1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Pilgrim Activities With Me
Do you read ”The Littlest Pilgrim” by Brandi Dougherty?
I think part of the reason my students enjoy this story so much, is that they truly identify with Mini, the main character, for they too are young and often feel left out.
Mini is too little to chop wood, bake bread, hunt, build a cabin, or fish. (A nice list of things that the Pilgrims did).
However, she’s not too little to pick berries and make a special Native American friend; which in truth is the very essence of why the Pilgrims survived.
Because of my students’ enthusiasm for the story and their empathetic identification with Mini, I designed 3 quick, easy and fun writing prompt activities that I think your students will enjoy.
* The first one: “When I was younger I was too little to . . .” features 4 different “toppers” for them to choose from then color. See the samples on the cover.
* The next one is a comparison-contrast activity, where students complete the prompts: “It’s great being a kid because…” then compare that with “I look forward to being an adult because…”
Students can choose a boy or girl Pilgrim worksheet.
* Finally, a Pilgrim girl bookmark, has children make a list of words (character traits) that describe Mini.
The activities are different enough so that you can do all three, or give children a choice of the top two, then build vocabulary and practice descriptive character traits, as a whole group.
Besides the black & white patterns for students, I’ve also included full color templates, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share. My finished examples are also included.
To practice "text to self" we discuss times in our lives that we felt just like Mini.
Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board.
I’ve included 2 posters for the center of your display.
Because my storytelling slider craftivities craftivities have been so popular, I decided to design one to go along with "The Littlest Pilgrim" as well.
This craftivity is a quick, easy and fun way to reinforce the "sequencing and retelling a story" standards, while relaying factual information about the Pilgrims at the same time.
Children color the objects on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.
As they pull on the end of the “slider” the various pictures go through the window”, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their Pilgrim home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.
Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.
I’ve included a “sequence the story” worksheet for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on the blank worksheet.
So that you can quickly and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern. There are patterns for both a boy and girl Pilgrim.
I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers or other transitions.
The featured FREEBIE for today are some fun acorn-themed craftivities, which make a nice "sanity saver" for the last day before vacation.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping over.
The Sandhill Cranes are migrating and make a stop over in a marsh close by.
So time to bundle up to go see this truly awesome sight, as literally 1,000s swoop in honking away. Wishing you an inspiring day.
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." - Langston Hughes
1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Craftivities With Me
Thanksgiving break is almost here! Woo hoo. I always like to toss in a little bit of craftiness for that energy-filled (them, not me) Wednesday before vacation.
Here's a quick, easy and fun little My Thanksgiving Dinner Writing Prompt Craftivity, with a variety of options to fit different age groups.
After reading several stories about the first Thanksgiving, have a discussion with your students about the kinds of meals that they enjoy for their Thanksgiving dinner.
How are they similar? How are they different? Do most of them have a traditional or non traditional Thanksgiving?
If they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, does their family have another special dinner at some point in the year?
Students then transition to the writing craftivity. They trace and write the words, add end punctuation and color the pictures; then trim the pages into a circle, collate and staple them to a paper plate.
For that extra pizzazz, I like using small, decorative fall plates from The Dollar Store, which also sells the real looking, plastic silverware for that special 3D effect.
Because they are silver in color, everyone thinks they look truly amazing, and always comment about our cool looking bulletin board display.
I've also included a blank page template for older students to write about their Thanksgiving meal.
Younger children can also exchange the pages that don't apply to them, substituting a few pages of their own.
There's also a generic "My Favorite Dinner" cover, so students who don't celebrate Thanksgiving, can still participate, creating their own pages of a dinner that's a favorite of their family.
For more writing practice and word work, I've included a set of trace & write word cards.
Children can trim, alphabetize and staple together to make an Itty Bitty booklet.
Finally, there are some larger writing prompt pages for older elementary, should you wish to skip the paper plate crafivity portion.
Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look: Thanksgiving Dinner: A Writing Prompt Craftivity.
The featured FREEBIE for today is a Native American headband craft that practices 2D shapes.
Another little something fun for your feast, or to make during the last week of school.
Well that's it for today. My "to do" list for Thanksgiving is rather long, so best get at it. Wishing you a fun-filled day.
"There is only one difference between a long life and a good dinner: that, in the dinner, the sweets come last." -Robert Louis Stevenson
1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Math Activities With Me
Strut your math skills with this cute turkey craftivity.
You can review all sorts of standards while playing this game, which is easy to differentiate for a variety of ages and learning levels.
Use the 10-sectioned pie pattern, to simply make a 10-piece puzzle, for younger students to practice counting and sequencing numbers 1-10. You can also review colors with them as well.
Older students can practice numbers and their number words.
It only took 15 minutes to make a class set. Store them separately in Ziploc Snack Baggies.
Reinforce life skills, by playing with the puzzles as a partner game.
You can use dice and practice addition, or use the spinner (3 are included) to play that way.
If your kiddos are also studying fractions, they can play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games, with the turkey's pumpkin pie fraction cards.
I've made a larger set to use as flashcards, as well as included a set of black and white pocket chart cards.
These can also be used as a worksheet for your kiddos to trace, write,trim & collate into an Itty Bitty fraction booklet.
Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Easy As Pie, Turkey Number Game With Some Fraction Fun
The featured FREEBIE today is a short story "Who Will Be King". It's special in that it includes ALL 220 Dolch sight words!
I've highlighted words in various colors, so that you know which lists they come from. Hope you find it helpful.
Well that's it for today. The carpet cleaners will be here this morning, so my office will be off limits to creative messes.
Time to think up something else to fill up my day with. Ummm, shopping before the crazy crush begins sounds good . . . Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
"Shopping at any level is a bit of therapy for my medulla oblongata." - Theophilus London
1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Writing Prompts With Me
The activities in the "Thanksful Packet", are a creative alternative to the ever popular “Thankful For…” writing prompt.
The THANKFUL word, is a quick, easy & fun little craftivity your students can do in 5-10 minutes.
Children fill in the letters with things that they are thankful for. Drawings, stickers, or even a little photograph adds pizzazz.
I used all caps so that students had more room. Take a teachable moment to discuss why they think that most signage that they read is a “rule breaker” and uses all capital letters.
The packet also includes a class-made booklet, which includes several page options and covers.
It’s formatted on a full-page for a large booklet, as well as 2-on-a-page templates to conserve paper.
The booklet is a wonderful way to build students’ self-confidence, and is especially appropriate if your class participates in the “Bucket Filling” program, as children choose a partner then write why they are thankful for them.
Encourage older students to use at least 3 adjectives to describe their classmate, as well as 2-3 verbs of what they do that you are thankful for.
Add school pictures for that finishing touch.
After they share their page, collect, collate and add a cover.
Remember to set your booklets out for parent-teacher conferences.
As always, I've included my completed samples, so that you can quickly and easily make an example to share with your kiddos, to help explain what you want them to do.
There's also a sweet little note from your teacher: I'm thankful you're in our class, that you can tuck in students' desks, folders, or backpacks.
Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look at the: Thankful Packet.
While you're there, I'd so appreciate it if you'd follow me. I know it's a bit silly, but I really get excited about this growing number.
I only need two more followers to hit the 800 milestone. When I do, I'll be sharing a special FREEBIE in celebration.
By following, you'll know when I post FREEBIES or throw a sale. Thanks in advance for you consideration.
The featured FREEBIE for today is Patrick, the paper chain scarecrow. Use him as a creative and fun way to practice, counting and patterning via the links.
Older students can write why they are thankful on eack link, the scarecrow being a nice alternative to a turkey. Completed projects look cute dangling from the ceiling or as a border up against a hallway wall.
Well that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by. It's rainy, cold and dreary out.
The perfect kind of day to start creating some Christmas craftivities. Wishing you a warm-fuzzy, snuggly kind of day.
"Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Activities With Me
I think you’ll really like the versatility of the Turkey Feathers number packet, as you can pick and choose what’s appropriate for your students PK-1st.
What’s especially nice about the variety, is that you can easily differentiate the activities to suit various student levels.
Use them as table top worksheets, independent centers, whole group activities, something for early finishers, homework, interventions, or a sub folder.
The packet includes a trace & write counting booklet, a variety of worksheets, games, puzzles, several assessments, odd & even activities, plus a graphing extension.
There's also a turkey slider “craftivity”, with “slider strips” for numbers 0-10, 0-30, counting backwards from 10-0, as well as 20-0, plus skip counting strips for 2s, 3s, 5s & 10s.
Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look see: Turkey Feathers.
While you're there, I'd so appreciate it if you'd follow me, so that you'll know when I post the latest FREEBIE or am throwing a sale.
Speaking of FREEBIES, today's is my "Tasting Feast" packet. It's filled with everything you need to throw a Thanksgiving Tasting Feast for your students: signs, ingredients, letters and notes home + tips.
The packet is one of the first Thanksgiving activities I posted years ago, before all of the clip art, fonts, and graphic design programs that I use now, but I think you'll still find it helpful.
A tasting feast is a fun and easy alternative to help celebrate this historical event. My kiddos absolutely loved it.
Half of them chose to be Wampanoag Native Americans, the other half were Pilgrims. They especially enjoyed making hats and headbands, as well as collars and paper bag vests to wear.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. The carpet cleaners are coming tomorrow to do the whole house.
Babies, toddlers and a puppy have taken it's toll, so it will be a busy day getting ready.
At least I feel energized to get things spruced up for Thanksgiving. Wishing you a carefree day.
"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse." - Henry Van Dyke
1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Writing Prompts Craftivities With Me
It never failed, that no matter what grade I taught (PK, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, and even a college lit class), if I introduced a writing assignment that had a little bit of craftiness to eat, my students couldn't wait to get down to the business of writing.
An added bonus, was that completed projects made an awesome bulletin board that they were proud of.
The two writing prompt craftivities that I'm featuring today, are very simple, and can be done in a really short amount of time.
The first one is "Loopy". He's a creative alternative to the ever-popular "I'm Thankful For..." writing prompt.
Students write something that they are thankful for on strips of colored paper, then bend them into a loop and glue their writing prompt "feathers" to the top of their turkey.
I made my sample out of rainbow colors, but you'll have a wonderful variety if you let your students come up with their own designs.
You can also reinforce AB-AB or ABC-ABC color patterns as well.
I've included 6 different options for a center circle; from as simple as "Happy Thanksgiving!" to several quotes, as well as a poem.
Include a blank, brown loop behind the head of the turkeys, so you can suspend them back-to back from the ceiling. Click on the link for this "funtastic" Dollar Deal: Loopy the Thankful Turkey Writing Prompt Craftivity.
Next up is the Thankful Tree. Like Loopy, it's a nice alternative to the "I'm Thankful For" writing prompt.
I designed this craftivity, so that I could reinforce the 4 seasons, which we were learning about. It's also a great opportunity to practice the use of adjectives, to make writing more descriptive.
Here, children complete the prompt: "I'm thankful for (winter, spring, summer, fall) because..."
There's a cover page, 4 seasonal tree top writing prompts: (I'm thankful for winter, spring summer, fall because...) plus an ending prompt that says: "Most of all I'm thankful for . . ."
Students work on one tree top "page" each day. When everyone is done, have students share one of their favorite pages.
I've included a blank tree top pattern for older students.
For more pizzazz, students can add small seasonal stickers or drawings to the tree tops. i.e. snowflakes for winter, blossoms for summer etc.
Adding a school photo to the "hollow" of the tree adds that finishing touch.
Since scarecrows continue to be one of my top November downloads, the featured FREEBIE today is Pete the Peeking Scarecrow craftivity.
Well that's it for today. Time to straighten up my organized chaos, and replace it with some "crafty clutter".
I'm watching my grandchildren today; Kaiden's 3 and Kaitlyn's 1. We're going to make shoe print turkeys today. Wishing you a day filled with special memory-making moments.
"Grandchildren fill a place in your heart you didn't even know was empty." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Make Some Thanksgiving-Themed Emergent Readers With Me
I've been super-busy tweaking and revamping some oldies, at the same time designing quite a few new Thanksgiving items as well.
Today I'm featuring 3 of "Diane's Dollar Deals" that are quick, easy and fun emergent readers.
They are great for Daily 5, or your reading-writing centers.
First up is the "Thanksgiving Emergent Reader Strip Booklet". I call these “strip booklets”, because I can fit five pages or "strips" on a one-page template, for easy printing.
Trimming the pages provides nice fine motor practice strengthening those finger muscles, as children make a “just the right size” Itty Bitty booklet.
Students read the simple sentences packed with 27 Dolch sight words, trace the words, add end punctuation, then rewrite the sentences, remembering proper capitalization, spacing and end punctuation.
Afterwards, children color, cut and collate the pages.
Next is a "Snip and Flip" Emergent Reader Counting Booklet, that reinforces numbers and number words.
I call them this because students snip the top number pages to reveal the group/set of Thanksgiving-themed items underneath.
Students trace and write the numbers and number words; they read the simple sentences and add end punctuation, then color the pictures in the group/set.
Review adding plus one more to complete the next grouping, as students count from 1 to 10.
For more reinforcement, and to practice another standard, have students count backwards from 10 to 0 by reading their booklet in reverse.
Finally, the last Thanksgiving-themed Dollar Deal is "Shapely Buckles" a Pilgrim Hat craftivity, where the buckle is actually a little shape booklet.
Choose which shapes are appropriate for your kiddos and have them color, cut and collate into a mini buckle booklet.
When everyone is done, use it as a creative way to whole-group assess.
Call out a shape. Students flip through the pages, find the correct one and hold their hat up.
You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. Jot yourself a note and work with these kiddos later.
I’ve also included a set of 2D pocket chart cards to use as a review.
There’s also a matching cover, so that your students can make an itty bitty booklet, as unlike the buckle activity above, these pages also include the shape word, which they trace and write.
Finally, there’s a set of picture cards, as well as word cards, so that students can play a Memory Match and/or an “I Have; Who Has?” game.
Today's FREEBIE. "A Feast of Fictional Fun" is an oldie but goodie, designed years ago before I had all of the clip art, fonts, and design programs that I use today.
However, I think your kiddos will enjoy the creative writing prompts. I've also included a class book, travel journal and diary pages.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I hope your kiddos enjoy practicing a variety of standards with the Pilgrims.
I got up early to get this posted, but now it's time to get ready for church. I'm thankful for the Pilgrims who paved the way for our religious freedoms. Wishing you a peaceful day.
"It's not enough to attend church and pray every Sunday; you have to act." -Abbe Pierre
1-2-3 Come Do Some Turkey "Stuffing" Activities With Me
Looking for some easy-peasy, Thanksgiving-themed activities, you can do with your kiddos, that cover a variety of standards in a quick, easy & fun way?
Then I think you'll enjoy these print & go, "Stuff Me” Thanksgiving worksheets.
There are 14 “Stuff the Turkey!” worksheet options, plus a blank template for you to program with whatever.
Students “stuff” their turkey with either upper or lowercase letters, numbers, a variety of word choices (8), like words that begin with the letter Tt as in turkey, spelling words, adjectives that describe Thanksgiving, as well as blessings, or reasons to be thankful.
Set a timer for 1-3 minutes. Students write in as many _______'s as they can before the timer rings.
Choose a week’s worth of worksheets, so that students can also get in some data collection & addition practice too, by having them keep track of their totals on their “Stuff” recording sheet.
When you have done as many skill sheets as you want, have students add things up to arrive at a grand total.
My kiddos enjoy this activity so much, that they ask to do more.
I think they love being timed, which is great practice for later testing.
Children also feel empowered, because you’ve already explained things once, so they can get right down to business because they already know what to do.
You could also opt to simply do these without a timer.
They're great for early finishers or for homework too.
I’ve included a certificate of praise for the students with the highest totals, as well as a poster to jot down the winners’ names underneath.
Display completed work on a “Gobbling Up Knowledge” bulletin board.
I’ve included several posters to use as the center of your display. Hooray for all your smart little turkeys!
Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look see at this 25-page packet: Stuff the Turkey!
Today's featured FREEBIE is a sweet little turkey craftivity. It's a personal favorite that I've done with my students, as well as my grandchildren.
From the feathered hand prints, to the traced shoe (body), this is sure to become a special keepsake.
"I'm a little turkey as cute as can be. I'm very thankful for my wonderful family!"
Well that's it for today. It's Veterans Day, so my hubby has off. (A grateful "Thank You!" shout out to all of the courageous veterans out there!)
Not sure what we'll do, but it's nice having him home. I'll endeavor not to pull out my "Honey please do" list. Wishing you a love-filled day.
"While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms." - Randy Neugebauer
1 2 3 Come Do Some Cornucopia Craftivities With Me
Instead of just doing a turkey or Pilgrim theme in November, add some variety with cornucopias! Plenty of Cornucopias is a 37-page packet filled with a nice selection of ideas.
Introduce your lessons by asking if anyone knows what a cornucopia is. I spent some time searching the web for background and enjoyed learning some new trivia, which I put in a 1-page Cornucopia Tidbits page. To reinforce the new vocabulary word, I've included a trace and write worksheet.
My Y5's especially enjoyed the lunch bag cornucopias because we sparkled them up with a bit of glitter glue. I pre-folded the bags over and demonstrated how to twist the bottom to turn it into a cornucopia.
This is wonderful fine motor practice. As you can see by the photograph, these make a lovely bulletin board.
There are two options to choose from. One is simply a coloring page of the fruit spilling out. Students color, cut and glue to the inside of their bag.
To ensure that they used lots of colors, I told my kiddo's that whatever colors they used, we would add those glitter colors.
It was amazing how this resulted in really great coloring! I set the glitter-station up as an adult-run center.
For the other option, run off the fruit patterns on construction paper. Rough cut. Students trim and glue to the inside of their cornucopia bag. I assemble one as a "how to" sample.
The Rip & Tear Mosaic cornucopia is also great fine motor practice. Encourage students to rip the 1/2 inch paper strips into color piles and then rub their glue stick over a certain area and place their "tiles" down.
I show how to press the torn paper around the edges of a food, and then fill in the rest of the area.
Remind students that they can overlap pieces and that there should be very little white showing through.
These also make a beautiful bulletin board. The mosaics really pop on a black background.
The "Plenty of Shapes" cornucopia, reviews 2D shapes. Another activity you can do with this shape craft, is to brainstorm with students about what real foods come in those shapes. i.e and egg is an oval shape.
How many can they think of? I've included a list of my own that you can share with your kiddos, after they've completed theirs.
I've also included a matching "Shape Up!" spinner game.
Children choose a partner and take turns spinning. Whatever shape they land on, they color that shape on their recording sheet.
Encourage students to say the names of the colors and shapes as they play the game.
Students also write down their favorite shape and something in real life that's that shape. i.e. circle-pizza.
3 cornucopia number puzzles, review counting forwards and backwards, as well as skip counting by 10's. They make a nice independent center or something for "early finishers" to work on.
There are several writing prompts + a November Word Search.
Finally, I think your students will enjoy the November word search. A word search is not only fun, but reinforces new seasonal vocabulary as well as spelling.
The Roll & Color Cornucopia game is also a fun way to reinforce numbers and colors.
Click on the link to view/download the Cornucopia Craftivies packet.
Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can stop by tomorrow for some wonderful Indian corn-themed activities.
My daughter's expecting a baby girl any day now, so I have much to do today and much to be thankful for. My feet have definitely hit the floor running! Wishing you a relaxing afternoon.
"He who thanks but with the lips thanks but in part; for the full, the true Thanksgiving, comes from the heart." -J.A. Shedd
1-2-3 Come Do Some More Turkey Crafts and Activities With Me!
The month of November always seems to fly by. There is so much to get accomplished in such a short amount of time. I basically based the month around scarecrows, turkeys, pilgrims and Thanksgiving; reinforcing standards with those themes.
Such as, 1 to 1 correspondence, which is really important for little ones. So they don't get bored doing these counting activities, switch things up by matching your themes.
I designed some sweet turkey counting cards for 1-to-1 correspondence. Print, laminate and trim and put in your math center or do as a whole group activity.
I only included a few numbered turkeys per card, as students are less apt to bump their work and send things flying. It's also less frustrating for Pre-K kiddo's when they are just learning.
Pinching an item and placing however many objects onto the matching numbered turkey, is also an excellent fine motor skill. As you can see in the photo, I used flat-backed rhinestones. My little girls especially enjoyed using this "bling-bling" manipulative. Pony beads also work well.
The cards only go up to 10, but I've included a blank template, so you can program higher numbers. There's also a black and white pattern. If you want, run off copies for your students to color and glue sequins or whatever to the feathers. Click on the link to view/download the 1-to-1 Correspondence Turkeys.
Continue with counting with the Tummy Tickler Booklet. Encourage students to trace the numbers and color however many feathers on the turkey that match the number on his tummy.
So that little ones hands don't "poop out" with so much coloring, or their work becomes scribbling, because they are tired of coloring; have children only color 1 or 2 of the higher numbered turkeys, and take several days to complete the booklet. Click on the link above to view/download it.
My Y5's especially enjoyed all of the daily hands-on craftivities that I set up as independent centers.
I did the Keepsake Turkeys with my 2nd and 1st graders, as well as with my K's and Y5's for many years.
Older students can trace their own hand and foot (with their shoe on) and cut them out. K's can pick a partner to help. (Older elementary reading buddies are also a nice option.)
To expedite things for me, I sent a note home to parents to have this done. I've included it in the packet if you want to go that route.
I just completed the one in the photograph, with Kaiden, my 1-year-old grandson; he added his scribbles and my daughter LOVED it, as did all of the parents in the past.
I used 2 "shoe prints" for the body of my Y5's to make their turkeys fatter and less "shoe-looking". The photo shows them on our "Wall of Fame". I sprinkled the Keepsake Turkeys in with our Indian corn crayon melts. (More on them in another blog article.)
For the beak, cut 1 & 1/2 inch wide strips of yellow construction paper and then cut these into squares. Students fold them into a triangle and glue one half to their turkey, so that the "beak" opens.
I also pre-cut the "wattles". To make an easy wattle, simply cut a heart shape and glue it upside down. (This is what my Y5's did in the photograph.)
I have 2 poems you can choose to put on the turkey's tummy if you want: ("I'm a little turkey, as cute as can be. I'm very thankful, for my wonderful family.") or (This is a turkey oh so fine. Look at the body; the feet are mine! The feathers are traced from my hands too. I made this turkey because I love you. ) Click on the link to view/download the Keepsake Turkey directions and poems.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. To ensure that "pinners" return to THIS article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black. Now click on the "Pin it" button on the burgundy menu bar. I design and blog daily, so I hope you can pop by tomorrow to grab the newest FREEBIES.
"It isn't what you have in your pocket that should make you thankful, but what you have in your heart." -Unknown