| Volume 5, Issue 24
November 09, 2006
Giving
Thanks
 WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Education
Newsletter. Each month, I'll share some ideas on a familiar teaching
theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new
twist on one of your old favorites. Since I know you are very busy, I'll
be short and sweet -- like most of activities I suggest.
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For mom, dad, and Grandma Jane--
Who care for me each day,
For my teacher and my friends,
Who help me learn and play,
For all this food, piled high,
Turkey, pie, and more?
I give thanks, yes I do,
I뭢 a thankful kid -- for sure!
Invite your children to think about things they are thankful for. Then
use this poem as a framework to help children create their own 밫hankful
Rhymes.?
Susan LaBella Editor,
Early Childhood Education Newsletter
 GIVING THANKS
Read to children Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks, by Margaret Sutherland.
Present each picture, asking children if they can tell what each boy or
girl in the book might be thankful for. Discuss with students things they
are thankful for, and then help them write “I am thankful for ___________”
sentences. Record each child’s sentence on chart paper and reread it
aloud, tracking the print as you read. Encourage children to draw pictures
to go with their sentences. Bind the pictures into a class book to read
over and over.
TURKEY HIDE AND SEEK
Have one child covers his or
her eyes. Invite another child to be the turkey and to hide in the
classroom. Ask the first child to try and find the turkey. If the child is
far from the hidden turkey, the rest of the class gobbles softly. If the
child gets close to the hidden turkey, the rest of the class gobbles
loudly until the turkey is found.
THANKSGIVING CORN
Corn has been a Thanksgiving
staple since the first Harvest Feast. Try this experiment with corn. Ask
children to vote on whether they think colored corn kernels will become
colored popcorn. Display the voting results. Then let children place plain
popcorn kernels in plastic locked bags. Add drops of food coloring -- red,
blue, green, or yellow -- and some vinegar to each bag; make sure all the
kernels are saturated with color. Next, place the kernels on paper towels
to dry. Later pop the colored kernels in an air popper. Children will see
that the popped corn is fluffy and white. Talk about the results.
A CLASSROOM TURKEY
Use brown paper to create a
large turkey’s body and head for use on a bulletin board. Add eyes and a
nose. Send home with each child a cut-out cardboard feather and a note
asking families to decorate the feather together. As students bring in
their creations, arrange the feathers behind the turkey body and admire
the variety of decorations.
THANKSGIVING COOKIES
Prepare sugar cookies cut into
holiday shapes -- turkeys, pumpkins, pilgrim hats, and so on. Place
cookies on paper plates. Provide plastic spreaders, various flavor icings,
sprinkles, candy corn, and other fun toppings. Invite children to decorate
their own cookies using any combination of items.
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 Check out the following Web sites for additional
background and activities.
Thanksgiving Day
Parade
Find lots of information about the famous annual
event.
http://www.nyctourist.com/macys_menu.htm
Thanksgiving
Coloring Pages
Print out some traditional Thanksgiving coloring
pages.
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/thanksgiving/color_index.htm
Super Match
Up
Kids will love playing this online Thanksgiving match-up
game.
http://www.lil-fingers.com/holidays/thanksgiving/
Thanksgiving
Songs
Try some of these fun songs and fingerplays with your
class.
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/holiday_themes/thanks_songs.htm
Thanksgiving
Recipes
Get a whole bunch of great recipes that are perfect for the
Big Day.
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/specialfeature/thanksgiving_meal_ms/
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