A Turkey Sat on a Backyard Fence A turkey sat on a backyard fence And he sang this sad, sad tune: "Thanksgiving Day is coming Gobble,gobble, gobble, gobble And I know I'll be eaten soon! Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, Gobble, gobble,gobble, gobble, I would like to run away-- Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, I don't like Thanksgiving Day!" Gobble, Gobble - sung to "If you're Happy & You Know It" "Gobble, gobble, gobble,gobble", says the bird- "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles And his head goes wobble-wobble "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. Ha, Ha, Turkey in the Straw - sung to "Skip to My Lou" Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha. Turkey in the straw, my darling. Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho, Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho, Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho. Turkey in the snow, my darling. Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi, Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi, Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi. Turkey in the sky, my darling. Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn, Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn, Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn. Turkey in the barn, my darling. Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn, Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn, Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn. Turkey in the corn, my darling. Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee, Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee, Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee. Turkey in the tree, my darling. Cut a turkey shape out of brown felt. Cut out of coloured felt a pile of brown straw, a pile of white snow, a blue sky background, a red barn, a yellow bag of corn, and a green tree for the turkey to sit in. Place all the shapes, except for the turkey, on the flannel board. Then sing the song with the chlidren and let them take turns placing the turkey on the appropriate shapes. Five Little Pilgrims - sung to the tune of "Five Little Ducks" Five little pilgrims sailing in a boat (hold up five fingers) Over the sea and water they float (make wave motions with hands) One little pilgrim said, "Land I see!" (hold up one finger, then hold other hand above eyes as if searching) They came to America to be free (fold hands and bow head as if to pray). Continue to repeat this song, subtracting the number of pilgrims as you go until there are no pilgrims left. A Thanksgiving Song - sung to "The Farmer in the Dell" The pilgrim says thanks, The pilgrim says thanks, Hi Ho on Thanksgiving The pilgrim says thanks. The turkey says gobble, The turkey says gobble, Hi Ho on Thanksgiving The turkey says gobble. Smells Like Thanksgiving - sung to "Frere Jacques" Smells like Thanksgiving, smells like Thanksgiving Mmmm so good, mmmm so good I can smell the turkey, I can smell the pies Mmmm so good, mmmm so good. Mr. Turkey - sung to "If You're Happy and You Know It" Gobble-gobble, gobble-gobble Says the bird, Gobble-gobble, gobble-gobble Says the bird. Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles, And his feet go wobble-wobble. Gobble-gobble, gobble-gobble Says the bird. I Am Thankful I am thankful for pets. I am thankful for school. I am thankful when I Can swim in a pool. I am thankful for home, And the food that I eat. I am thankful for all The new friends that I meet. I am thankful for health, And for my family. I'm especially thankful That I am just ME! Turkey Dinner - sung to "Brother John" Turkey Dinner, Turkey Dinner Gather round, gather round Who will eat the drumstick Yummmy, yummy drumstick All sit down, all sit down Cornbread muffins, Chestnut stuffing Punnin' pie, one foot high All of us were thinner Until we cam to dinner Me-o-my, me-o-my There's A Big Fat Turkey - sung to "Little White Duck" There's a big, fat turkey Down on the farm. A big, fat turkey Who stays away from harm. He's always gone on Thanksgiving Day For some odd reason he just runs away There's a big, fat turkey Down on the farm Gobble! Gobble! Gobble! Turkey on the Farm - sung to "The Wheels on the Bus" The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble." The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." Thanksgiving Day is near. The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop. The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop. Thanksgiving Day is here. The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me! Please help me! Please help me!" The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!" Thanksgiving Day is here. The children on the farm say, "Come and hide. Come and hide. Come and hide." The children on the farm say, "Come and hide." Thanksgiving Day is here. The wife on the farm looks all around. Looks all around. Looks all around. The wife on the farm looks all around. Thanksgiving Day is here. The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken. The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Thanksgiving Day is here. The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble." The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." Thanksgiving Day has passed. Five Fat Turkeys Five fat turkeys were sitting on a fence. (One hand up) The first one said, 'I'm so immense.' (Point to thumb) The second one said, 'I can gobble at you.' (Pointer finger) The third one said, 'I can gobble, too.' (Middle finger) The fourth one said, 'I can spread my tail.' (Ring finger) The fifth one said, 'Don't catch it on a nail.' (Little finger) A farmer came along and stopped to say (Pointer finger of other hand.) 'Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day.' Song for Thanksgiving - sung to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" Thank you, thank you, very much For everything that I can touch. Thanks a lot for nature's food. And for when I'm feeling good. Thank you, thank you very much. For moms and dads and friends and such. A turkey is a silly bird his head goes wobble wobble this turkey knows only one word Gobble Gobble Gobble The Turkey A turkey I saw on thanksgiving, Her tail was spread so wide. Shhh....don't tell that you've seen her, (Make a shhh sound with forefinger to lips) For she's running away to hide. (make fist for turkey and spread fingers of other hand for tail) Book List A Turkey For Thanksgiving - Eve Bunting A Visit to Grandma's - Nancy Carlson Albert's Thanksgiving - Leslie Tryon Arthur's Thanksgiving - Marc Brown Autumn Harvest - Alvin Tresselt Barney's Thanksgiving - Stephen White Bring In The Pumpkins - D. Ipcar Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit - Norman Bridwell Daisy's Crazy Thanksgiving - Margery Cuyler Farmer Goff And His Turky Sam - Brian Schatell Friendship's First Thanksgiving - William Accorsi Granny And The Indians - Peggy Parish Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit! - Alyssa Satin Capucilli I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie - Alison Jackson Little Bear's Thanksgiving - Janice Oh What a Thanksgiving - Steven Kroll One Tough Turkey: A Thanksgiving Story - Steven Kroll Snapping Turtle's All Wrong Day - Peggy Parish Sometimes It's Turkey, Sometimes It's Feathers Squash Pie - W. Gage Thanksgiving Day at Our House: Thanksgiving Poems for the Very Young - Nancy White Carlstrom Thanksgiving At Our House - Wendy Watson Thanksgiving Cats - Jean Marzollo Thanksgiving Day - Gail Gibbons Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks - Margaret Sutherland The Best Thanksgiving Ever - Nancy Inteli The First Thanksgiving - Linda Hayward The Story of Thanksgiving - Nancy J. Skarmeas The Story of the First Thanksgiving - Elaine Raphael The Story of the Pilgrims - Katherine K. Ross The Thanksgiving Story - Alice Dalgliesh The Turkey Who Came to Dinner - Kitty Richards 'Twas the Night before Thanksgiving - Dav Pilkey What Is Thanksgiving? - Harriet Ziefert What you need: · 2 toilet paper rolls · Construction paper autumn colors are perfect here: reds, oranges, yellow. · Brown Fun Foam can be found at your local craft store · Glue · Scissors · Ruler · Paper What you do: 1. Cut the rolls so that they each are 2 inches in length. Cut colored paper so that it can be evenly wrapped around the roll ( 2 inches wide). This will color your napkin ring. Glue the edges to the roll. 2. Using a piece of blank paper, draw a turkey approximately 1-2 inches in height. Try to draw a profile of a turkey - including beak. Theresa's Paper Turkey What you need: · Black or Brown Construction Paper · Yellow Construction Paper · Red Construction Paper · Squiggle Eyes · Feathers · Orange Pipe Cleaners · Glue What you do: 1. From the black or brown construction paper, cut two large circles for the body of the turkey (just fold it in half and use a small plate as the pattern). With scraps, cut oblong head that with straight edge along the bottom. 2. For beak, cut diamond shape from yellow construction paper 3. For red neck flap,cut narrow squiggly shape from red construction paper. 4. For legs, cut 1.5-2.0 inch pieces of pipe cleaner. Wrap one piece of pipe cleaner around bottom of another to create "feet". 5. Trim as needed. Assembly: 1. Glue eyes in place on head piece. 2. Glue red neck flap at an angle in mid section of head (remember beak will be placed on top). Fold diamond shaped yellow beak in half. 3. Glue lower half of beak on top of red giblet. This allows the top of the beak to be free moving. Set aside head of turkey to dry. 4. On one black circle, spread glue over top half of circle. Place feathers in a fanning shape (like a turkey . . .LOL). Put longest feathers at the top so they are seen over the head. Be sure feathers are glued securely. 5. Glue two pipe cleaner feet at bottom. 6. Glue remaining black circle on top of feathers and feet. 7. Glue Head at the top of last black circle (there needs to be some over lap). 8. Let dry .. .could also place magnet on back or do this with felt instead of construction paper. Enjoy! Make Graham Cracker Turkeys Children should be supervised around hot ovens and kitchen appliances! Note: As in all recipes, results can vary depending on humidity, conditions, etc. Please try any recipe out before attempting in a group setting. This project is rated AVERAGE to do. What You Need 1/4 cup unsweetened frozen apple juice concentrate 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1 sliced banana 1 tsp. Vanilla 1 tsp. Cinnamon 1 cup graham flour * 1 cup whole-wheat flour 1 tsp. Baking soda 1/2 tsp. Salt Turkey shaped cookie cutter * Graham Flour is a kind of flour, just like the more common wheat flour. If you can't find it in your supermarket, try calling health food stores. How To Make It 1. Combine apple juice, oil, banana, vanilla, and cinnamon in a blender. 2. In a large bowl, mix together graham flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, and salt. 3. Add apple juice mixture to flour mixture and stir thoroughly. 4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out with turkey shaped cookie cutter. 5. Use a fork to poke holes for eyes and feathers. 6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Yield: Makes 2 to 3 dozen cookies Group Time Songs and Fingerplays: Ten Fat Turkeys by chicky-ma-ma sung to "Ten little Indians" 1 fat, 2 fat 3 fat turkeys, 4 fat, 5 fat, 6 fat turkeys 7 fat, 8 fat 9 fat turkeys 10 fat turkeys ready for Thanksgiving I am Thankful by chicky-ma-ma (sung to "Where is Thumbkin?" I am Thankful, I am Thankful Yes I am, Yes I am I am Thankful for my friends I am thankful for my kin Yes I am, Yes I am Explain that kin is another word for family! Thanksgiving Cookbook This activity is more than worth it's time in laughs. I have done it two years in a row and everyone laughs. Take the children aside one by one and ask them, "What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?" Then ask them "How do you make that?" Write down word for word their responses. You may find it helpful to video tape the responses so you can get it all down. Then compile all of the responses in your classroom recipe book. You may make copies for the parents to take home or make one copy so that the parents may enjoy it. If you do the video, you may want to just show the video at a Thanksgiving party for the parents. One of my favorite responses: Thanksgiving Turkey by Emily First you get in the car and go to the farm and get a turkey. You pick a big one. Dramatic Play Indian Play Provide the children with Indian clothing, cradleboards, beaded necklaces, set up teepee's and allow the children to pretend to be Indian. You may also choose to provide different animal skins for a sensory experience. Thanksgiving Day Pretend to have a feast just like Thanksgiving. Pretend to eat all the foods that you would have at Thanksgiving. Lincoln Logs Provide the children with Lincoln Logs to build with. Games, Math and Science Popping popcorn What happens when you heat up corn kernels? Get an air popper and let the children watch the corn kernels pop. Be sure to let the children know that the container is hot. WARNING: Popcorn is a choking hazard and should never be served to children under the age of three. Children over the age of three should be directly supervised while eating popcorn. Turkey Feather Game Find a picture of a turkey that you like. Make six copies of it. Cut out the bodies of the turkeys (so you just have to add the feathers to make the turkey complete). Write the number "one" on the first turkey, two on another, repeat with the numbers three through six. Provide the children with twenty one feather shapes, cut from construction paper or store bought craft feathers. Ask the children to place the appropriate number of feathers on each turkey. One feather on the turkey with the number one it... and so on. Feather Sorting Cut out several different feather shapes from construction paper or provide the children with store bought craft feathers (can be used the above activity as well). Ask the children to sort the feathers according to color. Ask the children "How many red feathers do you have?" etc. Bead Patterns Provide the children with beads for lacing and pattern cards. Do simple patterns for younger children, or just allow them to string the beads. For a twist, get noodles with holes in them and have the children string these. You can even color the noodles with food coloring. Just be sure that eh noodles are dry before the children start to string the noodles... food coloring stains. Do the Turkey Pokey Sing the Hokey Pokey like normal, but then the last line goes as follows: "You do the Turkey Pokey and you gobble all around, that's what it's all about." Pin the Feather on the Turkey Played just like pin the tail on the donkey. Provide the children with a huge turkey shape, and feathers. You may want to use tape instead of pins to attach the feathers on the turkey. Blindfold one child and have them tape the feather on the turkey. Popcorn Pop Have the children watch popcorn pop. Have the children pretend to be popcorn. Upbeat music, or a recording of popping corn may stimulate the children to jump more. Bean Bag Toss Obtain a large piece of cardboard. A large, unfolded box works well. Draw a turkey on the cardboard with a large mouth. Paint the cardboard and cut out the mouth. When dry let the children throw bean bags through the hole. Feather or Turkey Hop Cut out large feather or turkey shapes from colored paper. Laminate them and cut them out. Place them on the floor and ask the children to hop from one feather or turkey to another. These may also be used at seat markers for group time. Thanksgiving Activity Ideas Art Activities Rock Painting Each child should have a small paint brush, paint and a rock. Allow each child to paint their rock.Rock painting II Use water to paint the rock... have the children watch what happens. Hand Turkey Paint the palm of your child's hand brown, as well as their thumb. Then paint each of their fingers a different bright color such red or blue. Have the child press their hand onto a piece of white paper. For older children, let them draw on feet and characteristics such as eyes and nose. The thumb represents the turkeys neck and the palm the body. Corn on Cob Allow the children to use a cob of corn to paint a picture. You may also use an ear of corn and have the children roll the corn in paint and then on a piece of paper. Another variation includes removing some of the corn from an ear of corn and roll the corn in paint and roll it on a piece of paper. Thankful Collage Have the children cut out pictures of magazines and make a collage. Then ask them what the pictures are and label the pictures with the names that they came up with. Thank You Cards Have the children make thank you cards. Have the children give the card to someone special. Place mats Have the children make a fall or Thanksgiving Place mat by coloring it, or cutting pictures out of a magazine. Then have an adult laminate them. http://www.geocities.com/providersnfriends/thanksgiving/thanksgiving.html TONS of Thanksgiving Ideas here-- Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Thanksgiving Recipes and Cooking Thanksgiving Songs and Fingerplays Thanksgiving Games, Math, and Science Thanksgiving Dramatic Play Thanksgiving Circle Time Thanksgiving Misc Thanksgiving Centers Maxi Unit: Thanksgiving Part 2 of 9 Tis the season to be thankful, and I am thankful to have discovered a cornucopia of links so you can plant new seeds and sprout a harvest full of ideas, techniques, and activities for your children and students. Ben and Jerry's Thanksgiving Crafts: http://www.benjerry.com/thanksgiving/crafts.tmpl Ben And Jerry's Thanksgiving Games: http://www.benjerry.com/thanksgiving/games.tmpl Mayflower Web Pages: http://members.aol.com/calebj/index.html Online Thanksgiving Games: http://www.kidsdomain.com/games/thanks.html Thanksgiving Crafts: http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/_Thanks.html Thanksgiving Proclamation: http://www.benjerry.com/thanksgiving/thanks-proc.tmpl *More great Thanksgiving links at the end of this newsletter Word of the Week: see Every Wednesday issue I will give you a word for your child to learn to read. The words I choose are based on the most frequently words found in beginning reading books for young children. Looking for fun ways to teach your child these words go here: http://mrsalphabet.com/wordoftheweek.html ********* More Thanksgiving Links ********* Mac Downloads: http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/mac.html PC Downloads: http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/pc.html Thanksgiving Clip Art: http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/clipart.html Thanksgiving Coloring Pages: http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/color.html Thanksgiving Riddles And Jokes: http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/games/jokes.html Thanksgiving Story Prompts: http://abcteach.com/Thanksgiving/storytarters.htm Virtual Tour Of Plimoth Plantation: http://pilgrims.net/plimothplantation/vtour/index.htm *My favorite wall decor for T-day: Large circle (12-16" diameter) cut from grocery sack, wrinkled up over and over again, and then flattened Small circle (about 2.5-3 inch diameter) of brown construction paper, glued slightly above center of bag circle Yellow triangle, glued with point down in the middle of small brown circle Draw on two black eyes above yellow triangle, or cut two black circles (about 1/4-1/2 inch diameter) and glue on Big red tear drop shaped gobbler, pasted to one side or the other of yellow triangle, slightly overlapping the triangle Two big red feet shapes to glue on bottom - can just be about four inch long (1/2 inch wide) rectangles, or rectangles with red triangles glued to the bottom of rectangles Have each child trace and decorate, provider too, each of their hands on different colored construction paper. Add squiggles, dots, lines, etc. with markers ... or add some glitter, colored glue drops, sequins, etc. Layer the hand shapes to make the tail feathers of the groups' turkey. *I'm a little turkey, My name is Ted. Here are my feathers Here is my head Gobble, gobble, gobble, Is what I say, Quick! Run! It's Thanksgiving Day! * NAPKIN RINGS -- the napkin rings are cut into about 2" rings we paint with fall colors and decorate with whatever we are in the mood for this time matching our place mates-- seal the colored leaves found on our walk with two sheets of wax paper ironed and take construction paper ( fall colors) and glue around the edges if you want and if you are feeling frisky make some name cards for the kids our of construc. paper as well the kids can make one for each in family or just them depending on their attention span and your nerves good luck if I left something out let me know *Here's a cute Thanksgiving project thats really easy, for those of you who are like me and are not real crafty :) Put the following poem on orange paper: This isn't just a turkey. As anyone can see. I made it with my hand, Which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love, Especially to say, I hope you have a very, Happy Thanksgiving Day! Then have them trace their handprint onto the bottom of the paper and have them color the fingers for feathers and make the thumb into a turkey head. You can also add feet at the bottom. The parents just love these. ;) *Turkey Platter Sponge a large paper plate with bright fall colors, then set ashid to dry. Make a light brown peanut shaped turkey body & have kids glue it on the lower section of the plate so painting resembles fanned out tail feathers. *Indian Corn The night before, take red food coloring and squirt over corn. Let sit and the corn will turn red. ( I let the corn sit in a bowl with just a few drops of water) On a piece of paper, draw an ear of corn. Then glue the corn on the cob. Color stalks green. Corn Cluster Cut 2 orange or yellow paper ears of corn and staple together with tissue between for stuffing. Use crayons to draw in kernls. Fasten clusters of about seven ears to husks cut from strips of brown paper bags. Hang several corn clusters as thanksgiving decorations. Turkey trays Set out leaves, plastic foam trays, and construction paper. Make turkeys by gluing arrangements of real leaves for the feathers onto construction-paper bodies. Then glue bodies onto trays. Draw in features Indian headbands and vests During our Thanksgiving feast at school. I dressed all my students in Indian outfits. We made Indian Headbands........ Stripes of paper with a paper feather in the back. Indian vests.. We used Large brown paper bags and cut the arms out and decorated with paint. Bulletin board idea- Tom the Turkey From brown construction paper cut out a large circle for a turkey body and a small circle for a head. Glue the small circle in the center of the large one. Add a yellow construction paper beal, a red wattle, black eyes, and 2 red legs. Trace around each childs hand. Use the tracing to cut hand shapes from red, yellow, and orange construction paper. let the children decorate their hand shapes with crayons. Then have them glue their shapes around the top part of the turkey body for feathers. Then attach to bulletin board. Mayflower ships Give each child a walnut shell half, a small piece of playdough, a toothpick and a small square of white paper for a sail. Let the kids decorate their sails with crayons. Help each child p2 holes in his or her sail. Show the child how to stick his or her toothpick in one hole and out the other hole.Hve the kids roll th plaudough into a ball and place in the bottom ofthe walnut shell.. Then stick the toothpick in the playdough. punpkin pies Cut round pie shapes out of orange construction paper. give each child a few whole cloves in a paper cup and set out small containers of powered cinnamon and ginger. Have the kids brush glue on thier pie shapes. then let them sprinkle the spices over the glue and create "fragrant pumpkin pies." Comparing corn items Let the kids compare fresh corncobs, popcorn kernals, dried Indian corn, canned corn, cornmeal, cornflakes, and corn chips. Making Butter Fill baby food jars half full of whipping cream and screw the lids on tighly. let 2 Kids take turns shaking each jar. After about 5 mins the cream will be whipped, and after another min or so, lumps of yellow butter will form. Rinse off the liquid whey and add a little salt, if desired. Then spread on crakers to taste! Gobble, Gobble "If you're Happy & You Know It" "Gobble, gobble, gobble,gobble", says the bird- "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles And his head goes wobble-wobble "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. A Turkey Sat on a Backyard Fence A turkey sat on a backyard fence And he sang this sad, sad tune: "Thanksgiving Day is coming (Gobble,gobble, gobble, gobble) And I know I'll be eaten soon! Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, Gobble, gobble,gobble, gobble, I would like to run away-- Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, I don't like Thanksgiving Day!" * Turkey on the Farm (Sung to: The Wheels on the Bus) The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble." The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." Thanksgiving Day is near. The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop. The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop. Thanksgiving Day is here. The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me! Please help me! Please help me!" The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!" Thanksgiving Day is here. The children on the farm say, "Come and hide. Come and hide. Come and hide." The children on the farm say, "Come and hide." Thanksgiving Day is here. The wife on the farm looks all around. Looks all around. Looks all around. The wife on the farm looks all around. Thanksgiving Day is here. The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken. The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Thanksgiving Day is here. The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble." The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." Thanksgiving Day has passed. CORN COB Yellow paper cob and green husk. Wad up yellow tissue paper and glue to cob or glue on popcorn HAND TURKEY THANKSGIVING CARD Trace childs hand and color brown body and colored feathers(fingers) Write in card: This isn't just a Turkey As anyone can see, I made it with my hand Which is part of me. It comes with lots of love Especially to say, I hope that you have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!! TOILET PAPER ROLL TURKEY Take a tp tube and cover it with brown construction paper. Trace both hands on white paper and let child color feathers. Cut out hands. Cut thumb off. Lay tube horizontally. Glue hands to back of tube. Cut out peanut shape for head and glue to the front of tube. Use a red piece of felt to droop down from top of his head. add wiggle eyes. GROCERY BAG TURKEY Take a walk and gather fall leaves. Cut out two circles from grocery bag about 5 or 6 inches across. On thehead glue eyes beak and waddle cut from construction paper. glue the leaves to the outer edges of one of the circle with most of the leaf sticking out over the edge ...glue the other circle on top . add two legs from construction paper. INDIAN VEST Grocery bag...cut a circle in the bottom of bag. Turn inside out and cut fringes on the bottom and write the Indian name of the child on the back of vest. EGG CARTON TOTEM POLE cut egg cartons into 4 rows of 3 cups. Glue 2 sectons together, back to back, to form totem pole. Decorate with colored macaroni , foam shapes or whatever you desire. >> Pine Cone Trukey Take one red Chenille bump & shape into an "S". Glue this to the rounded end of a pinecone with the bump protruding somewhat above the cone for the head of the turkey. Take one orange bump & shape into a "V". Glue this under the bottom of the round part of the cone for the legs & feet. Take 5-7 other bumps & carefully bend them so the narrow ends can be twisted together leaving the puffy end somewhat rounded. Glue as many of these as nicely fits close to the flattened stemmed end of the pinecone remembering to use glue on the twisted end of the wire. Potato Turkey Give each child a Russet potato & a pre-cut turkey head with 2 tabs at the bottom of the neck. Using 2 halves of toothpicks, secure tabs to potato. Using another toothpick pock holes in the side of the potato & place a real feather in each hole. Use 4 toothpicks as legs. ************** A variation of the Potato Turkey is the APPLE TURKEY. Use the apple for the turkey body, pre-cut turkey head, and those frilly cocktail toothpicks for feathers. * Take a wire coat hanger and bend into an oval with the hook at the top. Stretch a leg of brown, tan panty hose over hanger, tie at the top. Children cut out and glue on six feathers, three each side. Two eyes, pupils, triangle orange nose, red gobbler, and two orange feet. We hang ours from the ceiling - they are adorable. We also do Rudolphs and Ho Ho's! *Ha, Ha, Turkey in the Straw (sung to "Skip to My Lou") Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha. Turkey in the straw, my darling. Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho, Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho, Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho. Turkey in the snow, my darling. Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi, Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi, Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi. Turkey in the sky, my darling. Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn, Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn, Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn. Turkey in the barn, my darling. Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn, Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn, Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn. Turkey in the corn, my darling. Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee, Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee, Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee. Turkey in the tree, my darling. Cut a turkey shape out of brown felt. Cut out of coloured felt a pile of brown straw, a pile of white snow, a blue sky background, a red barn, a yellow bag of corn, and a green tree for the turkey to sit in. Place all the shapes, except for the turkey, on the flannel board. Then sing the song with the chlidren and let them take turns placing the turkey on the appropriate shapes. *10 little turkeys sat in their pen "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(9) decided to stay! 9 little turkeys sat in their pen "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew out of the gate, And when he was gone, there were...(8). 8 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(7) decided to stay. 7 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey hid with the chicks, And when she was gone, there were...(6). 6 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(5) decided to stay. 5 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey hopped out the door, And when he was gone, there were (4). 4 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(3) decided to stay. 3 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flapped her wings and flew. And when she was gone, there were ,,,(2). 2 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away. But the last ...(1) decided to stay. 1 little turkey sat in his pen. "Hide, turkey, hide!" said the little red hen. The last little turkey flew off toward the sun And when he was gone, there were ...(none). IDEAS: 1.Flannel board activity. 2.Magnet board activity. 3.Dramatize, with children being the turkeys. 4.Use stick puppet turkeys. 5.Etc. NOTE:I can already hear the children chanting: "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. They will love this repetitive line! NOTE 2:If 10 turkeys are too many for your student's attention span, use only 5 turkeys! SOURCE:KINDERGARTEN CONNECTIONS-Monday Morning Books. *Thanksgiving Quilt Give each child a 9 inch square of Construction paper that has been divided into nine squares. Let each child glue 3 inch squares of fabric, wall[paper or colored wrapping paper in to the squares on their papers. Encourage them to glue their squares in patterns. Tape the children's papers together to create a group quilt. Then display the quilt on a wall or a bulletin board. Thanksgiving Centerpieces Give each child a 6 to 8 inch circle cut from posterboard and a cardboard toilet tissue tube. Have the children cover their tubes in glue and roll in glitter. Help the children glue their glittery tubes upright in the centers of their posterboard circle. Then give them small pinecones, acorn cups, and other assorted nature items to glue around the bases of their centerpieces. (Have the children sprinkle glitter all over their nature items, if desired.) Give the children dried weeds or flowers to put in their tubes. Use the completed centerpiece to decorate the snack table or arrange them on the shelves around the room. Indian Necklaces Use brown or white fluted coffee filters to make several necklaces for each child, To make necklaces, smooth a coffee filter out flat. Make a cut through the fluted edges then cut out the center. Punch a hole in each end of the filter and attach 10 inch pieces of yarn for ties. Let the children decorate their filters with felt tip markers or paint. Then help them cut fringes along the outer edges of their filters to complete their necklaces. *turkey treats These are cute and easy to make. Ritz Cracker, canned frosting, chocolate kiss, candy corn and caramel. Spread frosting on cracker. Peel the paper off the kiss and place kiss near the bottom of the cracker. add cnady corn above the kiss tomake feathers; place one corn on the kiss for the head. Let frosting dry. Attache a carmel to the back with more frosting to make it stand up. *Thankful Wreath Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents.". Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath. *M & M turkeys. For each turkey, you will need 2 pieces of orange nylon net, about 10" square each; 1/2 of a brown pipe cleaner; 1 secton of red chenille bump; 2 tiny wiggle eyes; a piece of strong thread or thin string; about 1/2 to 1 cup plain M&Ms, a dab of glue. Put the 2 pieces of net together, with the corners of one along the sides of the other, making 8 points. pour M&Ms in center, gather up the points, twist and tie securely. Coil the brown pipe cleaner, leaving about 2"; curve the 2" to form the neck. Tuck the red bump into the bottom of the coil to form the wattle. Glue a tiny eye on each side of the head. Shape the body - the M&Ms - so that the ends of the net become the tail and stick out the back. Insert the neck thru the net in the front. For a simpler craft, print out copies of a turkey outline. They can add feathers in several ways: thumbprints in water colors, glue real feathers on it, cut out feather shapes from colored construction paper and glue on, glue on crumbled fall leaves, even just color it. Draw a large turkey -at least 18" - on a piece of plain paper. Color as desired, but do not put on the wattle. Cut out several red "U" shapes and put a small piece of double stick tape on the back. Play like pin the tail on the donkey. Or just draw a turkey body and let them pin on feathers. Have each child make a "book" of what they are thankful for - family, pets, a wonderful daycare, favorite toy, whatever . Fold several pieces of plain paper in half and staple on the fold. As they tell you what they are thankful for, write it on a page, with one answer per page. Then let them draw a picture of each thing they said. Cornicopias are fun and simple. Get some Bugle crackers and Trix cereal. For snacks, use a dab of frosting in the bugle, stick on some Trix fruit. For cards, glue the Trix in the Bugle and glue onto a folded half-sheet of light cardstock, then let them draw inside and sign their name. *Title: Five Fat Turkeys Five fat turkeys were sitting on a fence. (One hand up) The first one said, 'I'm so immense.' (Point to thumb) The second one said, 'I can gobble at you.' (Pointer finger) The third one said, 'I can gobble, too.' (Middle finger) The fourth one said, 'I can spread my tail.' (Ring finger) The fifth one said, 'Don't catch it on a nail.' (Little finger) A farmer came along and stopped to say (Pointer finger of other hand.) 'Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day.' Title: Gluing Paper Corn Squares Materials: Manila paper, Black felt marker, Paste, Scrapes of colored paper Procedure: On manila paper, draw a large ear of corn with the shucks peeled halfway back (like a banana) for each child. Add kernels by drawing a brick-wall design in the exposed half. Cut tiny pieces of colored paper the same size as the kernels. Have the children paste the small paper kernels onto their corncob shapes. Shade shucks lightly with green and brown chalk, if desired. Hints: Either pre-paste the colored paper kernels or dot paste on the children's corncobs. Most two-year-olds will not care to paste on more than six to ten kernels. Have some real Indian corn on hand to show children. Title: Gobble, Gobble A turkey is a funny bird, His head goes wobble, wobble. And he knows just one word, Gobble, gobble, gobble. Title: Hands and A Foot Turkey Materials: Several different colored construction paper, brown construction paper, white background paper. Cut several handprints of the children on the different colored paper. Cut one foot print per child on the brown paper. The handprint is the feathers of the Turkey and the footprint is the body/face. Then use your imagination for the rest. Title: Indian Corn Materials: Orange and green construction paper, popcorn, glue and scissors Cut corn shape from orange paper and stem form from the green paper. Let the children glue the corn all over the orange section. Title: Indian Corn Napkin Ring Holders Cut cardboard tubes (from paper towels) into 1 inch wide sections. Cut brown felt into 1 inch wide strips. Glue felt pieces on inside and outside of the 1 inch cardboard pieces. Let the glue dry. Dab the back of each kernel of Indian corn with glue. Place the corn kernels on the ring, lining them in rows. Mix up the colors for a more interesting design. Title: Making Name Cards Cut out a name card on white card stock. The sides should be angled like \ and / with the top arching. Glue corn around the top and sides of the card. You can glue some ric-a-rack on the back side to stick up above the top of the card. Add the name of the person on the front of the card. Tuck the card into two pinecones as the holders. Title: My Turkey I have a turkey, big and fat He spreads his wings, (Fan hands at hips) And walks like that (Strut) His daily corn he would not miss (Pretend to eat corn) And when he walks, he sounds like this, ('Gobble, Gobble, Gobble') Title: Paper Plate Turkeys Cut out a variety of feathers from different construction paper. Have children put small slits down both sides of the feathers. Glue feathers on turkey (paper plate) and make the face. Title: Song for Thanksgiving Tune 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' Thank you, thank you, very much For everything that I can touch. Thanks a lot for nature's food. And for when I'm feeling good. Thank you, thank you very much. For moms and dads and friends and such. Title: Turkey Feather Game Cut five turkey body shapes out of brown felt and fifteen feather shapes out of red, yellow and orange felt. Number the turkey body shapes from 1 to 5 and put them on a flannelboard. Place the feather shapes in a pike. To play the game, have the children take turns selecting a turkey, identifying the number on it and adding that many feathers to it. Title: Turkey Picture with Dyed Popcorn Materials: Picture of a turkey with backside feathers visible, tagboard to glue picture on ahead of time, unpopped popcorn, rubbing alcohol, food coloring, crayons or markers. Color the popcorn by mixing it with rubbing alcohol and food color....let dry in an open container. Have the kids color the turkey then glue the colored popcorn on to make his feathers. Wallpaper Turkeys Have the children cut about a 5" circle from brown construction paper. We provide the children with a precut profile of a turkey head and neck. (You could also use a rectangle for the neck and a small circle for the head.) They glue the base of it to the center of the circle at about a 45 degree angle. This is glued to a large sheet of drawing paper. They then draw the waddle, beak, eyes and feet. The children are provided with a wide variety of feathers cut from old wallpaper. (The stores will often give you outdated wallpaper books.) We then encourage the children add details to their picture like grass, bugs to eat or whatever they like. Teepees During November we read the book " Three Little Indians" by Stuart. (Sorry the book is at school and I don't know the first name.) This is a rather long book so we usually read it over a period of 3 days. It tells the stories of three Indian children who live in different parts of the country. We talk about the different types of homes that they lived in. We explain that some Indians lived in Teepees which were decorated with symbols which tell a story. We show the children a chart of some symbols and ask them to guess what they mean. Then we have a short rebus type story on a chart which we read together. The children are then given a large half circle to decorate with some of their own symbols and to perhaps make up their own story. When they are done we make a cone out of the half circle to create the teepee. Cut a little slit on one side of the bottom and fold up to create a door. Last year some of my children also drew and cut out Indian figures and glued them to the outside of their teepee. Short and Long Feathers (This is an idea from "Year 'Round Activities For Four-Year-Old Children by Anthony and Kathleen Coletta) Objectives: The children will place paper strips in order by size and then use them to decorate turkeys. Materials: Six basic colors of construction paper, scissors, pre-cut turkey, glue 1. Cut strips of red, green, yellow, blue, orange, violet. Vary the length of each color so that the red strips are shorter than the orange ones, which are shorter than the yellow ones and so on. 2. Give each child one strip of each color and ask them to place them in order by size. Tell them to start with the smallest and go to the longest. 3. Have the children cut short slits along the sides of each strip to resemble feathers and then glue them however they want onto the turkey's back. You might want to have them examine some real feathers before they do this. Hand Indian Materials: Drawing paper and crayons or markers Place the child's hand near the top of the paper with fingers slightly open. Trace around the fingers and hand but not the thumb. Draw a head band across the base of the fingers. The fingers now can be colored to resemble feathers. A face is drawn on the palm of the hand. If desired the children can then go on to draw the body, arms and legs. It would be helpful to have some pictures of Native Americans available so the children can see their traditional dress. Turkey Handprint Washable paint: Brown paint for palms and thumb Any colors you choose for other fingers Paint childs palm and thumb brown. Paint the other 4 fingers with autumn colors or any color. Make a print of the childs hand on paper. To the thumb color on a wobble, a beak and eyes. Add (whatever you call turkey feet !) to the body. Print out or write this poem on the paper to accompany print. This isn't just a turkey, As anyone can see. I made it with my hand, Which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love, Especially to say, Have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. Pine Cone Turkeys Materials: pine cone scissors construction paper crayons white glue 1. Lay a round pine cone on its side 2. Cut several paper feathers from constrction paper. 3. Draw vein designs on the feathers with crayons. 4. Glue the feathers into the top petals of the pine cone. 5. Cut a head and neck out of construction paper. Draw an eye ont he head and glue on a red paper circle under the eye for a wattle. 6. Glue the head to the bottom of the pine cone. >From Snips and Snails and Wanut Whales, Phyllis Fiarotta, 1975, pg 84 * Thanksgiving Feast for vegetarians by Eileen Spubelli Beans and rice and corn and peas And pasta piled in bowls, Salad, soup, and cranberries, Biscuits, bread, and rolls. "Where's the turkey in all this?" You ask with some surprise. He's sitting next to Uncle Gus And gobbling up the pies! I'm a Little Turkey (sung to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot) I'm a Little Turkey Look at me Fat and plump as I can be Don't you try and catch me 'cuz you'll see I'll hide behind the old oak tree Potato Garden Show the children a few varieties of potatoes. Cut an inch off of the end of a each potato and put them in a clear bowl of water, supporting them with toothpicks so they don't touch the bottom of the bowl. Ask the children what they think will happen. Hve the children observe the potatoes daily an ddescribe the changes which occur. Explain that this potatoes could be planted during planting season to grow more potatoes. Pilgrim Children Pilgrim children did not play on that first Thanksgiving Day The first chopped wood which he could take to help his sister cook and bake. The second took a great big sack, and brought some nuts, all they could crack. The third one got a turkey and she helped to roast it in a pan. The fourth ground corn to make the bread The fifth made covers for the bed. The sixth one brought a pumpkin by she cut it up to make it pie. The seventh came and popped some corn. The eighth fed horses in the barn the ninth watched food or it might burn, the tenth churned butter in a churn. Pilgrim children did not play On that first Thanksgiving Day. Bring in children's books concerning Indians,Pilgrims and Thanksgiving for the browsing table.Although this rhyme is long,it's various words can be discussed. "Why would the first child chop wood?" "Where would the second child get walnuts?" Describe an old fashioned churn and tell how butter was made. Or better yet,make some!! :-) Pumpkin Pie There was an orange pumpkin (make circle with hands) sitting in the patch (make circle near floor) Mama made it into a pie (make stirring motion) just like that! (clap hands) Use as a flannel board rhyme.Make shapes of pie and pumpkin! Thanksgiving Movement Games GOBBLE, GOBBLE A child is chosen to be "it"."It" closes his/her eyes and sits at the front of the room. Another child is chosen to be the turkey.The turkey runs and hides in some part of the room/house? When the turkey has been hidden,he/she should be saying"gobble,gobble,gobble." "It" tries to guess who it is from the sound of the voice.He/she has three guesses. Little ones can follow the sound and find the turkey :-) LITTLE INDIANS Five little Indians, on a nice fall day (dance around) Jumped on their ponies and rode far away(hands on next child,pretend to be ponies) They galloped in the meadow,and they galloped up a hill,(pretend tp gallop) They galloped so fast,they all took a spill.(pretend to fall off the ponies) ART ACTIVITY What will we eat? When anyone thinks of Thanksgiving,we usually all think of food that is served. Discuss with the children the different types of food that might be eaten at their family's Thanksgiving dinner.What types of food do the children want to eat? Let the children spend time cutting pictures from magazines (food),which also gives them anexcellent opportunity to develop the fine motor skills necessary to improve their "cutting" skills. When children have found many foods, have them sort the different foods into different boxes,labeled with the major foodgroups(Dairy,meat,fruit etc). Give each child a paper plate.Let each child choose from the boxes what they want on their plate for dinner. Paste the pictures on their plates! Display the plates on a wall ! THANKFUL BOOK Subject: Language Arts Concept/skills Verbalizes wants Describes items in two or three words Applies glue and pastes pieces Objectives The children will select representative pictures and paste them into a book. Materials Magazine pictures of home and family Scissors colored construction paper Paste Markers Procedure: 1. Discuss the idea of being thankful like saying thank you,being glad to have something or somebody! 2. Place the pictures of home and family objects,incl. Familymembers.Pets,food,houses,and beds on a table.Let the children select their choice of pictures. 3. Help them cut around the pictures and paste it onto constructionpaper.Print on the page " I am thankful for...." 4. Assemble all the pages together for a Thankful book.:-) Ways to extend: Use any leftover pictures to make a mural. Listen to Hap Palmer's "Things I am thankful for". Books to read:Pilgrim Thanksgiving Wilma Pitchford Hays The Thanksgiving Story Alice Dalgliesh First Thanksgiving Lena Barksdale Corn on the cob: Give each child a sheet of stiff paper or tag boardwith the outline of corn on the cob. The children can fill the inside of the corn by gluing real (unpopped) kernels of corn. Tell the children that it was the Indian people who taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn. The Pilgrims on Thanksgiving were thankful that they had learned about corn from the Indian people. Paper sac turkey: Use a small square bottomed paper sack. Fold the sack flat for coloring. Use brown crayon on the sides to color body feathers. The open end of the sack can be colored to represent bright tail feathers. The sack is stuffed with newspaper and a pipe cleaner to close, leaving enough of the end so that the "tail feathers" can spread out. Cut a double of head from red paper and attach to square end of sack along the sides. Thankful collage: Have children cut pictures from magazines of things they are thankful for (food, homes, clothing, family etc..) and mount the pictures on poster board or construction paper. Have "circle time" discussion on what they are thankful for and why. Where is the turkey hiding? Use a small toy turkey or one you have cut out and made. Tell the children that the turkey is very nervous because he knows that he may beome thanksgiving dinner. He is going to run and hide. The children are the pilgrims (make pilgrim hats from newspaper!) and it is their job to find the turkey. Hide the turkey in various locations. For smaller children, place in plain view for the children to see and encourage the children to describe where the turkey is hiding, by using statements as, "under the table, next to the chair, on the desk, in the box" etc. Indian names; The Indian people give their children names that have special meanings. Give the children some examples of Indian names translated into English (Running Bear, Morning Star etc.) Have the children think up a name like this that they would like to use for a whole week. Try to encourage the kids to choose names that will have special meaning for each of them. Poem: I Am Thankful: I am thankful for pets I am thankful for school I am thankful when I can swim in a pool. I am thankful for home and the food that I eat. I am thankful for all the new friends that I meet. I am thankful for health and for my family. I'm especially thankful that I am just me! Book: Thanksgiving Day By: Gail Gibbons A nice book to read to preschoolers about teaching what thanksgiving is and how Thanksgiving was started. It is facts written simply. Colorful Illustrations. * Title: Indian Corn Napkin Ring Holders Cut cardboard tubes (from paper towels) into 1 inch wide sections. Cut brown felt into 1 inch wide strips. Glue felt pieces on inside and outside of the 1 inch cardboard pieces. Let the glue dry. Dab the back of each kernel of Indian corn with glue. Place the corn kernels on the ring, lining them in rows. Mix up the colors for a more interesting design. *Turkey art: Fold a coffee filter in half 3 times so that it is the shape of a small triangle. Prepare 4 small containers of green, red, yellow and blue water. Dip each point into a color and then dip the middle of the filter in the last color. Open and let dry. These will be the turkey's feathers. Give the children a tracer that looks like the shape of a bowling pin. That will be the turkey's body. Have them trace and cut it out of brown paper. Glue the turkey's body to the opened coffee filter and decorate. *Turkey math: Paint each child's hand with brown paper and have them press it onto 1/2 sheet of construction paper. Let them add features with markers and crayons to make the hand prints look like turkey. Use the finished pictures to talk about counting by fives. Hang them in a row with the numerals 5, 10, 15... and so on up to 100. Practice counting by fives. *Pumpkin Pie Cut a paper plate in 6 wedges. Have children color the outside of the rim brown. Then paint the remaining slice with orange paint. While paint is still wet, sprinkle on some cinnamon, ginger, or cloves. Glue cotton ball on for whipped cream. *Cornucopia Bugles corn snacks Trix cereal white frosting Put a small dab of frosting in a bugle. Put several trix in each "cornucopia". (I think this was from Preschool mailbox.) *Turkey Toast Use a large turkey shaped cookie cutter to cut out shape from wheat bread. Spread the whole shape with peanut butter, Use a raisin for and eye, a slice of a red gummy worm for the wattle, and fruit loops for the tail feathers. Tastes good, and kids love it! *Apple Turkey ( I use this for the 3 year old gathering) Insert toothpicks into the botton of a red apple to form legs. Insert another toothpick on the top of the apple (to one side), and push on a large marshmallow. On 4 more toothpicks, push colored gumdrops. Push these into the back of the apple for feathers. Add raisins and red gumdrop sliver to complete face. I use the heavy duty colored toothpicks to prevent breaking, or not spotting when eating. This activity is always done at our Thanksgiving gathering with the child and his parent/caregiver. This makes it a one-on-one, and adult supervised. *Here's a fun Thanksgiving turkey that doubles as centrepiece and a snack! a ball of brown play dough one toothpick 1 one inch styrofoam ball 2 googly eyes a little piece of red felt (for the "beard") a styrofoam meat tray (ask at the butcher shop for a donation of new ones, used ones can carry diseases) a variety of suckers/lollipops I bet you can pretty much guess how it goes together - brown playdough for the body, insert toothpick for the neck. Stick styrofoam ball on end of toothpick to form the head. Glue on eyes and "beard". Stick suckers on turkey's back end to form the tail feathers. A cute, partially edible turkey! (We did this with the Brownies last year, and this year with my daycare kids, making our own playdough) * The Thanksgiving book by Eve Bunting is called A Turkey for Thanksgiving and it is a great book. It's one of my absolute favorites, it is for sale in the November "Fire Fly" book club from Scholastic. It is about a moose family who is looking for a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, they end up finding one and it turns out they just wanted to invite him to dinner. The illustrations are absolutly wonderful and the children are always surprised by the ending! Can you tell I like it?!? >> *Oreo Turkeys Oreo cookies candy corn malted milk balls icing (not whipped) Open one oreo and place one part, icing side up (eat the other half). Add a bit of icing as glue, and stand another Oreo up on it (this is your turkey body). Spread one side half of the standing oreo w/ icing, and attatch 5-6 pieces of candy corn....fanned out like turkey feathers. Add a malted milk ball to the top of the other side, for head. An additional piece of candy corn can be used for a waddle (or a red m&m). Add candy pumpkins for effect....and create your own little turkey farm! back to the topThanksgiving *Each November we do a Thanksgiving pen-pal exchange with another daycare in our area. One year we are the Indians and they are the Pilgrams and the following year we switch roles. Our pen-pal letter exchange always tells of some Thanksgiving history, such as, why the pilgrams left their land, how the Indians grow their food, and what life was like during that time. We print our letters on a piece of poster size butcher paper so they can we hung on the wall for the children to view each day. The week of Thanksgiving we have our annual celebration in a tradition Thanksgiving style...the Pilgrams always visit the Indians and we exchange homemade gifts. In conjuction with this activity the Indians earn feathers to apply to a headdress and the Pilgrams earn "beads"(colored pasta noodles) to add to a necklace. Each feather and bead represent a specific age appropriate accompishment, ex. counting to 10, singing A,B,C's, colors, shapes, etc. The headdress and necklaces are worn at our annual celebration. *The Cranberry Thanksgiving The Cranberry Thanksgiving, about a Grandma in Maine with a prize winning cranberry bread recipe that someone is trying to steal. It has a wonderful recipe for cranberry bread at the end that we bake for parents in the mini- loaf pans so that everyone has some to take home. The story is quite long for toddlers, but I have shortened it according to the pictures and they find it very interesting. We always end our Thanksgiving feast on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving with T was The Night Before Thanksgiving *Turkey Toss Game Take a large brown grocery bag and glue 2 small lunch bags (gathered at the tops) to sides of the bag to look like drumsticks. We then take turns throwing in the stuffing (sock balls or bean bags we call cornbread! It is a great motor activity and very simple and inexpensive. And if that isn t enough, remember by using the brown bag, rolled up socks ... you are recycling!!! *The Turkey A turkey I saw on thanksgiving, Her tail was spread so wide. Shhh....don't tell that you've seen her, For she's running away to hide (make fist for turkey & spread fingers of other hand for tail, Make a shhh sound) * ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY Sing to tune of "O' My Darlin' Clementine" Albuquerque, he's my turkey, and he's feathered and he's fine and he wobbles and he gobbles and I'm awfully glad he's mine. He's the best pet you could ever get better than a dog or cat Albuquerque, he's my turkey and I'm awfully glad of that. Albuquerque, he's my turkey he's so cozy in his bed because for our Thanksgiving dinner we had scrambled eggs instead. *My favorite wall decor for T-day: Large circle (12-16" diameter) cut from grocery sack, wrinkled up over and over again, and then flattened Small circle (about 2.5-3 inch diameter) of brown construction paper, glued slightly above center of bag circle Yellow triangle, glued with point down in the middle of small brown circle Draw on two black eyes above yellow triangle, or cut two black circles (about 1/4-1/2 inch diameter) and glue on Big red tear drop shaped gobbler, pasted to one side or the other of yellow triangle, slightly overlapping the triangle Two big red feet shapes to glue on bottom - can just be about four inch long (1/2 inch wide) rectangles, or rectangles with red triangles glued to the bottom of rectangles Have each child trace and decorate, provider too, each of their hands on different colored construction paper. Add squiggles, dots, lines, etc. with markers ... or add some glitter, colored glue drops, sequins, etc. Layer the hand shapes to make the tail feathers of the groups' turkey. *I'm a little turkey, My name is Ted. Here are my feathers Here is my head Gobble, gobble, gobble, Is what I say, Quick! Run! It's Thanksgiving Day! * NAPKIN RINGS -- the napkin rings are cut into about 2" rings we paint with fall colors and decorate with whatever we are in the mood for this time matching our place mates-- seal the colored leaves found on our walk with two sheets of wax paper ironed and take construction paper ( fall colors) and glue around the edges if you want and if you are feeling frisky make some name cards for the kids our of construc. paper as well the kids can make one for each in family or just them depending on their attention span and your nerves good luck if I left something out let me know *Here's a cute Thanksgiving project thats really easy, for those of you who are like me and are not real crafty :) Put the following poem on orange paper: This isn't just a turkey. As anyone can see. I made it with my hand, Which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love, Especially to say, I hope you have a very, Happy Thanksgiving Day! Then have them trace their handprint onto the bottom of the paper and have them color the fingers for feathers and make the thumb into a turkey head. You can also add feet at the bottom. The parents just love these. ;) *Turkey Platter Sponge a large paper plate with bright fall colors, then set ashid to dry. Make a light brown peanut shaped turkey body & have kids glue it on the lower section of the plate so painting resembles fanned out tail feathers. *Indian Corn The night before, take red food coloring and squirt over corn. Let sit and the corn will turn red. ( I let the corn sit in a bowl with just a few drops of water) On a piece of paper, draw an ear of corn. Then glue the corn on the cob. Color stalks green. Corn Cluster Cut 2 orange or yellow paper ears of corn and staple together with tissue between for stuffing. Use crayons to draw in kernls. Fasten clusters of about seven ears to husks cut from strips of brown paper bags. Hang several corn clusters as thanksgiving decorations. Turkey trays Set out leaves, plastic foam trays, and construction paper. Make turkeys by gluing arrangements of real leaves for the feathers onto construction-paper bodies. Then glue bodies onto trays. Draw in features Indian headbands and vests During our Thanksgiving feast at school. I dressed all my students in Indian outfits. We made Indian Headbands........ Stripes of paper with a paper feather in the back. Indian vests.. We used Large brown paper bags and cut the arms out and decorated with paint. Bulletin board idea- Tom the Turkey From brown construction paper cut out a large circle for a turkey body and a small circle for a head. Glue the small circle in the center of the large one. Add a yellow construction paper beal, a red wattle, black eyes, and 2 red legs. Trace around each childs hand. Use the tracing to cut hand shapes from red, yellow, and orange construction paper. let the children decorate their hand shapes with crayons. Then have them glue their shapes around the top part of the turkey body for feathers. Then attach to bulletin board. Mayflower ships Give each child a walnut shell half, a small piece of playdough, a toothpick and a small square of white paper for a sail. Let the kids decorate their sails with crayons. Help each child p2 holes in his or her sail. Show the child how to stick his or her toothpick in one hole and out the other hole.Hve the kids roll th plaudough into a ball and place in the bottom ofthe walnut shell.. Then stick the toothpick in the playdough. punpkin pies Cut round pie shapes out of orange construction paper. give each child a few whole cloves in a paper cup and set out small containers of powered cinnamon and ginger. Have the kids brush glue on thier pie shapes. then let them sprinkle the spices over the glue and create "fragrant pumpkin pies." Comparing corn items Let the kids compare fresh corncobs, popcorn kernals, dried Indian corn, canned corn, cornmeal, cornflakes, and corn chips. Making Butter Fill baby food jars half full of whipping cream and screw the lids on tighly. let 2 Kids take turns shaking each jar. After about 5 mins the cream will be whipped, and after another min or so, lumps of yellow butter will form. Rinse off the liquid whey and add a little salt, if desired. Then spread on crakers to taste! Gobble, Gobble "If you're Happy & You Know It" "Gobble, gobble, gobble,gobble", says the bird- "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. Mr. Turkey gobble-gobbles And his head goes wobble-wobble "Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble", says the bird. A Turkey Sat on a Backyard Fence A turkey sat on a backyard fence And he sang this sad, sad tune: "Thanksgiving Day is coming (Gobble,gobble, gobble, gobble) And I know I'll be eaten soon! Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, Gobble, gobble,gobble, gobble, I would like to run away-- Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, I don't like Thanksgiving Day!" * Turkey on the Farm (Sung to: The Wheels on the Bus) The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble." The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." Thanksgiving Day is near. The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop. Chop, chop, chop. The farmer on the farm goes chop, chop, chop. Thanksgiving Day is here. The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me! Please help me! Please help me!" The turkey on the farm says, "Please help me!" Thanksgiving Day is here. The children on the farm say, "Come and hide. Come and hide. Come and hide." The children on the farm say, "Come and hide." Thanksgiving Day is here. The wife on the farm looks all around. Looks all around. Looks all around. The wife on the farm looks all around. Thanksgiving Day is here. The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken. The people on the farm eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Thanksgiving Day is here. The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Gobble, gobble, gobble." The turkey on the farm says, "Gobble, gobble, gobble." Thanksgiving Day has passed. CORN COB Yellow paper cob and green husk. Wad up yellow tissue paper and glue to cob or glue on popcorn HAND TURKEY THANKSGIVING CARD Trace childs hand and color brown body and colored feathers(fingers) Write in card: This isn't just a Turkey As anyone can see, I made it with my hand Which is part of me. It comes with lots of love Especially to say, I hope that you have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!! TOILET PAPER ROLL TURKEY Take a tp tube and cover it with brown construction paper. Trace both hands on white paper and let child color feathers. Cut out hands. Cut thumb off. Lay tube horizontally. Glue hands to back of tube. Cut out peanut shape for head and glue to the front of tube. Use a red piece of felt to droop down from top of his head. add wiggle eyes. GROCERY BAG TURKEY Take a walk and gather fall leaves. Cut out two circles from grocery bag about 5 or 6 inches across. On thehead glue eyes beak and waddle cut from construction paper. glue the leaves to the outer edges of one of the circle with most of the leaf sticking out over the edge ...glue the other circle on top . add two legs from construction paper. INDIAN VEST Grocery bag...cut a circle in the bottom of bag. Turn inside out and cut fringes on the bottom and write the Indian name of the child on the back of vest. EGG CARTON TOTEM POLE cut egg cartons into 4 rows of 3 cups. Glue 2 sectons together, back to back, to form totem pole. Decorate with colored macaroni , foam shapes or whatever you desire. >> Pine Cone Trukey Take one red Chenille bump & shape into an "S". Glue this to the rounded end of a pinecone with the bump protruding somewhat above the cone for the head of the turkey. Take one orange bump & shape into a "V". Glue this under the bottom of the round part of the cone for the legs & feet. Take 5-7 other bumps & carefully bend them so the narrow ends can be twisted together leaving the puffy end somewhat rounded. Glue as many of these as nicely fits close to the flattened stemmed end of the pinecone remembering to use glue on the twisted end of the wire. Potato Turkey Give each child a Russet potato & a pre-cut turkey head with 2 tabs at the bottom of the neck. Using 2 halves of toothpicks, secure tabs to potato. Using another toothpick pock holes in the side of the potato & place a real feather in each hole. Use 4 toothpicks as legs. ************** A variation of the Potato Turkey is the APPLE TURKEY. Use the apple for the turkey body, pre-cut turkey head, and those frilly cocktail toothpicks for feathers. * Take a wire coat hanger and bend into an oval with the hook at the top. Stretch a leg of brown, tan panty hose over hanger, tie at the top. Children cut out and glue on six feathers, three each side. Two eyes, pupils, triangle orange nose, red gobbler, and two orange feet. We hang ours from the ceiling - they are adorable. We also do Rudolphs and Ho Ho's! *Ha, Ha, Turkey in the Straw (sung to "Skip to My Lou") Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha, Turkey in the brown straw, ha, ha, ha. Turkey in the straw, my darling. Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho, Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho, Turkey in the white snow, ho, ho, ho. Turkey in the snow, my darling. Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi, Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi, Turkey in the blue sky, hi, hi, hi. Turkey in the sky, my darling. Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn, Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn, Turkey in the red barn, harn, harn, harn. Turkey in the barn, my darling. Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn, Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn, Turkey in the yellow corn, horn, horn, horn. Turkey in the corn, my darling. Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee, Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee, Turkey in the green tree, hee, hee, hee. Turkey in the tree, my darling. Cut a turkey shape out of brown felt. Cut out of coloured felt a pile of brown straw, a pile of white snow, a blue sky background, a red barn, a yellow bag of corn, and a green tree for the turkey to sit in. Place all the shapes, except for the turkey, on the flannel board. Then sing the song with the chlidren and let them take turns placing the turkey on the appropriate shapes. *10 little turkeys sat in their pen "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(9) decided to stay! 9 little turkeys sat in their pen "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew out of the gate, And when he was gone, there were...(8). 8 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(7) decided to stay. 7 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey hid with the chicks, And when she was gone, there were...(6). 6 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(5) decided to stay. 5 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey hopped out the door, And when he was gone, there were (4). 4 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away But the other ...(3) decided to stay. 3 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flapped her wings and flew. And when she was gone, there were ,,,(2). 2 little turkeys sat in their pen. "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. One little turkey flew far away. But the last ...(1) decided to stay. 1 little turkey sat in his pen. "Hide, turkey, hide!" said the little red hen. The last little turkey flew off toward the sun And when he was gone, there were ...(none). IDEAS: 1.Flannel board activity. 2.Magnet board activity. 3.Dramatize, with children being the turkeys. 4.Use stick puppet turkeys. 5.Etc. NOTE:I can already hear the children chanting: "Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen. They will love this repetitive line! NOTE 2:If 10 turkeys are too many for your student's attention span, use only 5 turkeys! SOURCE:KINDERGARTEN CONNECTIONS-Monday Morning Books. *Thanksgiving Quilt Give each child a 9 inch square of Construction paper that has been divided into nine squares. Let each child glue 3 inch squares of fabric, wall[paper or colored wrapping paper in to the squares on their papers. Encourage them to glue their squares in patterns. Tape the children's papers together to create a group quilt. Then display the quilt on a wall or a bulletin board. Thanksgiving Centerpieces Give each child a 6 to 8 inch circle cut from posterboard and a cardboard toilet tissue tube. Have the children cover their tubes in glue and roll in glitter. Help the children glue their glittery tubes upright in the centers of their posterboard circle. Then give them small pinecones, acorn cups, and other assorted nature items to glue around the bases of their centerpieces. (Have the children sprinkle glitter all over their nature items, if desired.) Give the children dried weeds or flowers to put in their tubes. Use the completed centerpiece to decorate the snack table or arrange them on the shelves around the room. Indian Necklaces Use brown or white fluted coffee filters to make several necklaces for each child, To make necklaces, smooth a coffee filter out flat. Make a cut through the fluted edges then cut out the center. Punch a hole in each end of the filter and attach 10 inch pieces of yarn for ties. Let the children decorate their filters with felt tip markers or paint. Then help them cut fringes along the outer edges of their filters to complete their necklaces. *turkey treats These are cute and easy to make. Ritz Cracker, canned frosting, chocolate kiss, candy corn and caramel. Spread frosting on cracker. Peel the paper off the kiss and place kiss near the bottom of the cracker. add cnady corn above the kiss tomake feathers; place one corn on the kiss for the head. Let frosting dry. Attache a carmel to the back with more frosting to make it stand up. *Thankful Wreath Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents.". Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath. *M & M turkeys. For each turkey, you will need 2 pieces of orange nylon net, about 10" square each; 1/2 of a brown pipe cleaner; 1 secton of red chenille bump; 2 tiny wiggle eyes; a piece of strong thread or thin string; about 1/2 to 1 cup plain M&Ms, a dab of glue. Put the 2 pieces of net together, with the corners of one along the sides of the other, making 8 points. pour M&Ms in center, gather up the points, twist and tie securely. Coil the brown pipe cleaner, leaving about 2"; curve the 2" to form the neck. Tuck the red bump into the bottom of the coil to form the wattle. Glue a tiny eye on each side of the head. Shape the body - the M&Ms - so that the ends of the net become the tail and stick out the back. Insert the neck thru the net in the front. For a simpler craft, print out copies of a turkey outline. They can add feathers in several ways: thumbprints in water colors, glue real feathers on it, cut out feather shapes from colored construction paper and glue on, glue on crumbled fall leaves, even just color it. Draw a large turkey -at least 18" - on a piece of plain paper. Color as desired, but do not put on the wattle. Cut out several red "U" shapes and put a small piece of double stick tape on the back. Play like pin the tail on the donkey. Or just draw a turkey body and let them pin on feathers. Have each child make a "book" of what they are thankful for - family, pets, a wonderful daycare, favorite toy, whatever . Fold several pieces of plain paper in half and staple on the fold. As they tell you what they are thankful for, write it on a page, with one answer per page. Then let them draw a picture of each thing they said. Cornicopias are fun and simple. Get some Bugle crackers and Trix cereal. For snacks, use a dab of frosting in the bugle, stick on some Trix fruit. For cards, glue the Trix in the Bugle and glue onto a folded half-sheet of light cardstock, then let them draw inside and sign their name. *Title: Five Fat Turkeys Five fat turkeys were sitting on a fence. (One hand up) The first one said, 'I'm so immense.' (Point to thumb) The second one said, 'I can gobble at you.' (Pointer finger) The third one said, 'I can gobble, too.' (Middle finger) The fourth one said, 'I can spread my tail.' (Ring finger) The fifth one said, 'Don't catch it on a nail.' (Little finger) A farmer came along and stopped to say (Pointer finger of other hand.) 'Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day.' Title: Gluing Paper Corn Squares Materials: Manila paper, Black felt marker, Paste, Scrapes of colored paper Procedure: On manila paper, draw a large ear of corn with the shucks peeled halfway back (like a banana) for each child. Add kernels by drawing a brick-wall design in the exposed half. Cut tiny pieces of colored paper the same size as the kernels. Have the children paste the small paper kernels onto their corncob shapes. Shade shucks lightly with green and brown chalk, if desired. Hints: Either pre-paste the colored paper kernels or dot paste on the children's corncobs. Most two-year-olds will not care to paste on more than six to ten kernels. Have some real Indian corn on hand to show children. Title: Gobble, Gobble A turkey is a funny bird, His head goes wobble, wobble. And he knows just one word, Gobble, gobble, gobble. Title: Hands and A Foot Turkey Materials: Several different colored construction paper, brown construction paper, white background paper. Cut several handprints of the children on the different colored paper. Cut one foot print per child on the brown paper. The handprint is the feathers of the Turkey and the footprint is the body/face. Then use your imagination for the rest. Title: Indian Corn Materials: Orange and green construction paper, popcorn, glue and scissors Cut corn shape from orange paper and stem form from the green paper. Let the children glue the corn all over the orange section. Title: Indian Corn Napkin Ring Holders Cut cardboard tubes (from paper towels) into 1 inch wide sections. Cut brown felt into 1 inch wide strips. Glue felt pieces on inside and outside of the 1 inch cardboard pieces. Let the glue dry. Dab the back of each kernel of Indian corn with glue. Place the corn kernels on the ring, lining them in rows. Mix up the colors for a more interesting design. Title: Making Name Cards Cut out a name card on white card stock. The sides should be angled like \ and / with the top arching. Glue corn around the top and sides of the card. You can glue some ric-a-rack on the back side to stick up above the top of the card. Add the name of the person on the front of the card. Tuck the card into two pinecones as the holders. Title: My Turkey I have a turkey, big and fat He spreads his wings, (Fan hands at hips) And walks like that (Strut) His daily corn he would not miss (Pretend to eat corn) And when he walks, he sounds like this, ('Gobble, Gobble, Gobble') Title: Paper Plate Turkeys Cut out a variety of feathers from different construction paper. Have children put small slits down both sides of the feathers. Glue feathers on turkey (paper plate) and make the face. Title: Song for Thanksgiving Tune 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' Thank you, thank you, very much For everything that I can touch. Thanks a lot for nature's food. And for when I'm feeling good. Thank you, thank you very much. For moms and dads and friends and such. Title: Turkey Feather Game Cut five turkey body shapes out of brown felt and fifteen feather shapes out of red, yellow and orange felt. Number the turkey body shapes from 1 to 5 and put them on a flannelboard. Place the feather shapes in a pike. To play the game, have the children take turns selecting a turkey, identifying the number on it and adding that many feathers to it. Title: Turkey Picture with Dyed Popcorn Materials: Picture of a turkey with backside feathers visible, tagboard to glue picture on ahead of time, unpopped popcorn, rubbing alcohol, food coloring, crayons or markers. Color the popcorn by mixing it with rubbing alcohol and food color....let dry in an open container. Have the kids color the turkey then glue the colored popcorn on to make his feathers. Wallpaper Turkeys Have the children cut about a 5" circle from brown construction paper. We provide the children with a precut profile of a turkey head and neck. (You could also use a rectangle for the neck and a small circle for the head.) They glue the base of it to the center of the circle at about a 45 degree angle. This is glued to a large sheet of drawing paper. They then draw the waddle, beak, eyes and feet. The children are provided with a wide variety of feathers cut from old wallpaper. (The stores will often give you outdated wallpaper books.) We then encourage the children add details to their picture like grass, bugs to eat or whatever they like. Teepees During November we read the book " Three Little Indians" by Stuart. (Sorry the book is at school and I don't know the first name.) This is a rather long book so we usually read it over a period of 3 days. It tells the stories of three Indian children who live in different parts of the country. We talk about the different types of homes that they lived in. We explain that some Indians lived in Teepees which were decorated with symbols which tell a story. We show the children a chart of some symbols and ask them to guess what they mean. Then we have a short rebus type story on a chart which we read together. The children are then given a large half circle to decorate with some of their own symbols and to perhaps make up their own story. When they are done we make a cone out of the half circle to create the teepee. Cut a little slit on one side of the bottom and fold up to create a door. Last year some of my children also drew and cut out Indian figures and glued them to the outside of their teepee. Short and Long Feathers (This is an idea from "Year 'Round Activities For Four-Year-Old Children by Anthony and Kathleen Coletta) Objectives: The children will place paper strips in order by size and then use them to decorate turkeys. Materials: Six basic colors of construction paper, scissors, pre-cut turkey, glue 1. Cut strips of red, green, yellow, blue, orange, violet. Vary the length of each color so that the red strips are shorter than the orange ones, which are shorter than the yellow ones and so on. 2. Give each child one strip of each color and ask them to place them in order by size. Tell them to start with the smallest and go to the longest. 3. Have the children cut short slits along the sides of each strip to resemble feathers and then glue them however they want onto the turkey's back. You might want to have them examine some real feathers before they do this. Hand Indian Materials: Drawing paper and crayons or markers Place the child's hand near the top of the paper with fingers slightly open. Trace around the fingers and hand but not the thumb. Draw a head band across the base of the fingers. The fingers now can be colored to resemble feathers. A face is drawn on the palm of the hand. If desired the children can then go on to draw the body, arms and legs. It would be helpful to have some pictures of Native Americans available so the children can see their traditional dress. Turkey Handprint Washable paint: Brown paint for palms and thumb Any colors you choose for other fingers Paint childs palm and thumb brown. Paint the other 4 fingers with autumn colors or any color. Make a print of the childs hand on paper. To the thumb color on a wobble, a beak and eyes. Add (whatever you call turkey feet !) to the body. Print out or write this poem on the paper to accompany print. This isn't just a turkey, As anyone can see. I made it with my hand, Which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love, Especially to say, Have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. Pine Cone Turkeys Materials: pine cone scissors construction paper crayons white glue 1. Lay a round pine cone on its side 2. Cut several paper feathers from constrction paper. 3. Draw vein designs on the feathers with crayons. 4. Glue the feathers into the top petals of the pine cone. 5. Cut a head and neck out of construction paper. Draw an eye ont he head and glue on a red paper circle under the eye for a wattle. 6. Glue the head to the bottom of the pine cone. >From Snips and Snails and Wanut Whales, Phyllis Fiarotta, 1975, pg 84 * Thanksgiving Feast for vegetarians by Eileen Spubelli Beans and rice and corn and peas And pasta piled in bowls, Salad, soup, and cranberries, Biscuits, bread, and rolls. "Where's the turkey in all this?" You ask with some surprise. He's sitting next to Uncle Gus And gobbling up the pies! I'm a Little Turkey (sung to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot) I'm a Little Turkey Look at me Fat and plump as I can be Don't you try and catch me 'cuz you'll see I'll hide behind the old oak tree Potato Garden Show the children a few varieties of potatoes. Cut an inch off of the end of a each potato and put them in a clear bowl of water, supporting them with toothpicks so they don't touch the bottom of the bowl. Ask the children what they think will happen. Hve the children observe the potatoes daily an ddescribe the changes which occur. Explain that this potatoes could be planted during planting season to grow more potatoes. Pilgrim Children Pilgrim children did not play on that first Thanksgiving Day The first chopped wood which he could take to help his sister cook and bake. The second took a great big sack, and brought some nuts, all they could crack. The third one got a turkey and she helped to roast it in a pan. The fourth ground corn to make the bread The fifth made covers for the bed. The sixth one brought a pumpkin by she cut it up to make it pie. The seventh came and popped some corn. The eighth fed horses in the barn the ninth watched food or it might burn, the tenth churned butter in a churn. Pilgrim children did not play On that first Thanksgiving Day. Bring in children's books concerning Indians,Pilgrims and Thanksgiving for the browsing table.Although this rhyme is long,it's various words can be discussed. "Why would the first child chop wood?" "Where would the second child get walnuts?" Describe an old fashioned churn and tell how butter was made. Or better yet,make some!! :-) Pumpkin Pie There was an orange pumpkin (make circle with hands) sitting in the patch (make circle near floor) Mama made it into a pie (make stirring motion) just like that! (clap hands) Use as a flannel board rhyme.Make shapes of pie and pumpkin! Thanksgiving Movement Games GOBBLE, GOBBLE A child is chosen to be "it"."It" closes his/her eyes and sits at the front of the room. Another child is chosen to be the turkey.The turkey runs and hides in some part of the room/house? When the turkey has been hidden,he/she should be saying"gobble,gobble,gobble." "It" tries to guess who it is from the sound of the voice.He/she has three guesses. Little ones can follow the sound and find the turkey :-) LITTLE INDIANS Five little Indians, on a nice fall day (dance around) Jumped on their ponies and rode far away(hands on next child,pretend to be ponies) They galloped in the meadow,and they galloped up a hill,(pretend tp gallop) They galloped so fast,they all took a spill.(pretend to fall off the ponies) ART ACTIVITY What will we eat? When anyone thinks of Thanksgiving,we usually all think of food that is served. Discuss with the children the different types of food that might be eaten at their family's Thanksgiving dinner.What types of food do the children want to eat? Let the children spend time cutting pictures from magazines (food),which also gives them anexcellent opportunity to develop the fine motor skills necessary to improve their "cutting" skills. When children have found many foods, have them sort the different foods into different boxes,labeled with the major foodgroups(Dairy,meat,fruit etc). Give each child a paper plate.Let each child choose from the boxes what they want on their plate for dinner. Paste the pictures on their plates! Display the plates on a wall ! THANKFUL BOOK Subject: Language Arts Concept/skills Verbalizes wants Describes items in two or three words Applies glue and pastes pieces Objectives The children will select representative pictures and paste them into a book. Materials Magazine pictures of home and family Scissors colored construction paper Paste Markers Procedure: 1. Discuss the idea of being thankful like saying thank you,being glad to have something or somebody! 2. Place the pictures of home and family objects,incl. Familymembers.Pets,food,houses,and beds on a table.Let the children select their choice of pictures. 3. Help them cut around the pictures and paste it onto constructionpaper.Print on the page " I am thankful for...." 4. Assemble all the pages together for a Thankful book.:-) Ways to extend: Use any leftover pictures to make a mural. Listen to Hap Palmer's "Things I am thankful for". Books to read:Pilgrim Thanksgiving Wilma Pitchford Hays The Thanksgiving Story Alice Dalgliesh First Thanksgiving Lena Barksdale Corn on the cob: Give each child a sheet of stiff paper or tag boardwith the outline of corn on the cob. The children can fill the inside of the corn by gluing real (unpopped) kernels of corn. Tell the children that it was the Indian people who taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn. The Pilgrims on Thanksgiving were thankful that they had learned about corn from the Indian people. Paper sac turkey: Use a small square bottomed paper sack. Fold the sack flat for coloring. Use brown crayon on the sides to color body feathers. The open end of the sack can be colored to represent bright tail feathers. The sack is stuffed with newspaper and a pipe cleaner to close, leaving enough of the end so that the "tail feathers" can spread out. Cut a double of head from red paper and attach to square end of sack along the sides. Thankful collage: Have children cut pictures from magazines of things they are thankful for (food, homes, clothing, family etc..) and mount the pictures on poster board or construction paper. Have "circle time" discussion on what they are thankful for and why. Where is the turkey hiding? Use a small toy turkey or one you have cut out and made. Tell the children that the turkey is very nervous because he knows that he may beome thanksgiving dinner. He is going to run and hide. The children are the pilgrims (make pilgrim hats from newspaper!) and it is their job to find the turkey. Hide the turkey in various locations. For smaller children, place in plain view for the children to see and encourage the children to describe where the turkey is hiding, by using statements as, "under the table, next to the chair, on the desk, in the box" etc. Indian names; The Indian people give their children names that have special meanings. Give the children some examples of Indian names translated into English (Running Bear, Morning Star etc.) Have the children think up a name like this that they would like to use for a whole week. Try to encourage the kids to choose names that will have special meaning for each of them. Poem: I Am Thankful: I am thankful for pets I am thankful for school I am thankful when I can swim in a pool. I am thankful for home and the food that I eat. I am thankful for all the new friends that I meet. I am thankful for health and for my family. I'm especially thankful that I am just me! Book: Thanksgiving Day By: Gail Gibbons A nice book to read to preschoolers about teaching what thanksgiving is and how Thanksgiving was started. It is facts written simply. Colorful Illustrations. * Title: Indian Corn Napkin Ring Holders Cut cardboard tubes (from paper towels) into 1 inch wide sections. Cut brown felt into 1 inch wide strips. Glue felt pieces on inside and outside of the 1 inch cardboard pieces. Let the glue dry. Dab the back of each kernel of Indian corn with glue. Place the corn kernels on the ring, lining them in rows. Mix up the colors for a more interesting design. *Turkey art: Fold a coffee filter in half 3 times so that it is the shape of a small triangle. Prepare 4 small containers of green, red, yellow and blue water. Dip each point into a color and then dip the middle of the filter in the last color. Open and let dry. These will be the turkey's feathers. Give the children a tracer that looks like the shape of a bowling pin. That will be the turkey's body. Have them trace and cut it out of brown paper. Glue the turkey's body to the opened coffee filter and decorate. *Turkey math: Paint each child's hand with brown paper and have them press it onto 1/2 sheet of construction paper. Let them add features with markers and crayons to make the hand prints look like turkey. Use the finished pictures to talk about counting by fives. Hang them in a row with the numerals 5, 10, 15... and so on up to 100. Practice counting by fives. *Pumpkin Pie Cut a paper plate in 6 wedges. Have children color the outside of the rim brown. Then paint the remaining slice with orange paint. While paint is still wet, sprinkle on some cinnamon, ginger, or cloves. Glue cotton ball on for whipped cream. *Cornucopia Bugles corn snacks Trix cereal white frosting Put a small dab of frosting in a bugle. Put several trix in each "cornucopia". (I think this was from Preschool mailbox.) *Turkey Toast Use a large turkey shaped cookie cutter to cut out shape from wheat bread. Spread the whole shape with peanut butter, Use a raisin for and eye, a slice of a red gummy worm for the wattle, and fruit loops for the tail feathers. Tastes good, and kids love it! *Apple Turkey ( I use this for the 3 year old gathering) Insert toothpicks into the botton of a red apple to form legs. Insert another toothpick on the top of the apple (to one side), and push on a large marshmallow. On 4 more toothpicks, push colored gumdrops. Push these into the back of the apple for feathers. Add raisins and red gumdrop sliver to complete face. I use the heavy duty colored toothpicks to prevent breaking, or not spotting when eating. This activity is always done at our Thanksgiving gathering with the child and his parent/caregiver. This makes it a one-on-one, and adult supervised. *Here's a fun Thanksgiving turkey that doubles as centrepiece and a snack! a ball of brown play dough one toothpick 1 one inch styrofoam ball 2 googly eyes a little piece of red felt (for the "beard") a styrofoam meat tray (ask at the butcher shop for a donation of new ones, used ones can carry diseases) a variety of suckers/lollipops I bet you can pretty much guess how it goes together - brown playdough for the body, insert toothpick for the neck. Stick styrofoam ball on end of toothpick to form the head. Glue on eyes and "beard". Stick suckers on turkey's back end to form the tail feathers. A cute, partially edible turkey! (We did this with the Brownies last year, and this year with my daycare kids, making our own playdough) * The Thanksgiving book by Eve Bunting is called A Turkey for Thanksgiving and it is a great book. It's one of my absolute favorites, it is for sale in the November "Fire Fly" book club from Scholastic. It is about a moose family who is looking for a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, they end up finding one and it turns out they just wanted to invite him to dinner. The illustrations are absolutly wonderful and the children are always surprised by the ending! Can you tell I like it?!? >> *Oreo Turkeys Oreo cookies candy corn malted milk balls icing (not whipped) Open one oreo and place one part, icing side up (eat the other half). Add a bit of icing as glue, and stand another Oreo up on it (this is your turkey body). Spread one side half of the standing oreo w/ icing, and attatch 5-6 pieces of candy corn....fanned out like turkey feathers. Add a malted milk ball to the top of the other side, for head. An additional piece of candy corn can be used for a waddle (or a red m&m). Add candy pumpkins for effect....and create your own little turkey farm! Turkeys are domestic (farm) birds that were originally bred from wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopo). The adult female turkey is called a hen, the adult male is called a tom, and the young are called poults. A group of turkeys is called a flock. Over 300,000,000 turkeys are raised in the USA each year. Anatomy: The tom turkey is larger and more brightly colored than the hen. Toms grow to be up to about 30 pounds (13.5 kg). Turkey eggs are tan with brown spots; they are a little bigger than chicken eggs. Poults are brown. Diet: Turkeys have a varied diet. They eat insects, worms, fruit, seeds, acorns, grains, slugs, snails, and many other foods. They have a well-developed gizzard (a part of the stomach that contains tiny stones) that grinds up their food. Predators: Many animals prey upon turkeys, including skunks, owls, raccoons, hawks, bobcats, and snakes. Hand and Foot Turkey CraftMore Kinder Crafts This cute turkey is made from your child's handprints and footprints, cut out of construction paper. It makes a very nice Thanksgiving decoration. Supplies: · Brown, red, orange and yellow construction paper · Pencil · Scissors · Glue · Googly eyes (optional) Trace around the child's feet using brown construction paper. These two pieces will be the turkey's body. Trace around the child's hands using red, orange, and yellow construction paper. These 6 pieces will be the turkey's feathers. Glue the two footprints together to make the turkey's body. (The heels make the head area.) Cut out a round wattle and an orange beak. Glue the wattle, beak, and googly eyes (or paper eyes) to the turkey's head. Make two legs from paper and glue then to the back of the body (or use pipe cleaners and tape them to the back). Glue the handprint "feathers" to the back of the turkey. You can now decorate your house for Thanksgiving with these cute turkeys. Don't forget to put the child's name and age on the back of the turkey. Thankful Turkey CraftMore Kinder Crafts This cute construction paper turkey lists what your child is thankful for. It makes a very nice Thanksgiving decoration. Supplies: · Brown, red, orange and yellow construction paper · Pencil or marker · Scissors · Glue · Googly eyes (optional) Cut a brown construction paper circle or oval (about 8 inches across) for the turkey's body. For the head and neck, cut a much smaller circle and a rectangle from a different shade of brown paper. Cut two scrawny feet and legs from orange paper. Glue the head and neck onto the body. Glue a tiny orange triangle for the beak and a little red blob for the wattle. Either draw eyes in black or glue on googly eyes. Glue the legs to the body. For the turkey's feathers, cut five long ovals - use many colors of coloring paper if you like. Using white or pale yellow paper, cut five smaller ovals (that fit inside the larger ovals). Glue the smaller ovals on the larger ones. On each one, write: "I am thankful for __________________." Have the child write what they're thankful for. Glue the "feathers" to the back of the turkey. Don't forget to write the child's name and age on the turkey. Pine Cone Turkey CraftMore Kinder Crafts This cute turkey is made from a pine cone, an acorn, and construction paper. It makes a very nice Thanksgiving table decoration. Supplies: · A pine cone · An acorn or a nut in the shell · Brown, red, orange and yellow construction paper · Pencil or marker · Scissors · Glue · Hot glue · Googly eyes · Clay Cut out construction paper feathers. Put a small blob of clay on one side of the pine cone to steady it on the table. The pine cone will be the turkey's body. Glue the "feathers" to the top of the wide side of the pine cone. Glue the acorn to the front of the turkey using hot glue. Glue on two googly eyes and a small piece of red construction paper (for the turkey's wattle). Let the glue set. You now have a great Thanksgiving table turkey decoration. To avoid staining a tablecloth with the clay, put the turkey on a small plate Use fall leaves, grains and nuts to make fall collages. DRAMATIC PLAY Open Market Set up a center as fruit and vegatable stand with pumpkins,apples, gourds, eggplants and any other Fall items. Let the children pretend to weight them and sell them to each other. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Have children match pictures of vegetables to the actual vegetable that is set out on the table. Field Trip Take the children to a farm or ranch and have the farmer show them around and tell them what he/she does to get ready for winter. Do the crops have to come in, etc. Visit a pumpkin patch and let the children choose a pumpkin. The one we visited usually had pumpkins that cost $1 so each child brought a dollar to buy a pumpkin. Autumn Autumn winds begin to blow (blow) Colored leaves fall fast and slow (make fast and slow motions with hands) Twirling, whirling all around (twirl around) "Til at last, they touch the ground (touch ground) Leaves Little leaves fall gently down Red and yellow, orange and brown. (flutter hands like leaves falling) Whirling, whirling around and around. (turn around) Quietly, without a sound. (put finger to lips) Falling softly to the ground (begin to fall slowly) Down and down and down and down. (lie on floor) This is the Way We This is the way we rake the leaves rake the leaves, rake the leaves This is the way we rake the leaves in the middle of Autumn. This is the way we jump on the leaves, jump on the leaves, jump on the leaves This is the way we jump on the leaves in the middle of Autumn. This is the way we throw the leaves Throw the leaves, throw the leaves This is the way we throw the leaves in the middle of Autumn. This is the way we rake the leaves rake the leaves, rake the leaves This is the way we rake the leaves in the middle of autumn. Brown Squirrel, Brown Squirrel Brown squirrel, Brown squirrel Swoosh your bushy tail (hold elbow in your other hand and move your arm back and forth) Brown squirrel, brown squirrel Swoosh your busy tail Put a nut between your toes Wrinkle up your little nose Brown squirrel, Brown squirrel Swoosh your bushy tail. FALL Activities Science Materials Needed: Various leaves Magnifying glass Collect leaves from a variety of trees. Place them and a magnifying glass on the science table for the children to explore. Math Materials Needed: Construction paper Out of construction paper or tag board, prepare pairs of various-shaped leaves. The children can match the identical leaves. Arts and Crafts Materials Needed: Pinecones Hole punch Red, yellow, orange, brown construction paper Glue Using a whole punch cut out circles in the various fall leaf colors. Have children glue the circles to the ends of the pinecone branches. Group Time Materials Needed: Brown, orange, red, yellow construction paper Old jigsaw puzzle (with missing pieces?) Take a fall color piece of construction paper and make a brown tree with just the limbs, no leaves. Take puzzle's that are missing pieces and let the children glue the on the tree as leaves. The different colors and shapes make a beautiful fall tree. Thanksgiving As autumn peaks in richness The colors of fall Golden leaves and crimson reds The highlights of it all The blessing we were given By our Father from above Will be shared with our family On this special day of love The aroma of spices, the cranberry sauce Pumpkin pies cooling upon a table's top Turkey and stuffing, roasting near Hands joined together, in grace and prayer As beauty of this season Shines down from Heaven's light The closeness of family Sharing God's holy love Written by: Marty Ford Thanksgiving Books The Thanksgiving book by Eve Bunting is called A Turkey for Thanksgiving and it is a great book. It's one of my absolute favorites, it is for sale in the November "Fire Fly" book club from Scholastic. It is about a moose family who is looking for a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, they end up finding one and it turns out they just wanted to invite him to dinner. The illustrations are absolutly wonderful and the children are always surprised by the ending! Can you tell I like it?!? The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessings by Berenstain Clifford's Thanksgiving by Bridwell Cranberry Thanksgiving by Devlin Dinosaurs' Thanksgiving by Donnelly One Tough Turkey by Kroll Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving by Pilkey More Thanksgiving Books: One, Two, Three Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa Silly Tilly's Thanksgiving Dinner by Lillian Hoban The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin by Stan and Jan Berenstain A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting Daisy's Crazy Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting 'Twas the Night Before by Dav Pilkey Thanksgiving at Our House by Wendy Watson Thanksgiving Stories I liked these stories, and want to adapt them to use...One comment, though, about the turkey not liking to be BROWN....and not liking the way he/she looked that way...how about just changing the color of the turkey to WHITE or another color?sometimes these changes can seem subtle, but worth it...Lindy [the stories follow for those that just joined the loop....] A Thanksgiving Story (author unknown) You will need: three squirrels, one brown, one grey, one red, two bunnies, one lady and one gentleman, a basket, with some nuts and apples It was the day before Thanksgiving Day. Little grey squirrel was sitting all alone in her house in the hollow oak tree. Grey squirrel could not run about like the other squirrels. One day when she had been out gathering nuts for the wintertime, she had caught her foot in a trap that some bad boys had set in the woods. She had pulled and pulled, and, at last, she had managed to get her foot out of the trap. But her foot was broken! Poor grey squirrel had hopped and jumped on one foot, and, somehow, she had managed to reach home. That had happened more than a month ago. All that time grey squirrel could not move outside the door of her house. Before she had hurt her foot she had gathered a few nuts. She had eaten only a few each day to make them last. Now they were all gone and tomorrow was Thanksgiving Day! Poor little grey squirrel. She felt very sad sitting there all alone. "I wonder how grey squirrel is getting along" said Mrs. red squirrel to herself. " It's a shame! I haven't been to see her for days and days. I know what I'll do! I'll fix up a basket of good things and take them down to her for her Thanksgiving dinner." Mrs. red squirrel took her biggest basket down from the hook. From the cupboard in her hollow tree home she filled the basket with as many chestnuts as she thought she could carry. Then she started off for little grey squirrel's house. Soon she came to Mrs. brown squirrel's house. Mrs. brown squirrel was out in her garden digging up some of the nuts she had put there for the winter. "Good Afternoon, Mrs. red squirrel," said Mrs. brown squirrel. "Where are you going with your basket this lovely day?" "I'm going down to little grey squirrel's house to take her a Thanksgiving dinner," answered Mrs. red squirrel. "Oh do let me put some of these hickory nuts into your basket," siad Mrs. brown squirrel. 'I have plenty, and I shall feel so happy to think that I can give some of them to little grey squirrel." Mrs. brown squirrel put so many hickory nuts into the basket that Mrs. red squirrel had all she could do to carry it. "Thank you, kindly, Mrs. brown squirrel,"said she, and off she started again. Soon she came to Mr. Rabbit's bramble house. Mrs. Rabbit ws standing at the door. "Good afternoon, Mrs. red squirrel," said she. "Where are you going this lovely day?" "I'm going down to little grey squirrel's house to take her a Thanksgiving basket," answered kind Mrs. red squirrel. "Oh, just wait a minute!" said Mrs. rabbit. I have something that I can send, too. Some boys were having a picnic the other day, in the woods back of my house. When they went away I ran around there and found ever so many good things they had left. Wait just a minute and I will get them from my cupboard." Mrs. Rabbit ran into her house and opened her cupboard in the dry grass and straw. "Come in, Mrs. red squirrel," she called;"come in with your basket." And Mrs. red squirrel went into the little bramble house. "Here are the peanuts I found," said Mrs. rabbit, "I know grey squirrel will like them. I have plenty of cabbage and carrots stored away, and I really don't need the peanuts. You may take this red apple too. Perhaps grey squirrel will eat it." "Thank you," said Mrs. red squirrel. "You are very, very kind." "Oh , no, not at all!" said Mrs. rabbit. "It makes me feel so happy to think that I can help little grey squirrel." "Thank you all the same," said Mrs. red squirrel. And once more she started off for little grey squirrel's house. The basket was very heavy now, and it was all Mrs. red squirrel could do to carry it. "Why, Mrs. red squirrel!" said a voice, "where are you going with that heavy basket?" Mrs. red squirrel looked about and saw Mr. Rabbit sitting among the brambles by the roadside. "I am going down to little grey squirrel's house to take her a Thanksgiving basket," answered Mrs. red squirrel. "Did you stop at our house?" Mr. Rabbit asked. "I think Mrs. Rabbit may have something for your basket." "Yes, I stopped at the house on my way," said Mrs. red squirrel, "and Mrs. Rabbit gave me some peanuts and a red apple for my basket." "I am very glad she thought of them," said Mr. Rabbit. ""Now, you must let me help you carry that heavy basket." "Oh, thank you,,,,,," said Mrs. red squirrel, "but I think I can manage it the rest of the way. I'm almost there now." "Never mind," said Mr. Rabbit. "I can help you carry it for even a little way." And he took hold of the other side of the heavy basket. Mrs. Red squirrel was very glad to have Mr. Rabbit's help for the basket was indeed to much for her to carry alone. They soon reached the hollow oak tree in which little grey squirrel lived. Mr. Rabbit knocked at the little door. "Who's there?" called a sad little voice. "How do you do, little grey squirrel?" answered Mr. Rabbit. "This is Mrs. red squirrel. She has brought you a Thanksgiving basket." and they opend the door and went in. Little Grey squirrel had been crying because she felt so lonely and hungry. "Oh, Mrs. red squirrel," said she, "how can I thank you!" Then Mrs. red squirrel told little grey squirrel about Mrs. Brown squirrel and Mrs. Rabbit. "And Mr. Rabbit helped me carry the basket," said she. Little grey squirrel felt very happy to know that she had so many friends. Tomorrow would be Thanksgiving indeed! The wonderful Thanksgiving basket lasted little grey squirrel all winter long and that was all she needed, for, when the warm springtime came, her foot was quite well and she could run about again. Tommy Turket You will need: A turkey body in brown Yellow duck with orange beek Green snake Cardinal bird Owl Two feathers each in yellow, orange,green and red Tommy was all brown and didn't like the way he looked. He went for a walk and met a duck who was yellow and orange. The duck said, "Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, you're the funniest turkey I ever did see." Tommy said,, "I want to be yellow and orange like you." So he put on yellow and orange feathers the duck gave him but he was still unhappy. Then he met a snake who said, "Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, you're the funniest turkey I ever did see. Tommy said " I want to green like you." So he put on green feathers but he was still unhappy. Then he met a cardinal who said, "Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, you're the funniest turkey I ever did see." Tommy said, I want to be red like you. So he put on red feathers and he was still unhappy. Then he met the wise old owl. Tommy said, "I don't like the way I look, Mr. Owl." Mr. Owl suggested that the children give him a bath and make all the colors run together. Well, he was the happiest and most beautiful turkey in the world and this is how the turkey got so many colors. Thanksgiving Bulletin Boards Mr. Turkey From: KallieS Cut a large circle for a turkey's body and a smaller one for the head from construction paper. Also, legs, wings, beak, gobbler, and eyes. Staple to a bulletin board. Cut each child's hand out of a piece of fingerpainted paper. Curl the fingers with a scissors. Use the finger painted hands for the turkey's tail. (I found this in a collection of ideas that was donated to our center, dated 1981, but I think it would be a cute BB.) >> Turkey Bulletin Board Make a turkey body and head as above and mount on the wall or bulletin board. I put mine low on the wall so the children could reach it. Cut a variety of different colored feathers from construction paper. Ask each child to choose a feather and tell you something they are thankful for. Do this during free play so that you can speak to them one at a time. At circle time have the children have the children come up one at a time to tell the group what they are thankful for and then let them mount the feather on the wall around the turkey. Turkey Dinner Craft Activity Provide a paper plate (colored ones are nice) for each child. Glue the following "food" to the plate. Turkey Leg cut from a brown paper bag or brown cardboard Mashed Potatoes White stuffing with a construction paper square for butter on top Cranberries Strips of red paper that are curled Get suggestions ahead of time from the children and add to the above. Bulletin board idea- Tom the Turkey From brown construction paper cut out a large circle for a turkey body & a small circle for a head. Glue the small circle in the center of the large one. Add a yellow construction paper beal, a red wattle, black eyes, & 2 red legs. Trace around each childs hand. Use the tracing to cut hand shapes from red, yellow, & orange construction paper. Let the children decorate their hand shapes with crayons. Then have them glue their shapes around the top part of the turkey body for feathers. Then attach to bulletin board. Kindness Mural Have precut (or you could let the children cut their own pictures from magazines--depending on ability levels) pictures of people being kind to one another on a table top. Let the children select the picture they like best and attach to a large sheet of paper or poster board. Illicit lots of language by asking them to take turns describing what they see in the picture. Both of these ideas came from Totline, Nov./Dec. 1998 Thanksgiving Treats and CookingHot Dog Canoes Cut hot dogs in half. Use two refrigerator biscuits. Let the children patand stretch each biscuit so it makes a rectangle longer than the hot dog. Wrapthe biscuits around the hot dog and pinch up the ends to look like a canoe.Bake about 10 minutes at 375. No Bake Pumpkin Pie individual recipe: small custard-sized pie crusts 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin 1 tablespoon marshmallow creme 1 tablespoon prepared whipped topping sprinkle of cinnamon Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust. The recipe is thenready to eat; if you wish, it may be refrigerated or frozen. Thanksgiving Cornucopia Ingredients 1 box of Bugles corn snacks 1 box of Trix cereal 12 oz container of white icing Have the child wash their hands and then spread a small amount of icing intoone of the Bugles, then have them place pieces of the cereal into the icing.Then say thanks, and eat. Apple Crunch Toast Ingredients a tub of butter 1 apple for every four children1 slice of wheat bread per child cinnamon sugar mixture in a shaker *toaster oven Slice and peel the apples. Have the child spread the butter on the bread.Have them place the apple slices on the bread. Then have them sprinkle thesugar mixture on the apples. Place in the toaster oven, and toast. Let thechild eat after it has cooled off a bit.Walrus Salad Ingredients 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup plain yogurt 2 apples juice of 1 lemon 2 stalks of celeryplastic knives apple corermixing bowl measuring cups Help the child measure the raisins and yogurt. You core the apple and slicein half. Help the child to cut the apple halves into chunks - add to the bowl.Stir in juice. Then cut the celery into small pieces. Add the remainingingredients into the bowl and mix. Enjoy! Frozen Pumpkin Dessert (Easy!)1 large can pumpkin1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream2 teaspoons vanilla extract2/3 cup sugar1 teaspoon nutmegSoften the ice cream and mix well with the pumpkin. Pour into a 9" x 13"pan.Mix the rest of the ingredients and spread on top of the ice cream. Freeze.Warm at room temperature slightly before serving, so you can cut pieceseasily. Pumpkin Shaped ToastPumpkin cookie cutter (or other holiday shape)Large white bread (1 piece for each child)Softened ButterOrange Food ColoringKnifeToasterToast bread in toaster. After toasted, cut shape out of toast by pressingcookie cutter into toast. Tear away edges. Spread toast with softened butterthat has been mixed with orange food coloring. If desired, sprinkle withcinnamon - sugar.turkey treatsThese are cute and easy to make. Ritz Cracker, canned frosting, chocolate kiss, candy corn and caramel. Spread frosting on cracker. Place kiss near the bottom of the cracker. addcandy corn above the kiss to make feathers; place one corn on the kiss for thehead. Let frosting dry. Attach a carmel to the back with more frosting tomake it stand up. Oops peel the paper off the kiss before placing oncracker. They are very adorable on the table.Corn Pancakes At my school we alternate between making Corn Pancakes and regular old fashioned pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving Feast. This year is the year for Corn Cakes. We just use a regular Jiffy cornbread mix, but cook on a griddle. We make them small--"silver dollar size"--and the kids may have as many as they want. We also made butter one year, which was fun. Also, each year we make them we ask the parents for donations of "spreads" to go on our corn cakes--we usually end up with honey and several kinds of jellies and jams. (We talk about how the Pilgrims and the Indians shared what they had at the first Thanksgving, so the kids really are proud of bringing the spreads in!) We have apple juice to drink. Thanksgiving SnacksCORNUCOPIAS (HORN OF PLENTY)This year I have bought waffle cones to use as "cornucopias" for ourThanksgiving "Feast". The children will bring in a box or bag ofbite-sized snacks and we will mix them all together and fill the coneswith the mix.CORN CAKESAnother very fun snack we have used is the Jiffy cornbread mix. We makedollar-sized corn pancakes from them and fry them on an electric skilletor griddle. We top with butter and other toppings the children bringin--jelly, jam, honey, etc. They love these!Fry Bread: (From November --A Month of Ideas at Your Fingertips (pre-K)from Mailbox)FRY BREAD2 cups self-rising flour1 cup milkcooking oilMix the flour and milk in a large bowl, adding flour as necesssary toform a dough. Flatten small amounts of the dough into patties. Using awok or an electric skillet set at 400 degrees, brown the bread pattiesin hot oil. Drain the cooked bread on a paper towel. Serve the warmbread with butter, jam, or cinnamon sugar. Makes approximately 24 smallservings of bread.PUMPKIN PIEOne year we made real pumpkin pies, using canned pumpkin, frozen piecrusts and the recipe from the Libby's pumpkin can. The children didall the mixing and we used the standard recipe. We baked them at thebeginning of school and they were cool by snack time. We served withwhipped topping. Yum!FRIENDSHIP FRUIT SALADAsk each child to bring in a piece of fresh fruit or a can of fruit. Allow them to chop the fruit with a plastic knife. Mix all together ina big bowl and serve. May top with miniature marshmallows or even addsome dry vanilla pudding to the fruit to make it special.The extra cans of fruit above what we need go to the local food pantry. Thanksgiving Games WHICH ONE IS MISSING (tune: are you sleeping) Turkey feathers, turkey feathers Red yellow green--red yellow green Which one is missing Which one is missing Name it now, name it now Put a turkey on the felt board In random order put two or more red yellow and green feathers on him Have the children cover their eyes. Take two or more feathers off the turkey. Have the children uncover their eyes and look carefully at the turkey as they sing "Which one is missing". After they've finished singing have them call out which feathers are missing. As they do bring that feather back and put it on the turkey. Play again and again mixing up the colors and numbers of feathers you remove each time Title: Turkey Feather Game Cut five turkey body shapes out of brown felt and fifteen feather shapes out of red, yellow and orange felt. Number the turkey body shapes from 1 to 5 and put them on a flannelboard. Place the feather shapes in a pike. To play the game, have the children take turns selecting a turkey, identifying the number on it and adding that many feathers to it. Catch the Turkey (game) All the children are turkeys except one who is a Pilgrim. The Pilgrim chases the turkeys until he catches one. The child who is caught becomes the Pilgrim. *Pilgrim, Pilgrim where's your hat? (Game) Have the children stand in a circle. Choose one child to be the pilgrim and stand in the middle. Blindfold this child. Let the other children in the circle pass the hat to each other saying: Pilgrim, pilgrim where's your hat? We've passed it around the circle Now you try to get it back. The children stop passing the hat when the poem is completed. The child who has the hat at this point hides it behind his back. The pilgrims tries to guess who has the hat. I'm a little Indian on the go. November Game (Sung to "Muffin man") Give each child a Thanksgiving object such as corn, turkey feather etc. As the item is named in the song, the children should respond as requested. Oh, Do you have an ear of corn, an ear of corn, and ear of corn? If you have an ear of corn, please stand up. Oh, Do you have a turkey feather, a turkey feather, a turkey feather? If you have a turkey feather, please stand up. Oh, Do you have a pumpkin pie, a pumpkin pie, a pumpkin pie? If you have a pumpkin pie, please stand up. Oh, if you are very thankful, thankful, thankful? If you are very thankful, please sit down! Thanksgiving Math Turkey math: Paint each child's hand with brown paper and have them press it onto 1/2 sheet of construction paper. Let them add features with markers and crayons to make the hand prints look like turkey. Use the finished pictures to talk about counting by fives. Hang them in a row with the numerals 5, 10, 15... and so on up to 100. Practice counting by fives. Thanksgiving Science *Turkey facts Male turkeys are called toms or gobblers. Females are called hens. New born turkeys are called poult. Turkeys that are raised on farms are white and much heavier then wild turkeys. Because of their weight they cannot fly. The red part that hangs from their beak is called a waddle. The red part that is above their beak in called a snood. THANKFUL WREATH Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents.". Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath. Thanksgiving History and Customs Title: Basic Understandings 1. Thanksgiving is a celebration of the end of the harvest. 2. In the fall, some of the fruits and vegetables harvested include pumpkins, apples, and nuts. 3. Families celebrate the end of the harvest with a special Thanksgiving dinner. The dinner usually includes a roasted turkey and pumpkin pie. 4. In pioneer days, Native families and pioneer families sometimes celebrated together sharing food they harvested. The Mayflower sailed from Southampton, England on Sept. 16, 1620. The ship arrived at Cape Cod on Nov.11. During the voyage, one passenger had died and one was born. 102 passengers arrived in Massachusetts Bay that year. Only 52 of those who landed survived that first winter. Some husbands lost wives; some wives lost husbands; some families lost children; and some complete families died. Among the survivors, there were descendents of 25 surnames. Check the list. It contains the surnames of the 25 families that left descendents. Perhaps you'll find your great-great-great grandparents among these surnames. THANKSGIVING CONCEPTS 1. Thanksgiving is a time to be "thankful". Glad for what we have! 2. The Pilgrims and Indians started Thanksgiving Day. 3. The Pilgrims were thankful for the Indians help in sharing seeds and showing them how to hunt and cook new foods so they could live in their new land. 4. The Indians were thankful to have new friends. (I know, I know. But at this time, they may have been!) 5. Today people often celebrate Thanksgiving by having a big dinner with relatives and friends. 6. Turkey, vegetables and pumpkin pie are usually served for Thanksgiving dinner because that is what the Pilgrims and Indians had onthe first Thanksgiving. They also had fish, venison (deer) and popcorn, too! Service Project FOOD PANTRY I think I have mentioned this before, but our favorite activity to do at this time of year is to collect food for the local food pantry. The kids LOVE to bring food from home (cans and boxed food). We usually gather 10 large bags for the pantry. They write us a nice thank-you that I read to the children, and they are very proud of their work! Ten Little Indians One little, Two little, Three Little Indians, Four little, Five little, Six little Indians, Seven little, Eight little, Nine little Indians Ten little Indians Boys/Girls. >> This is one of our kids favorites -- but we add several more verses: Pound, pound pound the tom-toms (make drums on legs) Paddle, Paddle, Paddle, the canoe (Row boat) Oohwah-Oohwah Shoot the arrow! (make bow and arrow in air) another Indian favorite: I'm a little indian; With feathers in my hair. Heres my bow and arrow -- that flies thru the air! I sleep inside a teepee, And fish in the lake for trout! and when I'm very happy -- I dance and sing and shout!! (They love making the indian sounds at the end!) TOILET PAPER ROLL TURKEY Take a tp tube and cover it with brown construction paper. Trace both hands on white paper and let child color feathers. Cut out hands. Cut thumb off. Lay tube horizontally. Glue hands to back of tube. Cut out peanut shape for head and glue to the front of tube. Use a red piece of felt to droop down from top of his head. add wiggle eyes. Thanksgiving The following songs, crafts and ideas come from Tracy's website at Lil Treasures Child Care Indian Corn Napkin Ring Holders: Cut cardboard tubes (from paper towels) into 1 inch wide sections. Cut brown felt into 1 inch wide strips. Glue felt pieces on inside and outside of the cardboard pieces. Let the glue dry. Dab the back of each kernel of Indian corn with glue. Place the corn kernels on the ring, lining them in rows. Mix up the colors for a more interesting design. Making Name Cards. Cut out a name card on white card stock. The sides should be angled like \ and / with the top arching. Glue corn around the top and sides of the card. You can glue some ric-a-rack on the back side to stick up above the top of the card. Add the name of the person on the front of the card. Tuck the card into two pinecones as the holders. Thanksgiving Card: On the cover of the card was their hand print (turkey)...the inside of the card says: This isn't just a turkey as anyone can see I made it with my hand which is part of me. It comes with lots of love especially to say I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving Day. Add child's signature on bottom. Indian Corn: A. Orange & Green construction paper B. Popcorn C. Glue & Scissors Cut corn shape from the orange constrution paper. Cut stem form the green glue the stem to the corn and put glue all over the orange section and let the children put the popcorn on the glue. Turkeys in the Barnyard: Place a piece of butcher paper on a low table or on the floor. Paint your child's fingers and palms brown and their thumbs red. Then have them press their hands on the butcher paper to make "turkey" prints. When the paint has dried help the children add eyes, beaks, leggs, and feet with felt tips markers. Also add construction peper barnyard shapes such as a barn and a fence. Textured Turkeys: Give kids an outline of a turkey, add feathers in several ways: thumbprints in water colors, glue real feathers on it, cut out feather shapes from colored construction paper and glue on, glue on crumbled fall leaves, even just paint it and sprinkle with glitter when paint is still wet. What are we thankful for? Have each child make a "book" of what they are thankful for - family, pets, a wonderful daycare, favorite toy, whatever . Fold several pieces of plain paper in half and staple on the fold. As they tell you what they are thankful for, write it on a page, with one answer per page. Then let them draw a picture of each thing they said. Cornicopias: Get some Bugle crackers and Trix cereal. For snacks, use a dab of frosting in the bugle, stick on some Trix fruit. For cards, glue the Trix in the Bugle and glue onto a folded half-sheet of light cardstock, then let them draw inside and sign their name. Hand Turkey: Trace both the feet of dck and trace their hands. Cut out feet on brown paper- put the heel of the feet together with the toe pointing down and out -(heels are head of turkey - toe area are the 2 legs). Cut out 5 hands for each child in red/oranges/light brown - glue around the sides and top of feet to make feathers - add eyes and triangle nose and you have a turkey with the kids own feet and hands. Spiced Turkey: Print a picture of a turkey. Then decorate the turkeys, with things like dill seed, celery seed, beans and hatever else the kids want to use. Then glue the stuff on. Can be colorful or brown colors like a real turkey. Let the imaginations run wild. Using the seeds and other food products will not be harmful to the child if eaten while doing this too. Thankful Book Have children do one or more pages each day. Adult can put book together with a cardboard or construction paper cover. I'm glad for hands that clap for fun (child's handprints) I'm glad for feet to jump and run (draw around feet and color) I'm glad for my mother who cooks for me I'm glad for my father who is as tall as can be (photo of them or magazine pictures) I'm glad for this baby who sleeps all day (Draw or cut out picture) I'm glad for the children who laugh and play (picture of same) I'm glad for the trees that stand up tall (sponge paint or paste on) That shake their leaves and let them fall (sponge paint or paste) I'm glad for the birds that fly up high Up in the trees and up in the sky (use bird stickers) The First Thanksgiving: Tack a long sheet of butcher paper to the wall. Tell the children the story of the first Thanksgiving. Let the children tell you what they are thankful for. As each child shares why they are thankful write it on the paper. Tack the list on your classroom door for everyone to read. Thanksgiving Foods: Before And After Find pictures in magazines of foods before and after they are prepared. For example: Fresh cranberries and cranberry sauce, raw carrots and cooked carrots, raw potatoes and mashed potatoes, raw yams and candied yams. Glue each picture to a piece of felt. Show the children all of the pictures. Place one of the "before" foods up on your flannel board. Have someone find the "after" food to match it. Continue matching up all of the foods. Stained Glass Turkeys: Materials: Brown paint Paper plates 3 large sheets of brown construction paper Orange construction paper Red construction paper Tissue paper Glue Directions: To make the turkey you will need to cut five large feathers out of brown construction paper, then approximately 1 inch in from the edge of the feather, cut the center out. Cut feather shapes out of tissue paper; glue to one side of feather. Paint the paper plate brown. Cut turkey head out and attach to paper plate. Cut beak and feet from the orange paper. Red is for around the beak. These turkeys look very nice attached to a glass door so the sun can shine through. Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Use multi-colored feathers or feather shapes with toothpicks or craft sticks attached to them. Make a turkey head and attach a stick. Insert the feathers and head into a large potato. Makes a cute centerpiece. Multi-Colored Turkey Hand: Paint the child's palm brown and then paint each finger using one color for each finger: red, green, yellow, and orange. Have child press hand on piece of paper. After the paint dries you can add the eye, beak, and that little red dangly thing under the beak. Spicey Turkeys Trace each child's hand. Let them "paint" glue on palm and fingers with brush. Let them sprinkle on different Thanksgiving spices on fingers - nutmeg, salt, pepper, cinnamon, allspice, or the like. Let them smell the scents of a Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving Turkey: Cut out a turkey body from brown construction paper or tag board. Then let the students use fabric, wallpaper samples, construction paper, glitter, sequins, and other craft items to dress their turkey for Thanksgiving. After their turkey is dressed, they can dictate a story about how Mr. Turkey convinced the family not to eat him for Thanksgiving dinner. Family Turkeys: Send home a pattern of a turkey with the kids. Invite the child's family to decorate the turkey with glitter, macaroni, feathers, paint, sequins, etc. When you get them back, display them with pride! Give out an award to each family such as most colorful, silliest turkey, yummiest turkey, etc. Potato Turkey Take an uncooked potato and have children insert feathers on one side being careful to choose the feathers with the firmest "stem". Glue on wiggly eyes. Use red felt for a "gobble". Fold yellow or orange diamond shape cutout to make a beak. Insert 4 toothpicks in bottom half to make him stand. "In Step With Thanksgiving": For wall mural or individual purposes. Draw outline of turkey, side view. Take old, used shoes, have paper plates and paint ready for dipping. After the kids have colored in their turkeys, have them take their shoes, dip in paint, and press paint for turkey feathers. This is adorable as a bulletin board and can be laminated and made into place mats for Thanksgiving. Add the above caption. Easel Painting: The children should make a big brown "peanut" shape and peach bird legs. Then put on big google eyes and peach fun foam for the beak. For feathers, use wide paper ribbon in big loops stapled onto the back. Sponge Painting Feathers Cut feather shapes from sponges. Be sure to vary the size and include the small stem on the end. Use these to sponge paint with fall colors on large sheets of paper. Paper Bag Turkeys Give each child a brown paper grocery bag (any size) and several sheets of newspaper. Have the children crumple the sheets of newspaper and stuff them into their bags until the bags are half full. Twist the bags closed and tie them around the middle with pieces of yarn. To make tails for their paper bag turkeys, have the children make several cuts from the top edges of their bags down to the yarn ties. Let the children paint their turkey tails. Then give each child a precut turkey head shape to decorate. Attach the head shapes to the front of the bags to complete the turkeys. Collage Turkeys: Cut turkey shapes out of construction paper. Give each child a turkey shape and scraps of colorful construction paper or fabric. Have them glue the pieces of construction paper or fabric on their turkey shapes to make colored feathers. Let them use crayons or markers to finish the turkey's features. ***Poems and Songs*** Turkey Wobble: Play music of your choice and encourage the children to move like: Big turkeys Little turkeys Tired turkeys Happy turkeys Scared turkeys Scared turkeys Etc. Run Fast Little Turkey - Poem Have the children act out the movements as they recite the following poem. The brave little Pilgrim Went out in the wood Looking for meal That would taste really good First she/he picked cranberries Out in the bog Then she/he saw a turkey Hiding in a log Run fast little turkey Run fast as you may Or you will come to dinner On Thanksgiving Day My Turkey - Poem: Have the children act out the movements as they recite the following poem. I have a turkey, big and fat He spreads his wings And walks like that His daily corn he would not miss And when he talks he sounds like this Gobble, gobble, gobble Turkey Talk: Choose two children to be turkeys. Have them go to the center of the circle. Recite, with the other children, the poem below. When the poem is done, encourage the two "turkeys" to chat with each other in turkey talk. Two turkeys went out to play On one fine sunny day When they go together This is what they had to say Turkey Strut: Use pieces of masking tape to make turkey footprints all over the floor. Start playing some music. Let the children pretend to be turkeys and strut around the room. When you stop the music, have the turkeys find footprints to stand on (one turkey to a footprint). When you start the music again, have the turkeys continue strutting around the room. The Turkey Dance - Done To The Chicken Dance: Find a recording of The Chicken Dance and have the children pretend to be turkeys. Teach the children the movements: 1. Make your hands like they are "talking" 4 times 2. Pretend to "flap" your wings 4 times 3. Wiggle your bottom 4 times 4. Clap 4 times Continue until you are tired out or the music stops. ***Thanksgiving Games*** Nut Game: Have different types of nuts (in shells) in a pile in front of you. Ask several children to the pile and find all the nuts that look the same. Sort them in pie pans. Once all of the nuts are sorted, have the children carry the pie pans to the water table for further sorting fun. Pin The Feather On The Turkey: Draw a picture of a featherless turkey on a large piece of poster board. Attach the picture to a wall. Put loops of masking tape on the backs of real or paper feathers and place the feathers on a table close to the turkey picture. Have the children take turns choosing a feather from the table and then closing their eyes while they try to "pin" the feather on the turkey. Turkey Feather Game: Cut five turkey body shapes and fifteen shapes out of felt. Number the turkey body shapes from 1 to 5 and put them on a flannelboard. Place the feather shapes in a pile. To play the game, have the children take turns selecting a turkey identifying the number on it and adding that many feathers to it. American Diabetes Month Aviation History Month Diabetic Eye Disease Month Epilepsy Awareness Month Family Stories Month I Am So Thankful Month Lung Cancer Awareness Month Medical Orphans Month National Adoption Month National AIDS Awareness Month National Alzheimer's Disease Month National American Indian Heritage Month National Author's Day Month National Family Caregivers Month National Georgia Pecan Month National Healthy Skin Month National Hospice Month National Life Writing Month National Run Away Prevention Month National Marrow Awareness Month National Peanut Butter Lovers Month Vegan Month Vreneli's Chastelilet Month Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Month (Nov. 28 to Dec. 24) November Weekly Observances World Communication Week: 1-7 Kids' Goal Setting Week: 3-7 Great American Warm-up Days: 7-9 Notary Public Week: 2-8 Pursuit of Happiness Week: 8-14 Perioperative (OR) Room Nurse Week: 9-15 American Education Week: 16-22 National Geography Awareness Week: 16-22 Children's Book Week: 17-23 National Far-City Week: 21-27 National Adoption Week: 23-29 National Bible Week: 23-30 National Family Week: 23-29 National Game & Puzzle Week: 23-29 Better Conversation Week: 24-30 November Daily Observances National Family Literacy Day: 1 Sadie Hawkins Day: 1 Snug Hugs For Kids Day: 1 Plan Your Epitaph Day: 2 Cliché Day: 3 National Chicken Lady Day: 4 Will Rogers Day: 4 National Young Readers Day: 5 National Men Make Dinner Day: 6 Return Day: 6 Notary Public Day: 7 Abet and Aid Punsters Day: 8 Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day: 8 National Ample Time Day: 8 National Parents As Teachers Day: 8 Death/Duty Day: 11 Veterans Day: 11 World Kindness Day: 13 Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day: 14 National American Teddy Bear Day: 14 America Recycles Day: 15 Remembrance Day: 15 Alascattalo Day(About Alaska): 16 Eighteenth Century Threshing Day: 16 Coping With Uncertainty Day: 17 Homemade Bread Day: 17 Married To A Scorpio Support Day: 18 Have A Bad Day Day: 19 National Educational Support Personnel Day: 19 Name Your PC Day: 20 National Great American Smoke Out Day: 20 National Donor Sabbath Days: 21-23 World Hello Day: 21 Bible Sunday Day: 23 International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women Day: 25 What Do You Love About America? Day: 26 Turkey-Free Thanksgiving Day: 27 Buy Nothing Day: 28 Sinkie Day: 28 You're Welcomegiving Day: 28 Electronic Greeings Day: 29 International Day of Solidarity With The Palestinian People: 29 Computer Security Day: 30 Stay Home Because You're Well Day: 30 Pumpkin Pie" idea: Have pre-cut orange circles. The children glue a circle onto a paper plate. Then they brush the top of the circle with glue and sprinkle on cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, etc. You can use any of these pie spices and they smell great! Five little turkeys Five little turkeys by the barn door, One waddled off, then there were four. Four little turkeys out under the tree, One waddled off, then there were three. Three little turkeys with nothing to do. One waddled off, then there were two. Two little turkeys in the noonday sun, One waddled off, then there was one. One little turkey - better run away! Soon will come Thanksgiving Day. There is a cute fan turkey you can make by folding a piece of brown construction paper into one of those paper fans and then adding the shape of the turkey body in front of that and adding a face. Also can cut out fun foam feathers and glue them into a fan shape and add the body infront and then add eyes, beak and wattle from fun foam. All you need is a handfull of Indian corn kernels! Soak them overnight (or until soft) in a bowl of water. Thread a needle and push the needle through each soft kernel until you have the length you want for your necklace. Thoughtfulness Bag Give each child a brown paper bag that's decorated any way you choose. You can have them color, use stickers, or paint. Along with this you can glue on a poem that explains the bag, or slip one inside. The poem goes like this: Thankfulness Bag Ingredients * A rubber band - to keep our hearts tied together always * A candy kiss - to say thank you for all your love * A penny - to say thanks you for sharing my thoughts and letting me know they are important to you * A warm fuzzy ( a small piece of furry fabric ) - to make you feel good when you are sad, like you always do for me * A band-aid - to say thank you for al the times you make my hurts feel better * A Kleenex - to say thank you for all the times you dry my tears * A piece of lifesavers candy - a circle to show that my love for you will never end Gif’s & clipart http://d21c.com/AnnesPlace/Thanks.html http://www.friend4free.com/hollidays/thanksgiving/TH3mouseandpumpkins.gif http://www.geocities.com/thunder72666/table1.html http://www.worldzone.net/arts/emerald/page200.html http://www.toons.artie.com/thanksgiving/ http://www.wtv-zone.com/coolmom/holidays2/thanksgiving.html Corncob Indian Centerpiece Supplies Heavy Brown Cardboard Scissors Corncobs(shelled) 12" brown pipe cleaners Felt & Fabric scraps Black yarn scraps Kernels of field corn or unpopped popcorn Small feathers White Glue Prepare Cut one 3" square or 3" diameter circle of cardboard for each indian. For each, Indian, cut two rectangular pieces of fabric or felt, one 3" x 5" and one 2 1/2" x 11". These figures are approximate because the lengths of corncobs will very. Instructions · Glue corncobs, tapered end up, to center of coardboard base. (Use a glue gun if possible) · Put a heavy line of glue along one long edge of small rectangle or fabric and wrap it around the "waist", about the middle of the corncob. · Fold the pipe cleaner in half , then unfold. Place fold at center front of "chest", about 1" above the waist. and wrap tightly around to the back. Twist once and bring each "arm" back to the front. Fold ends of pipe cleaner to make hands. · Drape large rectangel of fabric around neck and over arms to resemble balnket shawl. · Glue on yarn scraps for hair. · Glue on tiny felt strip for headband. Tuck feather in back. · Glue on corn kernels for eyes and nose Fall Foliage You will need: Tempera paint (brown, gold, orange, yellow, red) Manila paper Paintbrushes newspaper Directions: 1. Spread newspaper over the work area. 2. Pour a small amount of each color paint into small containers. 3. Paint palm and inside of fingers of one hand, excluding thumb, with brown paint. 4. Press hand on the paper so that they palm forms a trunk and the fingers form branches. 5. Dip pad of thumb in paint, one color at a time, and "stamp" leaves on the branches. Growing corn Need: Popcorn kernels, a Ziploc bag, Dirt, and water. Place some dirt in a Ziploc bag, sprinkle enough water to saturate the top part of the soil, and drop in some popcorn kernels. Seal the bag and place it in a sunny window. Look for sprouts to appear within 7-10 days. Mayflower ships Give each child a walnut shell half, a small piece of playdough, a toothpick and a small square of white paper for a sail. Let the kids decorate their sails with crayons. Help each child poke 2 holes in his or her sail. Show the child how to stick his or her toothpick in one hole and out the other hole. Have the kids roll the playdough into a ball and place in the bottom of the walnut shell. Then stick the toothpick in the playdough. Native American Friends Pilgrim Friends Yarn Dream Catcher Indian Dance Stick Thanksgiving Crafts What's for Dinner Placemats http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=348 Click Here Easy Pilgrim Hats http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=353 Click Here Cornucopia Place Cards http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=356 Click Here Beaded Napkin Rings http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=347 Click Here Turkey Yarn Bug http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=359 Click Here Native American Beab Bag Animal Costume http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=355 Click Here Turkey Centerpiece http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=350 Click Here Tree of Thankfullness http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=351 Click Here Clay Pot Turkey http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=357 Click Here Pilgrim Bonnet http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=354 Click Here Thanksgiving Picture Frame http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=352 Click Here Turkey Door Hangers http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=349 Click Here Turkey Pin and Favor Boxes http://childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=358 Click Here Post your favorite Thanksgiving craft on our Message Boards! http://mychildfun.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=90 Click Here To make your own Thanksgiving Tree you will need the following materials: sheet of white poster board pencil tempera paint, markers or crayons construction paper in red, yellow and orange markers scissors glue or tape glitter glue (optional) Variation: This project can also be easily adapted to a cork board (see photo at: http://www.thefamilycorner.com/archives/familytime/2.shtml by simply using colored push pins to match the leaves. Use brown construction paper to make the tree trunk.You may draw the tree trunk freehand or print out our template by clicking here:http://www.thefamilycorner.com/family/leisure/thankstree.shtml At the top of the posterboard, entitle your tree "Smith Kids Thanksgiving Tree", inserting your family surname in the title. With a pencil on poster board, draw a basic tree with a branch for each child in the family. If you only have 1-2 children, it might be fun to include two or three branches for each child. Using tempera paint, markers, or crayons color the tree trunk brown. On red, orange, green and yellow construction paper, trace 10 copies of each child's hand. Cut out and give each child their "leaves". Each child writes one thing that they are thankful for on each leaf (grown ups can help if needed!). You may decorate the leaves with glitter glue if you like. Next, tape or glue the leaves onto their designated branches. This makes a great activity to keep kids happy during a large family gathering. Hint: Make the base ahead of time for quick start up. Hang up the Thanksgiving Tree where the whole family can see it. Makes a great conversation piece! Later, after dinner, have the children present their tree to the family gathered around. Each child tells what they are thankful for and why. For added fun, make additional posterboard bases up ahead of time so that the rest of the family can add their leaves as well. Have supplies at the ready! Spud Strutter Turn a potato into a turkey centerpiece. by Karin DeStefano What you need: · A 8"x 11" sheet of construction paper or poster board · Pencil · Safety scissors · 6-7 assorted faux feathers* · Tacky glue · 1 scrap yellow felt (2" x 2") · 1 red pipe cleaner* · 2 googly eyes* · Black felt-tip marker · Small kitchen knife · 1 potato · Tape · 1 orange pipe cleaner* *Available in craft stores 1. Ask your child to use the pencil to trace his hand on the construction paper. If necessary, guide his writing hand so he is able to completely trace the outline of his other hand. Use the safety scissors to cut out the hand shape. 2. Let your preschooler select the colors of the feathers he wishes to use. For this turkey project, primary colors or autumn-inspired shades are a good choice. Depending on the feather colors your child chooses, however, you may end up with a one-of-a-kind turkey! Glue a feather to each of the digits on the cutout hand shape. Let your child press down on them until the glue sets. 3. Draw a turkey head shape on the construction paper. Cut out the shape. Let your child choose two more feathers and then cut each of them to a length of 1 inch. Glue these small feathers to the top of the turkey's head. Cut a small diamond shape from the scrap of yellow felt. Press the ends together and glue to the turkey's head to make the open beak. (Hold it in place until the glue sets.) To make the turkey's wattle, cut a 2-inch piece of red pipe cleaner, bend it in half, and twist the ends together. Glue this directly underneath the beak. 4. Glue a googly eye to each side of the turkey's head. Let your child use the black marker to make eyebrows above each eye. 5. Your job: Using a knife, make two 2-inch slits in a potato—a lengthwise slit at one end and a crosswise slit at the other. Be careful not to cut all the way through. Place a few strips of tape at the bottom of the turkey's neck (this will protect the paper so you can use your centerpiece again) and insert the head into the lengthwise slit. Tape the bottom of the turkey's fantail and insert it into the crosswise slit. If your preschooler wishes, let him print his name on or decorate the hand shape. 6. To make the turkey's feet, cut the orange pipe cleaner into two 3-inch pieces. Bend them in half and insert the ends of each into the bottom of the potato so the "feet" can rest on a table Paper-Bag Turkey Make a great centerpiece out of a brown paper lunch bag. Gobble, gobble!by Franny Shuker-Haines What you need: · Brown paper lunch bag · Old newspaper · Red and brown construction paper · Glue · Markers 1. First, tear some newspaper into strips. Then, open up a brown paper lunch bag. Stuff the bottom half loosely with the newspaper. This will make the body of the turkey. 2. Now, twist the top half of the bag around tightly to form a neck. Bend the tip of the neck down to look like a turkey's head. 3. Lay the bag on its side. (The flat bottom of the lunch bag will form the back of the turkey, where the tail feathers will go.) Take the top half of the bag (the "neck" of your turkey) and bend it up slightly from the stuffed part of the bag (the "body" of the turkey). 4. Help your child cut out a "wattle" and "crest" out of red construction paper, and glue them to the head of the turkey. Your child can use markers to draw some eyes and a smile. 5. Help him cut tail feathers out of brown and red construction paper, and glue them to the back of the turkey (the flat end of the lunch bag). Glue them flat to the bottom of the bag so they stick up over the edge, looking like a nicely spread out turkey tail. 6. Cut two turkey feet out of brown construction paper. Glue them to the body, right where it rests on the table. 7. Your turkey is ready! Family Mobile Celebrate family memories with a kid-made photo mobile! by Dina Anastasio What you need: § One stick or dowel, at least one foot long § Glue (if you're using a dowel) § Photos § Colored string or yarn § Scissors (safety scissors, if children will be using them) § One thumb tack § Hole Punch 1. The next time you're outside with your child, tell her that the two of you are going to find a stick, preferably a magic one. Luckily, magic sticks aren't hard to come by—any stick about a foot long that is relatively straight will do. The real fun begins when you get it back home. (In a pinch, a dowel from a sewing-supply store or the cardboard crosspiece of a dry cleaner's hanger will do.) 2. Get a bunch of family snapshots out of that old shoebox. Choose one or more of each family member and be sure to tell the story behind each photo. Kids love seeing pictures of their parents before the children were born. 3. Paste related photos back-to-back and trim them into interesting shapes. Punch a hole in the top of each photo pair. 4. Thread a string through each hole and tie it so the photo hangs at the end of the string. You can jazz up your mobile by using brightly colored yarn. 5. You might want to hang photos of older generations towards the top, with your child and her siblings at the bottom to give a sense of how a family develops over time. Use shorter string for older generations and longer string for your child and her siblings—this way they'lll hang lower where kids can see them better. 6. Tie the other ends of the string to the stick. Keep each string in place with a dab of glue. 7. Tie a longer piece of string to the middle of the stick. 8. Select a good place for your new hanging family tree where it will get plenty of light and catch the breeze. 9. Attach the loose end of the long piece of string to the ceiling with a thumbtack. But why stop at just one? You can make themed mobiles for special times of the year—birthdays, holidays, reunions. You might even deck out your backyard with mobiles for a special occasion or a barbecue. Imagine family mobiles dangling from every tree in a hanging garden of memories! Glove-ly Gobbler Turn a glove into these googly-eyed gobblers for a jaunty addition to your Thanksgiving decorations.by Karin DeStefano What you need: · 1 glove or mitten (in an autumn hue such as orange, yellow, brown, or red) · Poly-fill stuffing* · 1 wooden thimble* · Paintbrush · Black acrylic paint · 2 googly eyes* · 1 scrap orange felt · 1 scrap red felt · Thin red ribbon (about 1 inch) · Gold ribbon (about 1 inch) · Multicolored ribbon (about 7 inches) *Available in craft stores 1. Invite your preschooler to stuff the inside of the glove with Poly-fill. Make sure he fills each of the fingers to its tip so that the entire glove feels soft and full. 2. To make the Pilgrim hat: Place a thumb into the wooden thimble and paint the outside black. Wait about 15 minutes for it to dry. In the meantime, glue two googly eyes to the thumb of the stuffed glove. Cut a small oval shape from the orange felt to form the turkey's beak and glue this between the eyes. Cut a squiggly shape from the red felt to make the turkey's wattle. Glue this to the side of the beak and let it dry. 3. Once the thimble is completely dry, glue a small strip of thin red ribbon to the bottom of the hat to make a trim. Cut a 1/4-inch square from a piece of gold ribbon and glue it to the top of the red ribbon to make the front of the hat. Glue the hat to the top of the stuffed thumb and let it dry thoroughly. 4. Using a piece of ribbon, tie a jaunty bow around the neck of the turkey. To make the bottom of the turkey stand up straight, tuck in the wrist part of the glove. For a gobbler grouping, craft a few more of these glove-ly turkeys in different sizes and colors. Karin DeStefano is a freelance writer based in Northport, New York, and the former Lifestyle Editor at Sesame Street Parents magazine. Easy Pilgrim Hats You need: For Pilgrim Hat: 2 Brown paper bags or a large sheet of kraft mailing paper Masking Tape Old Belt (or paper or cloth strip) Beach Bucket Instructions Measure around the rim of the bucket with the belt and ask an adult to punch another hole and cut off the extra piece of belt. Loop belt into a circle and buckle belt. If using paper bags, open up the sides and cut off the bottoms. Tape them together. Place paper centered over the upside-down beach bucket. Press paper down with hands around bucket to shape. Place looped belt over top and push down to the bottom of the bucket near the rim securing the paper in place. Remove hat from bucket. Thanksgiving Theme Arts & Crafts Hands and Feet Turkey Use cut-outs of a child's hands and feet to make this turkey decoration. Young children may need help tracing their hands and feet. This project is rated EASY to do. What You Need · Construction paper in brown, tan, orange, red, yellow and white · Scissors · Glue · Wiggle eyes, optional How To Make It Before you start 1. Find a place to work, and protect it with a large sheet of paper. 2. Gather all your materials. 3. Read all the directions. Making your Hand and Feet Turkey Step 1 - Trace the child's hands and feet Trace two feet (with shoes on) on brown construction paper. Trace two hands on tan construction paper. Trace two hands on red construction paper. Trace two hands on orange construction paper. Trace one hand on yellow construction paper. Step 2 - Cut out all the pieces Cut out all the hand and feet tracings. Step 3 - Make the Body Put the two feet tracings together to make the turkey body and head, matching the heels together, and spreading the bottoms apart as in the illustration. Glue. Cut two feet out of the orange scraps, and cut a diamond shape for the beak. Draw the eyes on white paper and cut them out, or use wiggle eyes. Make the wattle out of red construction paper. Glue them onto the body as shown. Step 4 - Attach the tail Glue the red, orange, and yellow construction paper hands behind the brown body to make the tail. Step 5 - Wings Position the two tan hands to either side to make the turkey's wings and glue them in place. Thanksgiving Mobile: Collect birch sticks and then have cut outs ready with holes punched in them so the kids can string them, we did corn cobs, pilgrims, Indians, canoe, leaf, turkey, etc. The cutouts are just construction paper or you could use die - cuts too. Thanksgiving Placemat Materials: Old magazines Construction paper or light cardboard Glue or paste Clear Contact paper Instructions: Give your child old magazines and have him cut out things for which he is thankful. Let him/her glue them onto a piece of cardboard or construction paper and cover with clear contact paper for a Thanksgiving place mat. Books Over the River Through the Woods by Lydia Child Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende Devlin Silly Tilly’s Thanksgiving Dinner by Lillian Hoban If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola Native American Stories by Joseph Bruchac Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn by Edna Barth Native Artists of North America by Reavis Moore Thanksgiving Fun by Judith Corwin Native North American Stories retold by Robert Hull Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphreys Thanksgiving Story by Ann Dalgliesh Vocabulary Thanksgiving Feast Harvest Pilgrim Indian Mayflower Cornucopia Colony Thursday November Food Blessings Prayers Math Turkey Feather Game Find a picture of a turkey that you like. Make six copies of it. Cut out the bodies of the turkeys (so you just have to add the feathers to make the turkey complete). Write the number "one" on the first turkey, two on another, repeat with the numbers three through six. Provide the children with twenty one feather shapes, cut from construction paper or store bought craft feathers. Ask the children to place the appropriate number of feathers on each turkey. One feather on the turkey with the number one one it... and so on. Feather Sorting Cut out several different feather shapes from construction paper or provide the children with store bought craft feathers (can be used the the above activity as well). Ask the children to sort the feathers according to color. Ask the children "How many red feathers do you have?" etc. Bead Patterns Provide the children with beads for lacing and pattern cards. Do simple patterns for younger children, or just allow them to string the beads. For a twist, get noodles with holes in them and have the children string these. You can even color the noodles with food coloring. Just be sure that eh noodles are dry before the children start to string the noodles... food coloring stains Scavenger Hunt Find out how many corn products are in the home. How many of these products do you think were available at the time of the Pilgrims? How many are new? Did you get all the following: cornmeal, cornbread mix, corn oil, frozen corn, canned corn, creamed corn, crackers made with cornmeal, corn on the cob, popcorn, margarine made with corn oil. Science Anatomy of a Seed There are seven major groups of maize (corn): dent, flint, flour, sweet, popcorn, pod and waxy. These are groups based mainly on the characteristics of the kernels. The corn that we call Indian corn is probably flint or flour corn. Both types have hard, round kernels, and smooth coats. They have a short germination period and can mature in a short season. A kernel of mature corn has three layers: a seed coat which protects, the endosperm layer which stores the starch and food energy, and the embryo which develops the new plant. Cutting a kernel in half (lengthwise) will show these three region. Using canned corn, cut a kernel in half and examine under a microscope or with a handheld magnifying glass. Locate the seed coat, endosperm layer, and embryo. Diagram and label your observations. Social Studies Map where the Mayflower sailed from to where the Thanksgiving feast took place Label a map with Indian figures showing the major tribes in what state Bible Children following God's path!written and illustrated by Gramma Cherbear The Bible Says: "I want men everywhere to pray.I want them to lift up holy hands.I don't want them to be angry when they pray,I don't want them to argue."1 Timothy 2:8Watch for the Sunset!part 1 It is OK for you to get angry. It is how you act or behave when you are angry that concerns God. It is good to tell someone when you are angry. It is not good to do bad things or act badly. God wants you to think about it and bring a happy end to your anger. You can do this, with His help!It is Not OK for us to stay angry. Praying to Jesus can quiet our tempers and make us feel better. God has given us family and friends to help us turn bad feelings into good ones. Our parents and teachers can help us see what God would have us do with our anger. Emmi Squirrel is angry. Cami Cub and Joshua Jackrabbit went fishing and they did not ask her to come with them. They thought she was busy getting ready for their Thanksgiving Dinner. Liam Leapfrog will comfort Emmi and help her know her friends love her. She must get over her angry feelings before the night time comes. It could cause problems and sadness at their Thanksgiving Day celebration.When the bible says "men" it is speaking of all people. He is talking to all of His children. It is important to forgive and hold our tempers. That is hard for us to do sometimes. God loves to help us! When we ask Him to help us, He will! He wants us to thank Him and praise Him for everything He does. He knows anger will get in the way of how we love Him and others.www.cherbearsden.com ©1999 Cherbear Children following God's path!written and illustrated by Gramma CherbearThe Bible Says: "When you are angry, do not sin"...Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry....Ephesians 4:26Watch for the Sunset!part 2Going to bed angry will cause you to feel bad when you wake up again. At the end of your day, look back. See if there is anything that you are angry about. Talking to God about the problem can help turn bad feelings into good ones. It is important that you do not keep anger in your heart.God can give us His peace and His joy. He can help us see the truth about the problem. We are special to Him. He can guard our hearts from wrong feelings. Talking with our family and friends about our angry feelings can help. God will use them to bring peace and joy back into our heart. Emmi Squirrel is at peace with her friends and with God. She has forgiven Cami and Joshua for not asking her to go fishing with them. Liam Leapfrog knew there was a problem and he helped Emmi see the truth about her friends. She remembered how much they love her and the fun they have together. It is time to thank God for their blessings. The Kid Cave creatures are happy they will not go to bed with anger in their hearts.Happy Thanksgiving!This week you spent more time thanking God for your blessings than you do any other week of the year! God says you should thank Him at all times. He wants you to love Him the way He loves you. I hope your Thanksgiving Day was full of love for God! But, I also hope all of your days are full of love for God!www.cherbearsden.com ©1999 Cherbear Bible Memory Verses Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe To wrap up our Thanksgiving theme we will cook dinner together, sit down and pray together, and CHOW!!!! Turkey Feather Fun Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Thanksgiving and hand-made turkeys go hand in hand. Talk about holiday traditions while kids make their feathered creations. 1. With Crayola® Washable Markers, draw the head, neck, and body of a turkey on construction paper. Cut them out with Crayola® Scissors. 2. Using Crayola® School Glue, attach cut outs to a plain white paper plate. Glue craft feathers all around the edges of the plate. Glue twigs to the bottom for the turkey's legs. Dry overnight. 3. Fill in your turkey's features and add designs with markers. · "My kids made two turkeys and stuffed them with newspaper. When stapled together, we had a 3-D turkey." Yuko B., mom of two kids ages 7 and 10. · "We gathered leaves for feathers, and matched marker colors to the leaves." Gabe T., after-school club advisor. Turkeys are native to the Americas. The birds were part of harvest celebrations many years before Europeans arrived on the continent. Sarah Hale, a 19th century magazine editor, campaigned for 40 years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Turkey Centerpiece Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Children gobble up the fun making these festive Model Magic® turkeys. Trot out these creations to use as centerpieces, name card holders, or holiday favors. 1. Using Crayola® Model Magic®, form a plump turkey body. Etch marks with a plastic knife to resemble feathers. 2. Roll out finger-shaped tubes of Model Magic®. Attach these as feathers and the neck by pinching the modeling compound together. 3. Use Model Magic® to form the head and attach it to the neck of the turkey. 4. Use yellow Model Magic® to form the beak and feet and attach them to turkey. If you don't have yellow you can use any other color of Model Magic® and then paint the beak and feet yellow after attaching them to the turkey. 5. Make a red wattle and attach. 6. Add two, small black dots for eyes. 7. You can make your turkey any color you want with paints or markers. Allow turkey to dry overnight before applying colors. · "The kids made their creations in the car on the way to our holiday dinner." Anela P., mom of three kids ages 4 to 10. · "We combined a science lesson about turkeys with this hands-on art." Eugene C., home-school parent of two children ages 7 and 9. For centuries before the Mayflower colonists arrived, Eastern Indians celebrated the fall harvest. Legend has it that the first Thanksgiving meal was eaten in 1621 by Native Americans and Pilgrims in Plimoth Plantation, Massachusetts. Turkey was one of many native dishes served. Colorful Cornucopia Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. The fine details involved in making this decorative horn boost children's concentration. Showcase this harvest centerpiece on your holiday table. 1. Roll a large piece of Crayola® Model Magic® into a long coil and wrap it into a horn shape. Fold up the pointed end. 2. Make the plentiful foods of harvest by shaping colored Model Magic® into squash, grapes, pumpkins, carrots, and other foods. Add trim and details with contrasting colors for a colorful and realistic or fanciful array. 3. Use a plastic dinnerware or a craft stick to etch marks and designs on the fruits and vegetables. · "What a great way to learn about the fall harvest while creating a decorative keepsake." DeeAnn S., home-school parent of children ages 6 and 8. · "The kids built their fine motor skills as they created detailed vegetables." Solana P., family child care provider. At the legendary first Thanksgiving dinner in 1621, pumpkin pudding may have been served, not pumpkin pie, as is the custom today. Oysters were also on the menu. The Native American guests brought several unknown delicacies for the European colonists to try. Sitting Pretty Place Tags Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Set your holiday table with these colorful, seasonal place tags. Everyone in your family will be Sitting Pretty! 1. Use Crayola® Scissors to cut enough squares of construction paper for each dinner guest. 2. Fold the squares in half, then use Crayola® Gel FX Washable Markers to create a holiday border for each place tag. Gel FX markers begin very light, then become bright and beautiful as they dry. 3. Write one person's name on each place tag. Use them to mark table settings for each person at your holiday dinner. · "When our Sunday school had a Christmas luncheon, children made place tags for their families. What a nice holiday touch!" Ordell F., pastor. · "We invited neighbors to join our Kwanzaa celebration. These tags helped everyone feel at home." Davu M., dad of 9- and 11-year-olds. Formal table settings have a definite place for each knife, spoon, and fork, as well each plate and glass. The place card goes behind the main plate, facing outward, so it can be viewed from the outer edge of the table as guests walk by. \ Glowing Gobbler Party Time Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Get ready for fall parties and Thanksgiving! Kids create turkey napkin rings that add color to every autumn table. 1. To make turkey bodies, draw fall-colored leaves with Crayola® Crayons on coffee filters. With Crayola® Washable Markers, draw lines throughout the filter. For turkey wattles (known as gobblers), color another coffee filter with red crayon and markers. 2. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Spritz the filters with water so the marker and crayon colors blend together. Dry. 3. Bunch filters together to form turkey bodies, heads, long necks, and gobblers. Add small tip of orange for beaks and dots of black for eyes. Use Crayola® School Glue to hold all the parts together. Dry. 4. Using Crayola® Scissors, cut several cardboard tubes for napkin rings. Paint the rings with Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint and Paint Brushes. Dry. 5. Glue your turkeys to the napkin rings. Dry. Fill with Hallmark® holiday napkins. Bon appetite! · "The kids planned our fall harvest feast menu and created the decorations. What a success!" Kat U., home-school parent of children ages 4, 5, and 8. · "Everyone made a family-size set of these adorable birds." Marta R., after-school craft assistant. For the ultimate Thanksgiving celebration, visit Pilgrim Gardens, Pennsylvania; Cranberry Pennsylvania; Pumpkin Center, California; Mayflower, Arkansas; or Turkey, Texas! Chrysanthemum Corsages Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Chrysanthemums are a traditional part of fall festivities. Join in the fun with this colorful corsage! 1. Use Crayola® Washable Markers to draw five or six circles about as big as your hand on white paper. Choose flower colors that remind you of autumn, such as orange, yellow, or brown. Color your circles. 2. Cover your work area with newspaper. Blend chrysanthemum colors with a damp Crayola® Paint Brush. Dry. 3. Use Crayola® Scissors to cut the circles into petals by making many partial cuts toward the center. Leave a small area uncut at the center. Stack the circles together. Push a paper fastener through the center. Attach the paper fastener to a jewelry backing, and crumple or roll the petals for a fuller look. 4. Wear your Chrysanthemum Corsage to watch your favorite football team. Or give them to friends, teachers, and family members! · "Our oldest is quarterback. His sister cheers for him every game by wearing a corsage in school colors." Patty M., mom of 13- and 17-year-olds. · "The scouts made these corsages to celebrate Japan's Chrysanthemum Day on September 9." Kiko H., scout leader. The chrysanthemum was first grown in China as a flowering herb. It is described in writings as early as the 15th century BCE. Turkey Table Topper Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. A gaggle of turkeys are on their way to help you celebrate Thanksgiving! Create this festive centerpiece to welcome holiday guests. Turkey Centerpiece 1. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. With Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint, color three large pieces of construction paper in fall colors such as red, orange, and brown. Dry. 2. Using the same colors of Crayola® Crayons, create three large sheets of crayon rubbings using leaves or other items. To make crayon rubbings, peel the wrappers from crayons. Lay paper on top of textured surfaces, and rub the sides of the crayon to show the patterns beneath. 3. Save the brown painted paper for the body. Fold the other painted and rubbed papers in half. Use Crayola® Scissors to make pointed cuts, in graduated steps, to simulate feathers. Make the tallest feather at the fold of the paper. The top feather of each sheet starts lower than the previous one. Alternate layers of rubbed and solid papers. Save the scraps. Glue paper feathers together with Crayola® School Glue. 4. On the brown painted paper, draw a turkey head with white Crayola® Colored Pencils. Make it as tall as the tallest cut-out paper. Cut it out. Curl the top of the paper forward and under to form the head. Secure it with glue. Add eyes, a beak, and a gobbler (the official name is wattle) to your bird using painted paper scraps. 5. To make a platform for your centerpiece, cut out two different-sized triangles from a box lid or thick foam. Paint them two different colors. Dry. 6. Glue the smaller triangle on top of the larger one. Glue feathers to the top triangle. Fold the bottom of the turkey's head under and glue it to the top triangle in front of the feathers. For stability, place a craft stick behind it. Dry. Turkey Napkin Rings 7. Cut cardboard tubes for napkin rings. Paint in fall colors. Dry. 8. Using the scraps of paper from the turkey, cut two thin strips (about half as wide as your finger) of all six colors. Glue strip ends together. Then glue strips to the inside of the tube. 9. Cut out one brown strip as wide as and longer than your finger. Curl the top of the paper to form the turkey head and secure it with glue. Add a beak and wattle. Glue the other end of the paper head to the inside of the tube. Dry. 10. Display napkin ring turkeys on the bottom tier of your centerpiece. · "Our troop made this centerpiece for our Thanksgiving dinner with homeless people. It was SO festive!" Myron P., scout leader. · "Kids put this turkey together for our annual parent Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone contributed in some way." Nimischa V., special education assistant. Both the United States and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving, and many cultures have similar harvest festivals. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. The United States celebrate the harvest on the fourth Thursday of November. Fancy Filter Turkeys Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Involve your kids in Thanksgiving meal preparations. These crafty birds add gob(bler)s of color to any holiday table! 1. To make the bodies of your turkeys, draw fall-colored leaves with Crayola® Crayons on several coffee filters. Start at the inside of the filter and move to the outside edges. With Crayola® Washable Markers, draw lines throughout the filter. For turkey gobblers (the official name is wattles), color another coffee filter with red crayon and markers. 2. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Spritz the filters with water so the marker colors blend together. Dry. 3. Bunch filters together to form turkey bodies, heads, long necks, and gobblers. Add small tip of orange for beaks and dots of black for eyes. Use Crayola® School Glue to hold all the parts together. Dry. 4. Using Crayola® Scissors, cut thin strips into the edges to create feathery coffee filters. 5. Cut cardboard tubes into napkin rings. Paint the rings with Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint and Paint Brushes. Dry. 6. Glue your turkeys to the napkin rings. Dry. Fill with Hallmark® holiday napkins. Now you're ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, Canada, or wherever you are! · "These turkeys decorated our Thanksgiving table. Our children were so proud to make them!" Ivanna C., mother of children ages 6, 7, and 10. · "Kids at Saturday Craft Class dived right in to make these Fancy Filter Turkeys." Nimisha V., art volunteer. The first North American Thanksgiving is believed to have been celebrated in the fall of 1621. One story is that the Pilgrims invited Chief Massasoit and his tribe to join them for a feast that included turkey, duck, deer, cornbread, steamed clams, peas, and eel. Bountiful Harvest Wall Hanging Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Your kids can fill this horn of plenty with all of their fall favorites! Hang it from your front door to celebrate autumn's bountiful harvest. 1. Cover your work area with newspaper. Using Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint and Paint Brushes, paint five paper plates dark brown. With Crayola® Scissors, cut the center out of another paper plate and paint it light brown. Paint pieces of white construction paper in assorted fruit or vegetable colors. Dry. 2. With Crayola® School Glue, attach the cut paper plate to the middle of a brown plate. Overlap and glue three plates together so the edge of each one shows slightly on the right side of the one beneath it. Cut the last plate so it resembles a horn or cornucopia shape, curving up at the end. Glue it to the right side of the other plates. Dry. 3. Use Crayola® Crayons to thickly color at least one coffee filter orange and another one red. Add streaks of the same color of Crayola® Washable Marker on the colored filters. Spritz the filters with water so the crayon and marker colors blend together. Dry. 4. Using Crayola® Colored Pencils, draw fruits and vegetables on the painted sheets. Cut them out. Glue them to the cornucopia. 5. Crumble more coffee filters and cover them with the painted ones to make 3-D fruits and vegetables. Glue filters together and then glue to the cornucopia. Dry. 6. Add leaves and vines, and highlight fruits and vegetables, with colored pencils. 7. Punch two holes on opposite ends of the cornucopia. Run ribbon, string, or yarn through the holes and tie together to hang. · "The kids filled our cornucopia with pumpkins, Indian corn, and fall flowers." Marcella B., mother of 10- and 13-year-olds. · "This crafty cornucopia kept kids focused on the foods that are harvested in the fall. We toured an orchard first." Graciella T., Saturday craft club leader. Cranberry Harvest Safety guidelines recommend this art project is suitable for children age 4 years and older. Kids delight in getting bogged down with this cranberry harvest scene! Sip on cranberry juice as you show how these beautiful red berries grow. 1. Legend has it that cranberries were served by Native Americans in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the first Thanksgiving in 1621. Recipes containing cranberries go back to the early 1700s. Read Cranberries and find more information about this fruit on the Internet. You'll discover that this unique fruit is grown only in North America. Create your own cranberry bog diorama to show a colorful harvest scene. 2. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. Paint the inside of a recycled shoe box with Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint and Paint Brushes to make the sky. Dry. With a sponge, dab on shades of paint to resemble trees in autumn. 3. To make cranberries, use various shades of red Crayola® Crayons to draw lines on several coffee filters, starting at the middle and moving to the outside edges. With a red Crayola® Washable Marker, draw lines throughout the crayoned filter. Spritz the filter with water so colors run together. Dry. 4. Cut off the end flaps of a shoe box lid with Crayola® Scissors to make your cranberry bog. Paint it to resemble land and water. Dry. Sponge red paint on the water. Dry. 5. Tear the dry filters into pieces and roll them to form cranberries. Use Crayola® School Glue to attach the cranberries on the red areas so they look like they are floating on water. 6. On white construction paper with Crayola® Colored Pencils, sketch workers holding rakes. Color figures with markers. Cut out and glue workers standing in the water. Glue the bog inside the shoe box. Have a glass of cranberry juice, or make some muffins while it dries! · "My children made several dioramas to show how fruits grow. Geography, nutrition, and climate were naturals." Rosa T., home-school parent of ages 9 and 11. · "We grind cranberries, make relish, and bake bread. Everyone helps create our cranberry bog, too." Marc C., family child care provider. Did you know that the only three native North American fruits are the Concord grape, the blueberry, and the cranberry? Give Thanks Together 'Tis the season to give thanks as harvests are celebrated and seasons change around the world. People also pause from their normal hectic pace to express gratitude for friends, family, and others near their home as well as around the globe. Families gather to pass on their traditions. Kids often express their thankfulness through the arts as they prepare for this festive holiday.Issue InvitationsMake this Thanksgiving special - send handcrafted dinner invitations. Choose pretty paper and design a seasonal motif with Crayola® Watercolor Brushes to blend and soften colors. Print the invitation in fancy lettering with Crayola® Gel F/X Colored Pencils. Design matching envelopes, too.Write LettersPeople, and their many kindnesses, are often at the top of children's lists of what they're thankful for. Have children create personalized letterhead with Crayola® Metallic Markers and express their appreciation and love in words with Crayola® Gel Pens.Match Placemats and Napkin RingsChoose a theme for your table, such as fall produce or family and friends. To make seasonal placemats, cover heavy paper with a thick layer of Crayola® Gel F/X Crayon designs. Cut cardboard roll napkin rings, and paint in matching colors with Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint. Add Crayola® Glitter Glue accents. Fill with holiday napkins to carry out your theme.Feature Name CardsDesignating a place for each person gives holiday dinners an extra special touch. Cut fancy paper rectangles for each place card. Add an intricate seasonal design with Crayola® Gel F/X Colored Pencils. Then use calligraphy or your fanciest penmanship to write each person's name with Crayola® Gel Pens.Design a Harvest CenterpieceCreate a decorative tray filled with nature's bounty. Color layers of bright fall leaves on a recycled file folder with Crayola® Crayons. Cut around outside leaf edges for your centerpiece base. Create imitation candles by cutting a cardboard paper-towel roll in half. Decorate candles with Crayola® Metallic Markers. Around candles, make a stunning arrangement of Crayola® Model Magic® Indian corn, squash, pumpkins, and other produce. Knead Crayola® Washable Marker color into the modeling material to get just the right shades and tints.Send Greetings of GratitudeSend greetings to family and friends, near and far. On watercolor paper, lightly sketch card designs with Crayola® Colored Pencils. Perhaps a collage of thanks would be appropriate. Complete the design with Crayola® Watercolors and Watercolor Brushes. Write messages of gratitude. Party Planning TipsWhat Type of Party?Party Planning ChecklistBefore the Party During the PartyBirthday BashesStress Free Winter HolidaysInvolving the Kids in Winter HolidaysDeclarations and Decorations of LoveColorful Heart-full CelebrationsEgg-citing Spring HolidaysCelebrate a Successful School YearMother's Day, Father's Day and Parents' Day Celebrate IndependenceColorful Summer PicnicsHappy Haunting Halloween DecorationsCreate Original Halloween Costumes & MasksThrow a Boo-tiful Halloween PartyCommunicate With Your KidsGive Thanks TogetherDecorate for ThanksgivingCreate Everyday Creative CelebrationsDrawing Families TogetherNew Beginnings for a New Year Recipe 4 Thanksgiving Rainbow Make up the bag topper(The poem is below) and add jelly beans to the bag. Would make a great Thanksgiving party favor. ( A picture of a turkey, with rainbow colored feathers is a good picture for the bag topper) RED for the glow of the fireplace this day, PINK for the children's rosy cheeks as they play. ORANGE for the leaves ad they come dancing down, GREEN for the decorations appearing all over town. YELLOW for the feathers on the turkey the children drew, WHITE for the hope of the prayers said by you.