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 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

1-2-3 Come Make a Venn Friend With Me

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy & fun way to introduce the concept of comparison-contrast writing.

Years ago, I came up with the concept of students choosing a partner to make a "Venn Friend" with, as an interesting way for students to get to know each other.

I designed the fall "Venn Friends" packet, which feature apples, pumpkins, leaves, turkeys, Pilgrims & Native Americans.

Introduce the lesson with the "What's a Venn diagram?" poster.

To help them do a thorough job completing their Venn diagram and jump start the writing process, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can choose from to discuss with their partner.

Each student does their own "different" portion of the "circle", and then, once they glue their "circles" together, they take turns recording the similarities that they have with their Venn Friend, using the middle "same" section.

I used a "pumpkin seed" for the middle of the Pumpkin Venn Friends, and an acorn for the leaf ones. 

You can see little boy & girl "toppers" in the pumpkin photo. 

These are black & white so kiddos can color them.  Use them on the pumpkins, leaves or apples. 

I encourage students to do a boy/girl Venn friend, not only so they have an extra "difference" but so they can see how much they truly have in common with eachother.

Doing a Name Venn with a classmate, is another option, and practices upper & lowercase letters, along with name recognition & counting. 

I also incorporate the concept of “greater & less than” with this activity, as students decide who has the most or least number of letters in their name.

I’ve made a sample using an apple, as I do this in September, for a “Getting to Know You” activity for “Back to School”.   There are 3 sets of letter tiles for your kiddos to choose from.

My Y5s enjoy this activity so much, I repeat it in October with pumpkins, and see quite a bit of improvement.

As you can see by the photograph, colorful paper plates (smaller 8” size) provide a nice 3D effect.

I pre-cut these to expedite the activity. Besides yellow & red, I also buy lime green plates, giving my students an option. 

Besides using paper plates, I've also included a wormy apple pattern.

There’s also more than one option for November. Students have 3 choices for their Venn friend topper: a turkey, a Pilgrim boy or girl, or a Native American boy or girl.

You can have a turkey find a turkey partner, a boy Pilgrim find a girl Pilgrim, or a boy Native American find a boy Pilgrim, mixing and matching however you or your students wish.

I designed the Venn friends, specifically so students could get to know a classmate better, but you could certainly have students pretend to be "real" Pilgrims and Native American children, and then compare and contrast historical information as well.

Each seasonal Venn, comes with a graphing extension, so you can get some math practice in as well.

For that finishing touch, add a school photograph. Students could also make a green hand print "leaf" for their pumpkin.

Completed projects make awesome fall bulletin boards. Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to check out the super-fun, 51 page, Fall Venn Friend packet. 

Since Halloween is just a week away, I thought a "Halloween Boo Boos" worksheet would be a fun FREEBIE. Students make corrections to the sentences that have mistakes in them.

Click on the link to grab a copy.  It's certainly a little something fun, yet educational for party day.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

The winds have knocked a lot of leaves off the trees, so this afternoon the hubby, pup & I are going for a relaxing drive to see what's left of the gorgeous fall colors, before they become  a distant memory, as barren trees dot the landscape.

I am so not ready for winter. Wishing you a pretty and peaceful day.

"How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days." - John Burroughs

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Math Core With Me

Yesterday, I published a huge 70-page Common Core Thanksgiving Math packet.  It met with rave reviews and became one of my top downloads this month.  If you want to read that article, simply scroll down to yesterday's blog post. 

As with most of my ideas, I have a zillion going on at the same time.  When a packet starts to get pretty big, I try to sort through items that can be used as a separate file, such as a particular craftivity, game or assessment. 

Such was the case with today's posting.  Initially, these activities were going to be part of the Common Core Thanksgiving Math packet, but didn't quite fit that worksheet and game format, so I pulled them to make the following separate activities that I hope you'll enjoy.

Mayflower Mayhem is a quick, easy and fun counting game.  The mayhem comes in, because in order to win the game, you need to use critical thinking skills and a bit of strategy, as there are several "routes" your Mayflower can take.  Some of them include shortcuts, so there's that to consider as well. 

Children pick a partner and take turns rolling the dice.  A roll of 1, 2, 3, or 4 moves your ship forward, where as a roll of 5, has you going backwards one space. A roll of 6, puts your sails in "irons" and your turn is skipped.

There's more fun to be had, if you land on the same square as your opponent; one of the perils of going in the same direction as your partner chose.

This simple and quiet game, is perfect for that crazy last day before Thanksgiving break.   Click on the link to view/download the Mayflower Mayhem Math game.

Fact Family Feather Fun, is a cute turkey craftivity that your students will enjoy making, while they practice fact families, writing them on the turkey's feathers. 

I added a "real" feather to the top of the turkey's head for that finishing touch. 

Turkey Talk, is a quick, easy and fun way, to whole-group assess: listening and following directions, numbers, number words, ordinal numbers and colors.

Because the teacher reads the directions, you can omit various steps for younger students, who may be at different levels.

Completed worksheets are really quite cute.   Click on the link to view/download the Turkey Talk Whole Group Assessment Tool.

Finally, I had a request for some Thanksgiving sliders.  Cindy, from Virginia, has used a few of my other seasonal ones, with her young kinders, and wanted to know if I had any with a Pilgrim or turkey.  (Didn't - - but do now.)

Sliders, are also a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess a variety of standards. 

I call them "sliders" because children slide the paper strip up or down, to locate an answer in the "window" of their manipulative.

I've included a boy and girl Pilgrim, a boy and girl Native American, as well as a turkey slider pattern in the packet. 

I made black line ones so your kiddos can color them, but also included ones in color, so teachers can easily make samples to share. 

There are slider strips for upper & lowercase letters, counting to 30, counting backwards from 10 to 0 and 20 to 0; skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's, plus one for shapes.

The packet also includes a 10 frames spinner game.  These completed projects, make a nice bookmark.

Click on the link to view/download the Thanksgiving Sliders & 10 Frames Game packet.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  Winter has hit Michigan earlier this year and everything is blanketed in the sparkly white stuff this morning. 

About 8 inches, so it's time to trudge outside to try and unbury my car.  Wishing you a snuggly, warm-fuzzy kind of day.

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~W.T. Purkiser

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 Do Some Comparison-Contrast Writing With Me

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy and interesting way to introduce and practice comparison and contrast writing.  I designed Venn Friends, as an especially fun way to do that.  These are also a great way for you and your students to get to know each other better. 

I've made Venn friend packets for almost every month, but hadn't gotten around to do one for November.  Laurie, who's done several other packets with her kiddos, e-mailed me to ask if I was going to make one specifically for November.  Of course, and another thing was added to my "to do" list.

I'm never one to procrastinate, so I got right down to business.  Unlike the other monthly Venn Friends, I have more than one option for November.  Students have 3 choices for their Venn friend topper: a turkey, a Pilgrim boy or girl, or a Native American boy or girl. 

You can have a turkey find a turkey partner, a boy Pilgrim find a girl Pilgrim, or a boy Native American find a boy Pilgrim, mixing and matching however you or your students wish.  

As a way to get to know each other, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can ask their partner. 

From there, they choose what information they want to record on their Venn diagram. 

Each student does their own "different" portion of the circle, and then, once they glue their circles together, they take turns recording the similarities that they have with their Venn friend, in the middle "same" section.  (See completed sample.)

To make it easy for students to match up and glue their circles together, I've included both left and right circles.

I designed the Venn friends, specifically so students could get to know a classmate better, but you could certainly have students pretend to be "real" Pilgrims and Native American children, and then compare and contrast that way as well.

However, I do that sort of thing in the Thanksgiving Children's Packet with other Venn diagrams.

When everyone is done, have students come up with their partner to share their Venn Friend. This will give children some public speaking practice, as well as enable everyone to get to know each other a little better. 

Completed projects, look awesome hanging in rows on a hallway wall.  Click on the link to view/download the November Venn Friends packet.  For more Venn diagram activities, click on the link to pop over to that section of my site.

Thanks for visiting.  It's an overcast rainy November day; perfect for pouring over Pinterest boards, in search of some "pinspiration". 

As if my pile of "make this" projects is not big enough!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE making homemade Christmas gifts though.  Wishing you a snuggly day.

 "Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~W.J. Cameron

1-2-3, Come Play A Quick, Easy and Fun Turkey-Math Game, With Me!

As a child, I enjoyed playing the game Battleship. This pencil-paper game, has been played in various forms since the 1930’s. In 1967, Milton Bradley made the first plastic pegboard version, which is my personal favorite.

When Online games became popular, visitors were able to play against the computer, with no need for an opponent. If you're looking for a kid-friendly game site that makes a nice independent computer center, Primary Games does a nice job and has a Battleship option.

Since all sorts of math skills are practiced while playing the Battleship game, I decided to adapt the concept for the classroom, and designed Turkey Battle.

This quick, easy and fun Thanksgiving turkey game, will help students practice strategy, coordinated pairs, skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s, as well as addition and tally marks.  

However, younger children can also play the game, by simply capturing turkeys. They'll be practicing the life skills needed to play games, as well as simple counting, number recognition from 1-5, plus uppercase letter recognition from A-E.

Students choose a Pilgrim opponent. Their mission is to capture all of their rival’s turkeys before they capture all of theirs.

So there's no peeking, use file folders as a privacy screen. (I've included a cover for these, if you want to decorate them.)  Hidden behind the screen, Pilgrims position the turkeys on their “battle board”. There are two different sizes to choose from.

Older students record their hits via tally marks then add up the point values of each hit via skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s. A point poster is provided, that you can hang up to assist in this.

If you want to give the game an extra twist and make it a bit more exciting, students can use the "Kaboom!" bomb cards. This gives kiddos another way to win.  Here’s how: Students get 3 bomb tiles to scatter on their battle board.   If their Pilgrim opponent sets off all three land mines, then they have lost the game.

The turkey battle board consists of 25 boxes on a grid. There are 15 turkey tiles for students to place on their battle board. There are 5 turkey tiles for each of the following point values: 2, 5 and 10 points.

Children decide how to win the game. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes; the Pilgrim who captures the most number of turkeys is the winner or the Pilgrim with the highest point value when the timer rings, is the winner.

To play, students alternate turns and get only one guess to capture a turkey. The first Pilgrim calls out an ordered pair (i.e. A5) and his Pilgrim opponent informs them if they have captured a turkey, and if so, its point value.

Pilgrims mark an X on their recording sheet of where they have guessed and make a tally mark on their paper in the appropriate point value place when a turkey is captured.

So that children know when all of their turkeys have been captured, the captured turkey tile is removed from their battle board.  Have students put the captured turkey tiles back in their Snack Baggie as they play, so they won't lose them.

The game is done, when the timer rings.  I’ve included certificates of praise that you can pass out. (There are ones in color as well as black line.)  I find these mini certificates are a simple, yet effective way, to build self-esteem and good sportsmanship.

Click on the link to view/download the Turkey Battle November Math Game.   Thanks for visiting today.  My daughter Kelli, had baby Kaitlyn Monday night, so I'm off to do some super-fun "tickled pink" shopping.  Wishing you a blessed day.

"We may all have come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." -Martin Luther King Jr. 


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 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 Pilgrim Activities With Me!

I'm always open to suggestions for 10-frames templates.  They are such a wonderful vehicle for teaching all sorts of math concepts, so it's nice to revisit them each month. 

By changing the theme and manipulatives for the cards, you keep things fresh and interesting; so when Kathie, over in Montana, asked for a Pilgrim set, I whipped some together and thought others might enjoy them too.  Click on the link to view/download the Pilgrim 10 Frames packet.

The easy reader 1-2-3 Count Pilgrims With Me is a wonderful accompaniment.

• Students read, trace and write the number and number word.
• They see a pilgrim in a sentence and say it.
• They spy the number in a sequence and circle it.
• They X-out that many boxes or use a bingo dot marker or stamp.
• They cut and glue the set/group of pilgrims to the matching numbered box.

The packet also includes:

• 3 graphing extensions
• 30-word wall word/number flashcards
• Covers for the flashcards to make Itty Bitty Books
• A "Plus one more" math skill sheet &
• A certificate of praise.

As long as I was diddling around with my master templates, I decided to make a Pilgrim Shape Game packet too.  I've included a shape spinner in the newer shape game packets. 

You can continue to use the laminated shape cards in a math center, or you can have students pick a partner and take turns spinning.  

Whatever shape they land on, they place the matching shape tile on the twin Pilgrim card.  Make extra sets, and reinforce colors too.  Using a dry erase marker, students color in whatever shape they spin with that matching color.   Click on the link to view/download the Pilgrim Shape Games.

In another Pilgrim-themed math game, students work on their addition skills.  They take turns rolling dice to come up with an answer, and then color the sum that they find on the Pilgrim coloring sheet.   Click on the link to view/download the Pilgrim additon coloring game.

I See "Sum" Fall Puzzles includes some Pilgrim/Thanksgiving  templates and is also a math activity that can be set up as an independent center or played as a game. 

You can print, laminate and cut the puzzles to use in your math center, or run them off and have students cut and glue them together.  There are blank templates so that you can do subtraction as well as addition. Click on the link above to view/download it.

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"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our Thanksgiving." -W.T. Purkiser