12 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 5

Days of Thanksgiving

I've always loved these ideas that extend through multiple days to celebrate the holiday seasons (did you catch my 13 Days of Halloween posts?). This year I found ideas for the 12 Days of Thanksgiving and I couldn't resist sharing them with you. The ideas in this post came from a very vintage magazine called Copycat Press from 1990 (which just doesn't feel like it should be labeled very vintage, but I suppose that's because I am very vintage myself!) 

The ideas are centered around using the poetry from It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky. I didn't have this book in our Club library, but I did find a few versions of read alouds online. Here's the one that includes the entire book (which is helpful since you'll use different poems each day).

Fifth Day of Thanksgiving
Have the kids read silently the poem "I Went Hungry On Thanksgiving." Then have the group create some language experience stories. Ask members to tell about a time when they were incredibly hungry and couldn't stop eating. Members should describe the sights and smells and their reaction to them when they experienced these feelings of fullness or hunger. Have the class read their stories. Compare and contrast the feelings.

Note: Be aware of childhood hunger and the fact that not all of the kids in your care come from families where there is no shortage of food. If you have concerns with this activity possibly causing children to feel left out, you might alter the activity to have members think of a time where they wanted to do something, but could not because of circumstances they couldn't control - for example, a trip that was canceled due to weather or a missed party because of the flu.

Click on the image above to be taken to a larger image of the poem. I created this printable with graphics purchased from EduClips (<-- and there's the link in case you want to purchase some of her awesome work). You're welcome to use this in your Clubs, classrooms, or any kind of after school program. If you share it with others, please share my blog as well. Thank you!

12 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 4

Days of Thanksgiving

I've always loved these ideas that extend through multiple days to celebrate the holiday seasons (did you catch my 13 Days of Halloween posts?). This year I found ideas for the 12 Days of Thanksgiving and I couldn't resist sharing them with you. The ideas in this post came from a very vintage magazine called Copycat Press from 1990 (which just doesn't feel like it should be labeled very vintage, but I suppose that's because I am very vintage myself!) 

The ideas are centered around using the poetry from It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky. I didn't have this book in our Club library, but I did find a few versions of read alouds online. Here's the one that includes the entire book (which is helpful since you'll use different poems each day).

Fourth Day of Thanksgiving
Here's a poem that's short and bittersweet! Ask a member to read aloud the poem "If Turkeys Thought." Point out the rhyming style and the humor that Prelutsky uses in his poetry. Challenge the group to create their own rhyming poems entitled "If I Were a Turkey." Have the group brainstorm a list of words that could be used in the poems. Here are some rhyming words that may be included:

Members may choose to write their poems as a small group or individually. After they have written the poems, invite them to share them with the group. If you have extra time, you might have the kids illustrate the poems they wrote.

Additional Idea: After sharing this poem with the children, invite them to color and cut out the turkey pattern above and glue it to construction paper. Then have them write turkey escape thoughts on speech bubble cut outs. For example "I'm going to pack my bags and catch the nest plane out of here!"). Ask children to glue the speech bubbles to their turkey patterns.

12 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 3

Days of Thanksgiving

I've always loved these ideas that extend through multiple days to celebrate the holiday seasons (did you catch my 13 Days of Halloween posts?). This year I found ideas for the 12 Days of Thanksgiving and I couldn't resist sharing them with you. The ideas in this post came from a very vintage magazine called Copycat Press from 1990 (which just doesn't feel like it should be labeled very vintage, but I suppose that's because I am very vintage myself!) 

The ideas are centered around using the poetry from It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky. I didn't have this book in our Club library, but I did find a few versions of read alouds online. Here's the one that includes the entire book (which is helpful since you'll use different poems each day).

Third Day of Thanksgiving
Read your group the poem "The Middle of November." You can't help but smile when you think of all of the turkey projects you've share with your kids over the years! This year try a word association game. Have kids fold a large sheet of paper into sixths. Ask them to number each square as shown.

Give the group a key word for each square.
1. Thanksgiving
2. family
3. turkey
4. Pilgrim
5. Native American
6. thankful

Then have kids use the squares to write in or draw a picture of things they associate with the key words.

After kids are finished writing/illustrating, invite them to go around the room and share some of their ideas.

12 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 2

Days of Thanksgiving

I've always loved these ideas that extend through multiple days to celebrate the holiday seasons (did you catch my 13 Days of Halloween posts?). This year I found ideas for the 12 Days of Thanksgiving and I couldn't resist sharing them with you. The ideas in this post came from a very vintage magazine called Copycat Press from 1990 (which just doesn't feel like it should be labeled very vintage, but I suppose that's because I am very vintage myself!) 

The ideas are centered around using the poetry from It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky. I didn't have this book in our Club library, but I did find a few versions of read alouds online. Here's the one that includes the entire book (which is helpful since you'll use different poems each day).

Second Day of Thanksgiving
Make a transparency of the poem "The First Thanksgiving" and display it on the board. [Since few of our sites have the old transparency projectors, I have created an image of this poem for you to use for display. You could use a projector or print it in poster format and display it that way or you could print it as a coloring page for each of your kids.]
 Read the poem and discuss the historical significance of Thanksgiving. Talk about the hardships the Pilgrims faced in coming to America...the the Wompanoag Indians helped the Pilgrims...and how they shared a feast of Thanksgiving after a plentiful fall harvest. Inform your group that the Pilgrims did not hold a feast every year but only when the harvest was bountiful. It is an interesting note that since the days of Abraham Lincoln (1863), Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Bonus math question for your kiddos - how many years has that been?

Click on the image above to be taken to a larger image of the poem. I created this printable with graphics purchased from EduClips (<-- and there's the link in case you want to purchase some of her awesome work). You're welcome to use this in your Clubs, classrooms, or any kind of after school program. If you share it with others, please share my blog as well. Thank you!

12 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 1

Days of Thanksgiving

I've always loved these ideas that extend through multiple days to celebrate the holiday seasons (did you catch my 13 Days of Halloween posts?). This year I found ideas for the 12 Days of Thanksgiving and I couldn't resist sharing them with you. The ideas in this post came from a very vintage magazine called Copycat Press from 1990 (which just doesn't feel like it should be labeled very vintage, but I suppose that's because I am very vintage myself!) 

The ideas are centered around using the poetry from It's Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky. I didn't have this book in our Club library, but I did find a few versions of read alouds online. Here's the one that includes the entire book (which is helpful since you'll use different poems each day).

First Day of Thanksgiving
Read aloud the poem "It's Happy Thanksgiving." Then read it a second time with the help of your group, reading alternate lines. For most people, Thanksgiving is a time for being together with family and friends and giving thanks. Have kids share vivid memories of Thanksgiving past. Provide copies of the roast turkey reproducible. Have kids color, cut out, and paste it on a large sheet of drawing paper, then draw family and friends seated at Thanksgiving dinner table.

Note: It's important to remember that there is no right or wrong family dynamic. Before starting this project, it's a great time to have the discussion about how all families look a little different. I use the example of how my parents were foster parents while I was a child - our family never looked the same from holiday to holiday, but that made our family special. Encourage kids to share some ideas of what families look like and don't forget to include your Club family!

Click on the image above to access the larger image for saving and printing (just right click on the large image and save to your computer). I hope you enjoy this activity with your group. If you want to incorporate this into a standard program you might opt to use it for KidzLit or Smart Moves.

Additional Idea: After reading the poem "It's Happy Thanksgiving," discuss with members ways in which Grandma makes her grandchildren happy on Thanksgiving. Then, invite members to create scrolls for those who make their Thanksgiving a happy day. First, have them write and illustrate a verse about the special person on Thanksgiving or why they give thanks for that person. Then have them roll up and tie their scrolls with ribbon. Finally encourage each child to present their special person with the scroll on Thanksgiving Day.

Silly Songs for Thanksgiving

The Silly Songs posts are definitely inspired by my years as a Girl Scout leader. We learned new songs regularly and often shared some of our favorites with other troops when it came time to camp. The songs I've shared here are Thanksgiving themed but many of my troops loved to sing them year round. Enjoy!

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.

Turkey, Turkey
Sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Turkey, turkey, look at you,
Please be careful what you do.
Thanksgiving Day is almost here,
We eat turkey every year.
Go and hide out in the woods,
And we'll eat pizza like we should!

The Pilgrims are Coming
Sung to When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again

The Pilgrims are coming to celebrate,
Hurrah, Hurrah!
The Pilgrims are coming to celebrate
Thanksgiving Day.
The Pilgrims are coming so don't be late
We'll eat and dance to celebrate.
And we'll all be glad so hurry and don't be late!

The Turkey Ran Away

Sung to The Farmer in the Dell

The turkey ran away,
Before Thanksgiving Day
He said, "They'll make a roast of me
I If decide to stay!"

I hope you and your kiddos enjoy these songs as much as my groups did! Do you have special songs that you share for Thanksgiving? Let me know!

Hello November

November brings with it the quiet end of Autumn and the first signs of Winter (at least here in Oklahoma). I feel like November often gets forgotten in the shuffle between Halloween and Christmas and we try to keep fall decor and activities going through the month (and then let Christmas shine during the month of December). Here are some fun celebrations that you might enjoy incorporating into your November plans. I've added in the birthdays of artists for this month as well. Our Club has started the Art Feeds program and we're incorporating an Artist Spotlight in our Studio space.

Club-Centric Events
KidsGiving Gala - November 14
Thanksgiving Break - November 25-27

Monthly Celebrations
American Indian Heritage Month
Aviation History Month
Family Stories Month

Weekly Celebrations
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week - November 6-12
National Chemistry Week - Second Full Week
National Children's Book Week - Third Full Week

Daily Celebrations
November 1 - Dia de los Muertos
November 1 - National Author's Day
November 3 - Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 4 - King Tut Day
November 5 - Guy Fawkes Day
November 9 - Berlin Wall Day
November 10 - International Tongue Twister Day
November 11 - Veterans' Day
November 13 - World Kindness Day
November 15 - American Recycles Day
November 16 - Oklahoma Statehood Day
November 17 - Homemade Bread Day
November 20 - Universal Children's Day
November 21 - World Hello Day
November 24 - Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
November 28 - Thanksgiving

Artist Spotlights
November 12 - Auguste Rodin
November 14 - Claude Monet
November 15 - Georgia O'Keeffe

How do you celebrate November? Do you have cool ideas to share? Let me know!