NOVEMBER MONTHY THEMED
IDEA
Theme: Thanksgiving
MATH
NUMBER SENTENCES: Student rolls a die or selects a card, and places that many feathers on his or her
turkey. The mentor then rolls the die again and places that many feathers on their turkey. The student should
then count the total feathers and either write the number sentence or say the answer. Work together to fill
both turkeys with feather.
SHOPPING LIST: Look though food adds from your local grocery store. Have your student make a list of
foods that he or she would buy for Thanksgiving dinner and also include their prices. Figure out the total
amount that he or she would have to spend on dinner for their entire family. Check the math with a
calculator.
CRAFTS
TURKEY AND HAND POEM (Lower Elementary): Have students make a turkey with their hands and decorate it. On
the same paper, have them copy this poem:
This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see.
I made it with my hand,
Which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of love.
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very happy
Thanksgiving Day!
TURKEY IN DISGUISE: Make a turkey template. Draw a turkey outline on cardboard, about 12 inches tall.
Cut out the cardboard turkey and use as a template to cut out tag board turkeys for
your student. Tell your student that Thanksgiving is coming and their job is to
disguise their turkey so it doesn't end up on the Thanksgiving table.
Provide construction paper, felt, fabric, yarn, etc. to glue onto their tag board
turkey. Have them glue one tiny feather peeking out from the disguise.
Kids love the absurdity of this activity. They've disguised their turkeys as American
flags, hippies, ballerinas, the Statue of Liberty, French chefs, Santa Claus--it's just a
great creative activity!
MY THANKFUL PLACE MAT : This is an art activity in which you can take a piece of construction paper(fall colors)
and let the child glue on leaf shapes and then let them tell you what they are thankful for and you can dictate
they're answers onto the leaves. Put their names in the middle and laminate the place mat for years of use. To give
it their own special touch, they might want to color it.
*You may consider doing this project on a large piece of construction paper and then laminating it so that your child can use it as a placemat.
SCIENCE
SQUANTO (Younger Elementary): This is a great idea to allow younger elementary
students to "see" how the corn was planted.
1. Find a simple story of Squanto
2. Find a few fish to cut out and color
3. Use brown construction paper to make dirt
4. Glue the fish to torn paper
5. Glue on pieces of real Indian corn, on top of the fish
6. Cover with more torn paper
SOCIAL STUDIES
CORN NECKLACE: During the fall months you can find Indian corn of every possible color in your supermarket or in
a florist or garden center. The corn is a very popular decoration to use at Thanksgiving. Besides being a good
decoration, Indian corn is good for other things, too. One way to use it is to make an attractive necklace.
Begin by choosing ears of Indian corn in the color that your student likes. Then follow these
directions together.
Materials:
Indian corn
Blunt-tipped tapestry needle
Strong thread
6” x 3/8’ leather or suede
Directions:
1.
Break off the kernels from the cobs.
2.
Places the kernels into water to soak for a day or so until they are soft enough to pull the need
through.
3.
String the kernels one at a time onto strong thread. When the string of corn is as long as you
want it to be, tie the two ends of the thread into a strong knot and you will have your necklace.
WRITING
THANKSGIVING JOURNAL TOPICS: Choose one topic and ask your student to write or dictate
sentences to you.
What does it mean to be thankful?
Why do you think brown and orange are Thanksgiving colors?
What are you and your family most grateful for?
Describe what you know about the first Thanksgiving dinner.
Take five minutes to draw a feast on the Thanksgiving table. Then write in detail about
what’s to eat. Use your five senses to describe the meal’s tastes, looks, smells, and textures.
What are your families Thanksgiving traditions?
WRITING ACROSTIC POEMS
Give your student a Thanksgiving-related word so that they can write down their own acrostic
poem. Here is an example:
Turkeys and stuffing
Having friends and family
Always thankful for what I have
New shoes and clothes to wear
Kindness from people
Spending time with my grandparents
Going outside to play
I am thankful
Very thankful
I love my pet
Nice things people do
Grateful for everything
Ideas for Words: acorns, America, apple pie, Autumn, bake, blessings, bread, canoe, carve, cook,
cider, corn, dessert, dinner, Fall, eat, family, feast, grandparents, gratitude, ham, harvest,
holiday, home, Indians, leaves.
READING
Pilgrims of Plymouth by Susan E. Goodman
Ages: 4-8
The First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George
Ages: 6-11
Thanksgiving at Obaachan's by Janet Mitsui Brown
Ages: 4-8
The Berenstain Bear’s Thanksgiving by Jan and Stan Berenstain
Ages: 4-8