1-2-3 Come Do Some Pete The Cat Thanksgiving Activities With Me  

Are your students a bit bananas over Pete the Cat?  Mine are; so I was excited to find the book "Pete the Cat and The First Thanksgiving", which allowed me to carry my students' "fur frenzy"- enthusiasm into November.

Because this story is a “lift the flap” book, I thought it would be fun to make a “Flip the Flap Thankful Craft” for an interesting transition activity after reading the tale.

On the last few pages, Pete’s family goes around their Thanksgiving table and tells what they are thankful for.

His mom is thankful for family, his brother Bob is thankful for his skateboard, and Pete is thankful for the Pilgrims. The author then asks the reader what they are thankful for.

The craft features these characters as well. When you lift the flap you see a picture of what they said they were thankful for.

The last flap has a variety of options:
* There’s a blank section so that students can draw a self portrait, or for a sweet keepsake, children glue their school photograph on. (See sample pictures in the PREVIEW.)

* I’ve also included 4 boy graphics, as well as 4 girl clips for students to choose from.

Children pick an option then color, cut and glue their “thankful for” answers under the flaps; completing the project by writing what they are thankful for and then illustrating it.

During Pete’s “The First Thanksgiving” play, children learn a variety of fun facts; so I’ve included a “color me” writing prompt worksheet, where they can list some of these.

There’s also a fill-in-the-blank worksheet, where students complete the 3 sentences with what that character was thankful for, as well as an “I’m thankful for . . .” writing prompt page, where students can write a lot more, then color the picture.

Finally, I’ve included 2, “Roll and Color” game sheets. One is for numbers 1-6 for younger kiddos, the other for numbers 1-12, where students roll 2 dice, then add them together to get numbers 7-12. 

This activity is no longer available in my TpT shop, so if you'd like a copy, please e-mail me for details. (Simply click the blue LINK.

Today's FREEBIE is a Thanksgiving-themed Pete the Cat number puzzle, which comes in black and white so students can make their own, as well as one in color to use as an independent math center.  The FREEBIE is one of the four 6-piece puzzles included in my big packet.

Students can simply color, cut and put their puzzle together, or they can pick a partner and take turns rolling a dice.

Whatever number they roll, they place that numbered piece on the matching numbered square on their puzzle grid. The first one to complete their puzzle is the winner. 

Besides the black and white patterns for your students, I’ve also included colorful templates that you can use for an independent math center.

My students absolutely love the puzzle games, so if you're looking for a "sanity saver" before the holiday break, these provide a quick, easy, and educationally fun activity, which can be used as a sweet Thanksgiving card for parents too.

To extend the activity, have students glue their pieces to the puzzle grid as they play the game, then when done, write about the things that they are thankful for, or a note to parents of why they are thankful for them on the back of their completed puzzle.

Well that's it for today. My feet have hit the floor running, as 2 of my grandchildren are coming over for the day. 

Wishing you a day filled with giggles galore and lots of snuggly hugs.

"Even when my grandchildren are not in my arms, on my lap, or in my home,they are in my heart and there they will stay forever." -Unknown

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 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 Learn About Pilgrim Children With Me

If you want your students to get excited and interested in learning about Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, do it from a child’s perspective... today’s kiddos studying about children in the 17th century.

Believe me, you’ll certainly grab their attention. Shocker; no electricity and lots of work to do!

Thirty-one children actually sailed on the Mayflower, with two born along the way!

I spent a great deal of time researching children during this time period, to create this packet, which can be simplified for PK kiddos, and ramped up for older elementary students, who will really enjoy the writing prompts.

The packet includes:

* A dozen Venn diagrams, which are an excellent way to present a great deal of interesting background information, while children practice comparing and contrasting.

* Several graphic organizers, KWLs, graphing extensions and worksheets.

* A variety of writing prompts, including an assortment of letter writing craftivities.

* A dozen games that were played during that time period, so it can be supposed that Pilgrim children might also have played them. Surprisingly, a few your students may still play today!

* 2 super-fun measurement activities that will make sailing on the Mayflower and living in a tiny Pilgrim house more real to your students.

* A Pilgrim TP tube craftivity.

Older students can staple it to the side of one of the writing prompts, to add a bit of 3D pizzazz to your bulletin board display. 

and as always . .

* Photographs & completed samples so that you can quickly & easily make examples to share.

Click on the link to zip on over to have a look see at this 86-page packet chock full of interesting activities: Pilgrim Children.

Here's hoping that your students enjoy learning about Pilgrim children, as they practice a variety of standards.

Today's featured FREEBIE goes right along with this Thanksgiving packet.

Click on the various links for my photographs of the Mayflower II, Plimoth Plantation, Wampanoag Village, and Plymouth Rock that I took, on a recent vacation in Massachusetts.

Sharing these with your kiddos also brings the 17th century to life, helping make things more real, the activities more meaningful and the writing prompts more vivid and authentic.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.  Time to get ready to go celebrate our oldest son's birthday. 

Where have 35 years flown off to?  One seems to go from potty training to driver's training in a heartbeat, then the rest even faster.  Wishing you a love-filled day.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey

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 Practice Place Value With Me

Today I'm featuring two quick, easy and interesting ways to practice math skills and standards.

The first is a super-fun way for your students to practice place value.

It's perfect for November, as I use a Pilgrim hat for the place value mat. 

The game is also a quick & easy way to whole-group assess.

Make a few Pilgrim hats for an independent math center, or make a class set, so that you can practice together.

If you're short on time, send the hats home with a parent volunteer to assemble, then laminate & trim, so that you can use every year.

Here's how to play:

* Students take turns calling out a number.

* Children count out the appropriate amount of number tiles and place them in the corresponding place value columns on the Pilgrim hat, raising their hand when they are done.

* You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.
* Jot yourself a note, so that you can work with struggling kiddos later.

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Place Value Pilgrim Hat packet. 

The other math activity is "Turkey Battle".  I designed it after the ever-popular game of Battleship.

It's played in a similar way, and practices strategy, skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s, as well as addition, ordered pairs, data collection & analysis.

However, the game can be simplified for PK kiddos as well, so they can practice all those life skills involved in playing a game.

The packet includes everything you need to play the game, with large, as well as small "battle boards" & pieces.

Make several games for a partnered math center, or a class set, so that everyone can play.

There are several ways to win the game. Children decide which rules they want to follow, then the teacher sets a timer for 5-10 minutes. 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look: Turkey Battle.

Today's FREEBIE is a sweet, turkey craftivity made from a family's hand prints.  I

t's sure to become a cherished keepsake. Click on the link to grab your copy: Turkey Prints

Well that's it for today.  I hope you and your little turkeys enjoy these activities. 

It's chilly this morning, so time to toss another log on the fire. 

Hopefully the colder weather has set the sandhill cranes in motion. 

We're going to the bird sanctuary to see literally 1,000s make a stop over, as they migrate south.  Wishing you a memory-making day. 

"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark." - Rabindranath Tagore