1-2-3 Come Do Some Fun November Math Activities and Games With Me

This whopping 70-page "print & go" packet has a lot of quick, easy and fun math activities, covering a variety of Common Core standards.

The activities are pretty versatile, so you can differentiate, making the lesson easier or more difficult to fit your needs and grade level. (PK-1st)

For example, here's a sample of all of the options you have for the "Hats Off"  worksheet.

Because students get to play a game using dice or one of the spinners, they really enjoy the math practice.

I think you'll also like the "Show Me the Number" worksheets. 

I have one for numbers 1-10, 1-20, and 1-30. 

Simply run off an entire week or month's worth and pick a different number each day. 

Because you've already explained it once, there's no need for continuous directions and your kiddos can get right down to business. 

Use the packet throughout the month for early finishers, extra help for strugglers, brain breaks, centers, review, table top lessons, assessments, homework, "just for fun" plug-ins, when you have a few spare minutes, or tuck a few in your sub folder. 

If you're required to send something home over your school breaks, pick and choose what's appropriate and put together a Happy Thanksgiving packet.

There are worksheets, as well as dice, spinner and paper-pencil games for the following:

• Counting
• Sequencing
• Ordinal numbers
• Counting to 100 and 120
• 100 chart activities and games
• Skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's
• Sorting odd and even numbers
• "What's Missing?" worksheets
• "I Spy a Number" worksheet-games, for numbers 0-10 and 10-20, with a blank worksheet to program with higher numbers

• Telling digital & analog time to the hour with this cute little "Turkey Time" Itty Bitty booklet.  Great as an assessment tool too.
  
• 10 frame activities
• Fill in the missing ad ends
• Addition worksheets and games
• Subtraction worksheets and games
• Tally marks
• Greater than, less than, and equal to
• +1 more worksheets
• +10 more worksheets
• Dots and Boxes game

As you can see, I did a ton of work, so that you don't have to!  Click on the link to grab your copy of the Common Core Thanksgiving Math Packet, and let the educational fun begin! Would love your feed back, as I'm thinking of making one of these packets for winter.  diane@teachwithme.com or you can leave a comment below. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  It's time for a much-needed break.  I'll be braving this snowy day (Yes here in Michigan we are already blanketed in white.) My daughter is treating me to a pedicure, so I'm off to go pamper myself.  Wishing you a relaxing day!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

 1-2-3 Come Make Some Thanksgiving Emergent Readers With Me

My Y5's loved when we made little booklets.  Even though they didn't really know how to read, via picture clues and repetition, they were able to remember simple words and actually "read" these booklets, by the time we were finished with them. 

This helped build their self-esteem and confidence and they were eager for more. Parents were excited and encouraging, when their little one would share what they had made in school that day, a total win-win. 

With that in mind, I decided to design a template that I could use to make all sorts of emergent readers, for the various months and themes. 

Thus, a "strip" booklet, as well as a "snip and flip" booklet, came about. They are being debuted here.  I'm excited to make some for December and winter themes as well; working my way through the year, as my days fly by. 

The first "snip and flip" booklet is a Thanksgiving Counting booklet, which packs in quite a few standards. 

I named these emergent readers "snip and flip" because students snip on the dashed lines and then flip the pages over, to reveal a page 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 one more to complete the next grouping, as students count from 1 to 10. You can also practice counting backwards from 10 to 0 by reading the booklet in reverse.

Snipping the pages on the dashed lines, provides great fine motor skill practice.  When everyone is done, read the booklet as a whole group to review concepts of print. 

As you read the booklet, reinforce some of the Thanksgiving facts that your students have been learning: i.e. What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?  What was the name of the Wamapanoag brave that helped the Pilgrims? etc.

Click on the link to view/download the Thanksgiving Snip and Flip Counting booklet.

The next emergent reader, is a Thanksgiving "strip" booklet.  I named these easy readers that, because I can fit 5 pages or strips, on a one-page master, for easy printing. 

Students get one to two whole pages that they cut into strips, then collate and staple into a 5 to 10 page "just-the-right-size" booklet.

Students read the simple sentences that I've packed with Dolch words, as well as sight words, using the pictures as clues for unfamiliar words.  

They trace those words then rewrite the sentences, remembering proper capitalization, spacing and end punctuation.

Both these emergent readers, are perfect for your Daily 5 activities, or are wonderful to send home if your school requires homework or home-school connections.  Click on the link to view/download the My Thanksgiving Emergent Reader Strip booklet.

The 1-2-3 Count With Me booklets, can also be used as emergent readers.  They involve all sorts of simple math standards and are based on a 10 frame. 

That monthly set is complete, with over 20 booklets.  Click on the link for the 1-2-3 Count Pilgrims With Me or the 1-2-3 Count Turkeys With Me.

Thanks for visiting today.  It's time for me to organize my desk. 

I'm one of those people who can't work when things are in a mess and I have drawings, notes, and half completed piles of paper everywhere.  No more flitting!  Wishing you an energy-filled and productive day.

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

 1-2-3 Come Do Some Creative November Writing Activities With Me

Are you looking for some November-themed writing activities to plug into your Daily 5 or writing block?  Well you've come to the right place.  I've got a variety of interesting and fun options for you. 

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 feast.  How are they similar? How are they different?  Do most of them have a traditional or non traditional Thanksgiving? 

Afterwards, have students write about this, by coloring their turkey recording paper and jotting down things about their Thanksgiving meal. 

Remind students to use descriptive adjectives, to help explain what their table decorations, as well as food for their feast, consists of. 

For that finishing touch, have them color, trim and glue the table pattern to the bottom of their completed paper.  I've included my sample that you can share, or make one up of your own, as a fun way for your kiddos to learn a bit about their teacher.

 When everyone is done, call on several volunteers to share their work.  Completed projects make lovely hallway wall decorations displayed in a row.

Click on the link to view/download the My Thanksgiving Dinner Writing Prompt Craftivity.The My Thanksgiving Dinner paper plate craftivity, featured last week, would be a nice companion to this writing prompt as well. 

Another form of writing that students are asked to learn, is giving directions for how to do something. 

The "How to Make a Pumpkin Pie" craftivity, provides interesting practice.  I've included a list of transitions, a graphing extension and an adjective worksheet, as well as a Venn diagram activity for more teachable moments. 

Another writing prompt that's very popular at this time of year, is when children write about things that they are thankful for.  For years, I had my students write these items on turkey feathers then I'd staple them to a big fat turkey on our bulletin board. 

If you're tired of doing something like that, I have several different options for you to choose from.  A super-quick one is the Thankful word craftivity. 

Inside the letters, students write as many things as they can think of, that they are thankful for.  Mount their completed work, on a variety of fall-colored construction paper and you have a quick, easy and awesome bulletin board.

The Thankful Wreath, is another option.  Completed projects turn out lovely, especially with a bit of colorful glitter glue to add that finishing touch.  Students write what they are thankful for on the autumn-colored leaves. 

I have a poem, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, that can be included in the center if you want.  Adding a child's class picture, makes this even more special. 

If you still like the idea of using a cute little turkey craft for your "I'm thankful for..." writing prompt, I think you'll like Tyrone. 

I got the idea for his loopy feathers from Melissa, over at her first grade blog.  To make Tyrone, children write what they are thankful for on the paper strip "feathers" then staple them into a loop, and glue them to the back of their turkey. 

I made up six options for Tyrone's tummy circle:  Thanksgiving quotes, short Christian poems, and simply the words Happy Thanksgiving. You can choose one that's appropriate for your kiddos, or give them a choice.  

Finally, making an I'm Thankful" class book, is another creative writing prompt that I think your kiddos will enjoy doing. 

This activity fits in well with any "bucket filling" theme you may have going on, as students pick a Pilgrim hat card, out of a basket. 

The cards have your students' names on them.  Each child writes why they are thankful for that classmate, and then illustrates their page.  Include real class photographs to make this a classroom-library favorite. 

If you didn't see the  Thankful Tree blog article yesterday, scroll down.  It offers yet another "I'm Thankful" alternative, as this writing prompt has students write about what they are thankful for in the four seasons, working on the use of adjectives, to help make students' writing more descriptive.  

Well that's it for today.  I have much to be thankful for, including the fact that I get to spend a good portion of my day coloring, cutting and pasting away, as I design new activities. 

Although I miss being in the classroom, I still enjoy teaching via this website.  It makes being retired super-fun, relaxing and very joy-filled.   Wishing you a blessed day.

"The trouble with life isn't that there is no answer, it's that there are so many answers."  -Ruth Benedict (Anthropologist)

1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Shape Activities With Me

One of the most common symbols of Thanksgiving is the Pilgrim hat. When I was doing research about the Pilgrims for several of the packets, I was surprised to learn that they did not really sport the large brass buckles on their hats and shoes, despite belief to the contrary.

In search of a "buckled up" pilgrim picture, I came across a costume company that sells this "authentic" Pilgrim garb.  It is because most of the 17th-century artists also depicted couples this way, that we have come to believe that they all wore buckles.

Buckles didn’t come into fashion until decades after the Pilgrims left England, and were used as a status symbol, since they were more expensive than other fastening solutions. 

The Pilgrims did wear the conical hats, which I discovered were called capotains, but they didn’t have buckles, nor did their belts. 

Pilgrim boys and men, held up their pants with leather laces tied to their shirts and doublets. These facts have been gleaned from historical records, passenger lists, wills, diaries, and letters that included descriptions of clothing.  Buckles later became very popular in England because they were an expensive fashion statement, however, they were not part of Pilgrim dress.

I thought you'd enjoy learning this bit of trivia, which you can share with your students when they do the Shapely Buckle craftivity.  Years ago I made a Pilgrim buckle shape booklet, and thought I'd up-date that idea with a new packet.

This one includes a pattern for the Pilgrim's hat, which I cut out of black construction paper.  A mini-buckle booklet is stapled together and then glued to the center of the hat. 

Children flip the pages to reveal the different shaped buckles.  Adding a bit of gold glitter glue to the cover, really adds that finishing touch.

A graphing extension is also included, showing which shaped buckle your students thought would be the best.  The large shape cards that feature traceable shape-words, can be uses as pocket or flashcards to review and assess.   Make an extra set; laminate, trim and cut into puzzles. 

Students can also make an Itty Bitty booklet, as a cover is included.  Children trace and color the shape buckles, as well as trace and write the shape words.

I've also included smaller buckle shape cards along with shape word cards to play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games.  Children can match shape to shape or shape to word. 

Click on the link to view/download the Shapely Buckles packet.  I've shared quite a few Thanksgiving/Pilgrim links in other blog articles and found another one today that you might also enjoy. This link contains 6 short video clips that include interesting Thanksgiving/Pilgrim information from the History Channel.

Since the Penguin Shape packet I & II as well as the Shapely Owls continue to be three of the most downloaded items on my site, I thought it would be fun to make one featuring turkeys. 

Teachers can make the large shape-head turkeys for display or review, and then have students choose their favorite shape and make a shape body - turkey bird of their own. 

A turkey version of the 4-Corners game can also be played with the large turkey heads.  Directions are included in the packet.

There are some turkey shape word cards you can use for pocket or flashcards. 

Make extra sets to play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games, or cut them apart and make puzzles.  Click on the link to view/download the The Shape Of My Turkeys packet.

Finally, Susan over in Texas, asked if I could make the Pilgrim Shape Spinner game featuring turkeys.  No problem.  If you'd like a set too, click on the link to grab it.  Turkey Spinner Shape game.

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you can stop by tomorrow for a few more FREEBIES hot off the press.

"What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?" - Eleabor Roosevelt

1-2-3 Come Do A Few More Thanksgiving Craftivities With Me

I have a bunch of empty TP rolls literally rolling around the bottom of my drawer, so I decided to dream up a quickie independent center, recycling TP tubes, that children could transition to, after they completed their morning table-top lessons.

I really enjoy designing simple craftivities that I know children will have fun making, and parents will enjoy keeping.  After I glued my grandson's photo to the template, I knew I had the "Awwww!" factor.

It's a misconception that Pilgrims only wore stark black or gray clothing, with white collars and cuffs.  While the cuffs remained white, Pilgrim clothes were also green, blue, burgundy, violet and red. 

This has been documented through diaries, letters, as well as wills, where Colonials left special clothes, like a velvet violet skirt, or green doublet to a family member.

It would be historically appropriate for you to cut the construction paper rectangles out of these brighter colors and give students a choice of what they want their Pilgrim to wear. 

I cut 2 scallops from a paper doilie and folded it over the top of the TP tube to make the Pilgrim girl's collar.  You could also add a yarn bow for that finishing touch. 

Students have the option to color a Pilgrim head, or print off a child's school photo for them to glue to the face of the Pilgrim.  I added a bit of pizzazz to the hat with gold glitter glue.  Click on the link to view/download the TP Pilgrim craftivity.

Since writing about what you are thankful for is such an interesting and popular writing prompt, I designed yet another craftivity where students can do this.  It's always nice to give children a few options when it comes to writing. 

Run off the THANKFUL word template.  Students cut and glue the pieces together to make the word.  Children can simply write what they are thankful for inside the letters, or challenge older students to think of at least 1 or 2 things that they are thankful for that begin with those letters.  i.e. in the letter F one could write: food, family, fun, friends, freedom etc.  I added some extra pizzazz with glitter glue.

I also made an example with pictures. 

Students can use stickers, clip art, pictures cut from magazines, as well as photographs of things that they are thankful for and add them to their word. 

If you don't have time to do this in class, assign it for homework and enlist parental help.  Click on the link to view/download the THANKFUL writing prompt-word craftivity.

Finally, build students' self-esteem by making a Thankful Class book. 

Print the color or black & white cover and run off the boy and girl writing prompts and Pilgrim hats. 

Write each child's name on a hat and toss them in a container. Students choose a name and write why they are thankful for that friend. 

Encourage children to use at least 3 adjectives and 2 verbs in their writing.  When everyone is done, have students share their page. 

Collect, collate and laminate the pages and keep in your classroom library.  I've also included a thankful note from the teacher.  Print, fill in your students' names and sign.

Click on the link to view/download the Thankful Class book. Thanks for visiting today.  I design and blog daily, so I hope you can stop back tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES. Feel free to PIN anything from my site.  

"Spending time with children is far more important than spending money on them." -Anthony Williams

1-2-3 Come Make a Thanksgiving Placemat With Me

Because I get into designing frenzies and have so much to share, sometimes my blog posts get a bit too long,  (Mr. husband calls this my "hurricane mode". )  Today I'm endeavoring to try and keep things simple, and since I only got one thing completed yesterday, being brief will be easy.

My husband and I were eating out the other night and we noticed some really well-behaved children, busily working away on the activity placemat that quite a few restaurants hand out.

I think this is a wonderful "super-duper-shutter-upper" and a great way to keep children occupied, with something educational until their food arrives. 

Since my brain never shuts down, when it comes to thinking up new things to make, I wondered what kind of placemat I could dream up, and right away thought one for Thanksgiving would be especially appropriate.

Our kindergartners always had a mock Thanksgiving feast on the floor in the cafeteria.  (I did a Thanksgiving "tasting" feast with my Y5's.)   Click on my link if you'd like to see how easy and educationally fun, a tasting feast is for your kiddos. 

We made Pilgrim hats and Native American paper bag vests the week before, so some children chose to attend the feast as Indians, the others Pilgrims.

If you do something similar, making a placemat on that special day would be a fun activity.  Since the last day before any vacation seems to be a high-energy day, this would also be something you could easily plug in for a little quiet time, before dismissal.

However you use it, I hope it's enjoyable. So that you have an answer key, I've included one that I filled in with my grandson's handprint.  

If you happen to think of any more words using the letters in November, I would enjoy hearing from you.  diane@teachwithme.com I putzed for around 15 minutes and 51 is all that I could come up with. 

Click on the link to view/download the Thanksgiving Placemat.

Thanks for visiting. The snow plows woke me up, so I have plenty of time to fritter away crafting this morning.  Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"Even though we can't have everything we want, we can be thankful that we don't get everything we sometimes deserve." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Awesome Autumn Craftivities With Me!

To help motivate my Y5's to get down to business, stay focused and complete their morning table top lessons, I'd often offer a simple & quick craftivity that they could transition to, when they were done, or if I spied them quietly working.  The textured acorn is perfect for this.

Here's How: 

• Run off on brown construction paper & rough cut.
• Students trim and write their name on the back.
• Individually call them up to the ‘sprinkling” center, to work one-on-one with you or an adult helper.  
• Children brush glue over the top with a large foam brush.
• Children sprinkle mustard seeds, sesame seeds, poppy seeds or bird seed on the top.  Gently shake off excess, then they brush glue on the bottom. 
• Children sprinkle ground cinnamon &/or ground clove onto the bottom.  Set aside to dry.
• Your room will smell wonderful while making these.
•  
• Another craftivity you can do with the acorn template, is to have children write their name on the bottom; you help them trace the letters with glue and then sprinkle with coppery-orange glitter. You can also add glitter to the top of the acorn and sprinkle with another color.

Use the acorns as a border on your bulletin board that displays student work.  Your caption can be: “We’re simply nuts about...” and then fill in whatever you’re studying. Click on the link to view/download the scent-sational acorn craftivities.

Another sweet-smelling craftivity I call the pumpkin pie pomander. Simply cut a paper plate into 1/8ths.

For a quick and interesting review of fractions, do this in front of your kiddo's to demonstrate how fractions are formed, by first cutting the plate in 1/2 then in 1/4ths and finally into 1/8ths. I've included a set of fraction pies for even more reinforcement.

Punch a hole in the corner and tie a yarn or ribbon loop.  Call quiet students up to the painting center.  They paint their slice of pie with light brown paint.  While the paint is still wet, help them sprinkle on ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.  Shake off excess.  When it dries students can glue the little poem to the back. I've also done this as a whole group activity. 

You can skip painting and simply have children color the edge of their "crust" with a light brown or tan marker or crayon.  Instead of using paint, students brush Elmer's glue onto the bottom portion of the pie using a Q tip. 

Remind students that they just want to make their pie sticky and not sloppy with glue puddles. Have a mixture of  cinnamon-clove powder sprinkled on 8" paper plates  (1 per table). Students carefully place the wet side down onto the powder and press.  Click on the link to view/download the Pumpkin Pie Pomander craftivity.  

Finally, since the Thankful Tree was such a popular download, I thought I'd make another option called the Thankful Wreath. 

I've included a variety of leaf templates + an acorn.  Prior to the activity, brainstorm with children about the things they are thankful for.  Write them on the board so students have help with spelling. 

There are several ways to make the wreath:  Children flip over a paper plate and glue the poem in the middle. 

They select 8 leaves that you have run off on a variety of fall-colored construction paper. Older students can cut their own leaves, but I'd pre-cut for pre-K's to expedite things. If you want them to have some cutting practice, have them trim the elm leaf.

Children write something they are thankful for on each leaf.  Before they glue, have them arrange the leaves in a circle around the poem.  When they are satisfied with the appearance, they glue the leaves to the wreath. In the picture I used two oak leaves to make a "bow" and put an acorn in the middle with a child's photo glued to it.

The other way you can make the wreath is to skip the poem and cut the center of the plate out.  As I was making samples, I liked a thinner circle so that the white didn't show through, but you still had enough "base" to glue things on, so I cut quite a bit of the ribbing off as well.  

After students have written on the leaves, they rub glue all over the wreath and then press their leaves on. 

My Y5's absolutely loved anything with glitter, so I thought that some "sparkles" would help add the "wow" factor they so enjoyed. 

Completed projects make a lovely bulletin board, or hang them back-to-back from the ceiling in the hallway.  Click on the link to view/download the Thankful Wreath patterns.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  I blog and design daily, so I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES.

"Without Thy sunshine and Thy rain, we could not have the golden grain.  Without Thy love we'd not be fed.  We thank Thee for our daily bread." -Unknown.

1-2-3 Come Look At Some Interesting Photographs With Me!

When I was designing things for the Pilgrim Children packet, I was truly able to visualize their life, because of an awesome vacation my husband and I took to Massachusetts.  

I thought visitors might find it helpful if I posted 4 packets of pictures from that trip, that you could share with your students. 

You could print, laminate and make them into picture books, or present them as a slide show.  Whatever you decide to do I hope they enhance your Thanksgiving studies in some way. 

The first packet of photographs is of the Mayflower II Click on the link to view/download 22 photographs.

The Mayflower II is a full-size replica of the original ship that really sailed here from Great Britain.  It was a gift to us from that country!  I had an absolute blast boarding the ship and exploring.

Actors dressed in authentic costumes were available to answer questions.  As with all of the Plimoth Plantation sights, these people truly become their characters.  Their accent and use of words that were common for that time period, make things even more realistic!

To view an excellent video of the Mayflower II click on the link.  It gives lots of background information that you'll find very interesting. 

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang gets a rare tour of the ship while it was undergoing routine maintenance in drydock at a Fairhaven shipyard. 

Another awesome video is a quick 3-minute clip that shows some of the live actors that we saw on our trip and gives some more background information.  Click on the link to view The Mayflower II

 If you're allowed to show videos in your class or you homeschool, a cute animated video entitled The Mouse on the Mayflower can be viewed by clicking on the link.  The Mouse on the Mayflower is a 1968 animated Thanksgiving television special created by Rankin/Bass. It debuted on NBC on November 23, 1968. The special is about a mouse named Willum. 

I had mentioned in a previous article, about a place called Plimoth Plantation. They purposely spelled their park this way, because there were no spelling rules in the 17th century and they felt that this would have been the way the Pilgrims would have spelled the word.

For an excellent virtual fieldtrip of this intriguing place click on the link above.  Plimoth Plantation has partnered with Scholastic and in 2012 they expanded the Thanksgiving Virtual Field Trip.  Click on the link to view the newest additions.  Scholastic also released a 2-minute video featuring Goodwife Hopkins answering questions. 

To view/download my Plimoth Plantation photographs click on the link. I also have a photo packet of Plymouth Rock as well as a few from the Wampanoag Village.  Click on the links to view/download them.

Thanks for visiting.  If you used this information in your classroom, I would enjoy hearing from you: diane@teachwithme.com.  or you can also leave a comment below.  

My little portion of the world, is sparkling in 12 inches of white this morning.  Feeling thankful for a warm and toasty fire, and a hot cup of chamomile tea.  Wishing you a peaceful day.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." -Benjamin Franklin

1-2-3 Come Learn About Pilgrim Children With Me!

Happy TBT (Throw Back Thursday!) Here are a few "Oldies" but "Goodies" that I think you'll enjoy.

Having taught about the first Thanksgiving and Pilgrims for years, I thought I was pretty knowledgeable.  My husband and I also visited the outstanding Plimoth Plantation, in Plymouth Massachusettes, which made me appreciate the hardships these people endured even more.   If you've never been to this historical place, I highly recommend it!

I thought it would be fun to delve into the life of a child during 1620.  I felt students would find it very interesting to compare themselves with a Pilgrim child's life. 

After over 30 hours doing research, visiting countless websites and perusing 20+ books, I learned so many interesting facts, and truly enjoyed this journey of discovery.  I hope you will too.  Click on the link to view/download the Pilgrim Children Packet.

Start with the KWL to see where your kiddo's are at.  I've included one in color to do as a whole group, and another in black line for students to fill in on their own. 

Afterwards, introduce your study, by reading several non-fiction as well as fictional books.  I've included a bibliography of 25 of my all-time favorite Pilgrim books.  Later, ask your students if they think that the Pilgrim children who lived during that time period, were really different than the children of today.

I feel there is no better way to launch children into comparison and contrast, that's easy and understandable, than to use Venn diagrams.  I've included 12 different Venn diagrams in the packet, so that children can compare & contrast clothing, chores, homes, and education, as well as games and toys.

Students can work independently, with a partner, or you can do the Venn diagrams as a whole group activity. 

Personally, I'd start as a whole group and use the partially filled-in Venn diagrams, so that students can learn more interesting facts about the Pilgrim children.

Each Venn diagram has a blank template, as well as a partially filled in one. The circle for present day children can be filled in via a discussion.  Choose a different Venn diagram each day, so interest remains high and the amount of content is not overwhelming. 

After you have completed all of the Venn diagrams as a whole group, have children pick a partner, and choose a blank Venn diagram to fill in together.  This not only reinforces facts, but becomes a tool for you to assess comprehension as well.

Now that students have quite a bit of knowledge about Pilgrim children compared to the children of today, have a discussion where students process this information and come to some conclusions.  There's a writing extension for this.

I've also included 4 graphic organizers for even more writing practice + several interesting writing prompts that I think your students will enjoy. 

I made a list of the 31 children who were aboard the Mayflower and included their ages.  Your kiddo's will find some of the names rather odd, like Truelove, Humility, and Wrestling. 

Have students choose a Pilgrim child and write a letter to them.  Based on their new knowledge, they could also write a letter back written from the Pilgrim child's point of view! 

Besided writing, I wanted to toss in a bit of math.  Finding interesting measurement activities is not always easy, but the Mayflower as well as the Pilgrims' homes, provide great segways.  I've given the dimensions and converted square feet for you, so that you can chalk off the hold of the ship, where the Pilgrims were crammed for 65 long days, as well as the measurements of the Pilgrims' 1-room homes. 

When your students stand inside the chalk lines they will truly understand size and the cramped conditions these children experienced!

Finally, I know your kiddo's will enjoy learning about the games Pilgrim children played, as well as what toys they had.  You can start out by asking students if they think that the games they played were different than what some children of today play. 

They may be surprised to find out, that some of the games that the Pilgrims played are still around today, and that many common games, were derived from days of old. 

I've listed directions of how to play a dozen games, including the popular Nine Man's Morrice (pictured), which is available as an APP.  I hope your personal little Pilgrims will enjoy them. 

All of these activities can be found in the Pilgrim Children Packet click on the link to view/download it.  Now that your students are familiar with the life of a Pilgrim child, scroll down to the next article, and have your kiddos write letters to their classmates, as if they were really a youngster living during this tiime period.  

Thanks for visiting.  Now that some of my computer work is done for the day, it's time to make a big pot of vegetable beef barley soup.  The frost is indeed on the pumpkins, so it's the perfect day for a nice hot bowl of mmm mmm good!

"Be thankful for what you have and you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." -Ophra Winfrey

1-2-3 Come Do Some Indian Corn "Craftivities" With Me!

Yesterday I posted cornucopia-themed activities.  (Scroll down to see that blog article.) To add some more variety to your November lessons, I have some cute  Indian corn items that I think you and your kiddo's will enjoy. Corn was a life saving food that both the Indians and Pilgrims ate in a variety of ways.

All of these activities appear in the Indian Corn Craftivities packet.  Click on the link to view/download it.

My personal favorite is the melted crayon corn.  Since we made apples and fall trees using this technique, my students know what to do.

The photo truly does not do this craftivity justice.  The results really look like Indian corn; my kiddos were amazed with the awesome results.  I thought the raffia bows added that finishing touch. I tied them ahead of time for my Y5's to staple at the top of their corn. 

Another favorite of mine is the fingerprint corn.  The one in the photo I did with my 1-year-old grandson, Kaiden.  I couldn't believe he sat so quietly while I pressed his index finger into the different colored stamp pads!  

I made the corn husks out of a lunch bag and then crumpled them up.  You could also trace & cut a child's hand print to glue at the base.   The British word for corn is maize so I added a play on words sentiment. ("I hope you have an 'a-maize-ing' Thanksgiving.")

Since he was sitting so quietly, I also wanted to do the ever-popular turkey hand print with him.  While I was putzing with his hands, I thought it would be fun to turn them into a family turkey and include a tracing of his mom's and dad's hand too.   The heart says: My family is turkey-riffic.  

I used Kaiden's little hand for the wing and bent it up, to add some 3D pop.  The beak is also 3 dimensional. You could do this new twist with your students too.  Simply send the construction paper home with a note and directions.  I've included a letter in the packet: Family Turkey Prints.

Getting back to our Indian corn theme, have students color in the corn kernels.  It's  a great fine motor skill.  However, to make this less tedious, I made it a game. 

Students choose a partner and take turns rolling a dice.  Whatever number they roll they color in that many kernels of corn.  Remind them to use a variety of colors. (I bring in some samples of real Indian corn to show them the variety.)

Older students can roll 2 dice and add them together.  I've included a math worksheet where they can show the equations on the back. 

On the front, students guess how many kernels are on the cob.  They make tally marks each time they color, and then count by 5's to find out the answer. (There are 110.) 

I've also included several other worksheets to reinforce more  standards, such as this Indian corn graphing activity.

There's a patterning activity, and a graphing paper craft where students also color the Indian corn. 

When I ate lunch with my friend Alma, she made tamales wrapped in cornhusks.  She said she bought the cornhusks from the grocery store. 

I thought adding some to one of my students' craftivities would add that finishing touch, so I bought a pack and we stapled them to the base of our cob for a realistic touch.

As long as you're doing a few corn-themed things, why not buy a bag of popcorn.  I LOVE popcorn, and it was something even the Pilgrims had, although I think they used it to make some sort of mushy cereal.

I'm munching popcorn right now (for breakfast) because I needed to take this photo and couldn't resist.  I think your kiddo's will have fun with these 1-to-1 correspondence Indian corn cards. 

Print, laminate and trim the full-color cards, or run off a set of black and white. After students wash their hands, pass out some popped and un-popped corn.  Children can place the popped corn above the cards for lower numbers, and put the kernels on the corn for all of the numbers. 

When they have completed their work they can eat their cup of popcorn.  (Collect and recylcle the un-popped kernels to use again next year.)

If you want your kiddo's to take a black and white set home, put a dollop of Elmer's glue on a small paper plate.  Give children a Q-tip to make a glue dot on their corn cob and place however many kernels on it that match the number.  Set aside to dry.  I've also included a page of interesting trivia about popcorn.

Finally, since my brain never shuts off, I'm forever asking "What educational thing can I make or do with this?"   While grocery shopping last week, I saw that many stores had Halloween candy 50% to 75% off and wondered how I could incorporate candy corn with Thanksgiving. 

I always made some little treat for my kiddo's just before they left on break and thought maybe other teachers would like to do that too.  

Run off the candy corn note and pass it out 15-minutes before dismissal. To expedite the activity, count 5 pieces of candy corn out for each child the day before and put them in Dixie cups.

I made a template with the star on it for really little ones to place their candy on, as well as one without the pattern to challenge students to make the star.  It's interesting to note that when the bottoms touch a bit they will make the 5-sided pentagon shape. Woo hoo another teachable moment!

Except for the family turkey print, (separate link) all of these activities can be found in the Indian Corn Craftivities packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.   I'm off to go find my Thanksgiving decorations.  Am anxious to take down Halloween and put up some cute little turkeys.  Wishing you a happy day and blessed November.

"We should be thankful for the wonderful things we have, and the awful things that we don't" -Unknown