EHS Thanksgiving Traditions

Changes to Environment

Stuffed Animal Turkey

Cornucopia

Books about Thanksgiving

Turkey, food Stamps

Turkey, food Cookie Cutters

Basket

Pie Pan

Empty Boxes of Stuffing, Pumpkin Dessert, Instant Potatoes, etc

Pictures of Parades

Football

Homemade T.V. from Cardboard Box

Pictures of Families Celebrating Thanksgiving

Homemade Book (send home an activity for children to do with their families that will include a family photo and/or a blurb about what they do for Thanksgiving)

Multicultural puppets, plastic people, pictures

Water Table: plastic thanksgiving foods, turkey baster, colander, measuring cups, etc.

Sensory Table: orange, brown, and red sand, pie pan, cooking utensils, plastic thanksgiving foods, etc.

Teaching Concepts for Indoor Experiences

1. Tell how Thanksgiving came to be using puppet show, felt story, etc.

2. Discuss/draw picture of what you are thankful for

3. Look at pictures of the types of transportation families may use to travel during the holiday

4. Look at plastic foods and/or containers and pictures of food then discuss the traditional foods you may see at Thanksgiving (Traditional foods include turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Many people serve pie for dessert at the end of the meal. Popular pie flavors are pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, and apple) 

5. Look at pictures then discuss how some people volunteer at homeless shelters or donate food for those in need

Teaching Concepts for Small Group

1. Discuss/draw picture of what you are thankful for

2. Draw a picture of your Thanksgiving Dinner

3. Glue on parts to a turkey 

4. Pretend to have a Thanksgiving Dinner

5. Pretend to cook a thanksgiving feast then pretend to eat it

6. Stack empty food boxes

Teaching Concepts for Outdoor Experiences

1. Wobble and Gobble like a turkey

2. Turkey Hunt (hide a turkey and try to find him)

3. Turkey Dance (Chicken Dance)

4. Thanksgiving Day Freeze

Let’s all be a turkey fat, turkey fat, turkey fat.   (flap arms like wings)

Let’s all be a turkey fat, for Thanksgiving day. — FREEZE

Let’s all be a jello mold, jello mold, jello mold   (wiggle all over)

Let’s all be a jello mold, for Thanksgiving day. — FREEZE

Let’s all be a dinner roll, dinner roll, dinner roll.  (on floor, grab knees and rock)

Let’s all be a dinner roll, for Thanksgiving day. — FREEZE

Let’s all be a pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie. (circle face with cheeks puffed out)

Let’s all be a pumpkin pie, for Thanksgiving day. –FREEZE

5. Thanksgiving parade

6. Go on a leaf hunt. Sort through different color leaves. 

7. Listen and walk. Listen to the sounds you hear when going on a walk. 

Teaching Concepts for Music Movement Wellness IMIL

1. Albuquerque is a Turkey (tune: Clementine)

Albuquerque is a turkey,

And he’s feathered and he’s fine,

And he wobbles and he gobbles,

And he’s absolutely mine.

He’s the best pet that you can get,

Better than a dog or cat.

He’s my Albuquerque turkey,

And I’m very proud of that.

He once told me, very frankly,

He preferred to be my pet–

Not the main course at my dinner,

And I told him not to fret.

Now my Albuquerque turkey

Is so happy in his bed,

‘Cause for our Thanksgiving dinner,

We had egg foo yong instead.

2.  If You’re Thankful and You Know It (tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re thankful and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it.

If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re thankful and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it.

If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!”

If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!”

If you’re thankful and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it.

If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!”

If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three.

If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three.

If you’re thankful and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it.

If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three.

3. Let’s be Thankful for this Day (tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)

Let’s be thankful for this day,

For our friends and our play.

Let’s be thankful, let’s be glad,

For our food and the things we have.

Let’s give thanks for you and me,

And our home and family

4. A Thanksgiving Song (tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

The Pilgrims sailed away,

Far across the sea.

They came to America

So they could be free.

The Native Americans

Helped them plant the corn.

Then they shared a great big feast,

Thanksgiving Day was born!

5. I’m a Little Turkey

I’m a Little turkey

I’m a little turkey

My name is Ted.

Here are my feathers,

here is my head.

Gobble,gobble,gobble

Is what I say

Quick run.. It’s thanksgiving Day!

6. Gobble Gobble (tune: Military Chant)

Gobble Gobble is the sound (repeat)

Of the turkey fat and round (repeat)

Thanksgiving Day will soon be here (repeat)

Then he’ll surely disappear (repeat)

7. Turkey In The Brown Straw (tune: Skip To My Lou)

Turkey in the Brown Straw

Ha Ha Ha,

Turkey in the brown straw

Ha Ha Ha,

Turkey in the brown straw

Ha Ha Ha,

Turkey in the straw my darlin’

Turkey in the green tree

Hee Hee Hee,

Turkey in the green tree

Hee Hee Hee,

Turkey in the green tree

Hee Hee Hee,

Turkey in the tree my darlin’.

Turkey in the white snow

Ho Ho Ho,

Turkey in the white snow

Ho Ho Ho,

Turkey in the white snow

Ho Ho Ho,

Turkey in the snow my darlin’.

Turkey in the red barn,

Harn Harn Harn,

Turkey in the red barn,

Harn Harn Harn,

Turkey in the red barn,

Harn Harn Harn,

Turkey in the barn my darlin’.

Turkey in the blue sky,

High, High, High,

Turkey in the blue sky,

High, High, High

Turkey in the blue sky,

High, High, High

Turkey in the sky my darlin’.

10.Thanksgiving (tune – Where is Thumbkin)

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving

Here it comes, here it comes.

Turkey on the table, turkey on the table.

MMM good, MMMM good.

Cornbread muffins, chestnut stuffing,

Pumpkin pie, ten feet high.

We were so much thinner, before we came to dinner.

Me oh my, me oh my!

11. 10 Days of Thanksgiving

On the first day of Thanksgiving the Natives gave to me… a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the second day of Thanksgiving the Natives gave to me… Two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the third day of Thanksgiving the Natives gave to me… three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the fourth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the fifth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the sixth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the seventh day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the eighth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… eight woven blankets, seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the ninth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… Nine ears of corn, eight woven blankets, seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

On the tenth day of Thanksgiving, the Natives gave to me… ten native tom-toms, nine ears of corn, eight woven blankets, seven Native teepees, six pairs of moccasins, five bows and arrows, four cornucopias, three Native headdresses, two turkey gobblers, and a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch!

Teaching Concepts for Fingerplays

1. I’m a Turkey (tune:Yankee Doodle)

I’m a turkey, big and fat. (Spread arms out.)

I spread my tail. I walk like that. (Fan fingers like a turkey’s tail; Waddle.)

Each day’s corn I will not miss, (Rub stomach.)

And when I talk, I sound like this: (Point to lips; Cup hand next to ear.)

GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE! (Shout.)

2. The Turkey

The turkey is a funny bird. (Hook thumbs together and spread fingers to create turkey tail)

Its head goes wobble, wobble. (Wobble head back and forth)

And all it knows is just one word: (Hold up one finger.)

“Gobble, gobble, gobble.” (Make mouth shape with hand, opening and closing it while sounding like a turkey.)

3. Five Little Turkeys

Five little turkeys having some fun (snap fingers and dance)

The first one says, “Thanksgiving’s begun!” (Hold up pointer finger to make number one.  Open arms and make a surprised face.”

The second one says, “Let’s hide far away!”  (Hold up two fingers.  Cover face with hands.)

The third one says, “But I want to play!”  (Hold up three fingers.  Make an American sign language Y (extend pinky and thumb with fingers between folded down) with both hands and wiggle around.)

The fourth one says, “The hunter is coming!” ( Hold up four fingers.  Place both hands on face and look shocked.)

The fifth one says, “We better start running!” (Hold up five fingers.  Make a running motion.)

“Yum!” Says the hunter.  (Rub tummy with hand in circular  motion.)

Ready for a bite (Make biting motion and sound with mouth.)

But five little turkeys waddle out of sight  (Wiggle hips and flap folded arms.)

4. Mr. Turkey

Mr. Turkey’s tail is big and wide

(spread fingers)

He swings it when he walks

(swing hands)

His neck is long

(stretch neck)

His chin is red

(stroke chin)

And he gobbles when he talks

(open and close hands, and gobbles)

5. Thankful

We are thankful for the food we eat. (hands over shoulders opening and closing fingers.)

We are thankful for the friends we meet. (hands over shoulders, palms up.)

We are thankful for the golden sun. (hands together over head making a circle.)

The trees (elbow in other hand, arms straight up and fingers wiggling.)

the birds (hands out flapping like wings)

and everyone (hands open again)