Volume 5, Issue 24
November 09, 2006

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/