Question:

Thanksgiving

PILGRIM HAT -2

PILGRIM HAT -2
Paper Plate
Glue
Construction Paper
Paint the paper plate black. Once the paint is dry, cut out the center of the paper plate. Leave the outside rim about 2 inches thick. Cut a piece of black construction paper to approximately 8 inches by 8 inches. Tape this into the circle you cut out of the paper plate so as much as possible sticks out through the top of the plate. Cut a 2 inch by 8 inch piece of white paper and glue it on the black paper where it meets the paper plate. Cut a rectangle shape out of yellow construction paper and glue it to the middle of the white strip as a buckle.

SIMPLE THANKSGIVING GRACE

God is Great
God is Good
Let us Thank Him for our Food
AMEN

PAPER PLATE TURKEY

Cut the center out of the plate, leaving the rim intact. Draw and cut out a turkey's head and feet from construction paper. Glue the body on the rim so that the head is in the center, then glue the feet so that they hang down from the rim. You can use several things for the tail feathers. Try cutting squares of autumn colored tissue paper and rolling them up the length of feathers. Buy a bag of multi-colored feathers to glue on or glue on lentils in rows. Whatever you choose, your turkey will be beautifully displayed on the wall or front door for Thanksgiving.

RICE KRISPIE TURKEYS

Rice Krispies
Marshmallow Cream
Oreo chocolate cookies
Chocolate Icing
Candy Corn

Mix Rice Krispie and marshmallow cream together as you would for Rice Krispie treats but, form small balls. Take one chocolate cookie and dab chocolate icing on one side of the cookie. Place the Rice Krispies ball on top of the iced cookie. Dab chocolate icing on five spots on one side of the ball and one time on the front of the ball. Place candy corn on the dabs of icing to form five feathers and one head at the front of the turkey.

PILGRIM HATS

2 Brown paper bags
Masking Tape
Old Belt (or paper or cloth strip)
Beach Bucket
Instructions
Measure around the rim of the bucket with the belt and ask an adult to punch another hole and cut off the extra piece of belt. Loop belt into a circle and buckle belt. If using paper bags, open up the sides and cut off the bottoms. Tape them together. Place paper centered over the upside-down beach bucket. Press paper down with hands around bucket to shape. Place looped belt over top and push down to the bottom of the bucket near the rim securing the paper in place. Remove hat from bucket.

THANKFUL TURKEY

This is a great family activity. Draw a large turkey body and feet on the large piece of construction paper. Each evening at supper for about 10 days before Thanksgiving ask each family member to tell something they are thankful for and list each one on their own feather--kids can pick what color they want and then glue it on to the large turkey. Mount it on a bulletin board or with a magnet on the fridge to have a visual reminder of all the things your family is thankful for.

PUMPKIN BOWLS

These are great centerpieces for Thanksgiving.
Cut top off pumpkin, with sharp knife Hollow out with a spoon. (save seeds for roasting) Wash and cut up fruit (include green and red grapes, apples, etc.) Chill fruit. Just before dinner put in hollowed out pumpkin bowl. Decorate with natural things, leaves, sticks, nuts, ribbons. Your family can make these bowls and fill with flowers to take to Grandmother's house as a gift.

PILGRIMS' PUMPKIN DELIGHT

If you still have a pumpkin left here's an idea for a snack or appetizer . Fill the pumpkin with apple chunks, raisins, walnuts, and cranberries. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, and dot with butter. Replace the pumpkin top and bake the pumpkin on a cookie sheet in a 350F° oven for approximately 1 & 1/2 hours. Each time you scoop out a serving of warm fruit, be sure to scoop out some pumpkin as well.

CORNUCOPIA SNACKS

CORNUCOPIA SNACKS
Half the fun in these little Thanksgiving snacks, are in making them. While you prepare your Thanksgiving Feast let your kids assemble these.
Bugles corn chip snacks shaped like horns
Marshmallow Fluff,
Trix Cereal (or Runts fruit shaped candies)
Roll or spread marshmallow fluff on the open end of the Bugle. Then roll in Trix cereal. It's very simple and turns out really cute.

IT SMELLS LIKE THANKSGIVING -POEM

IT SMELLS LIKE THANKSGIVING

It smells like Thanksgiving, (close eyes and sniff)
Like it should.
The turkey's in the oven -
Mmmm, it smells good!

It smells like Thanksgiving, (close eyes and sniff)
My, oh, my!
What's in the oven now?
Smells like pumpkin pie!

I'M THANKFUL -POEM

I'M THANKFUL

Mother said she was thankful for me.
And Daddy said he was too.
That's funny, said I.
Because you see,
I'm thankful for both of you.

THANKSGIVING CHILDREN FINGERPLAY

This may be done as spoken verse and finger play. It can also be adapted to the tune "Up On the Housetop", and used with finger puppets.

5 little children on Thanksgiving Day -
The first one said, "I'd like cake if I may."
The second one said, "I'd like turkey roasted "
The third one said, "I'd like chestnuts toasted."
The fourth one said, "I'd like pumpkin pie."
The fifth one said, "Oh, so would I!"
But before they ate the turkey or dressing
Five little children said the Thanksgiving blessing.

EASY PILGRIM HATS

EASY PILGRIM HATS
2 Brown paper bags or a large sheet of brown mailing paper
Masking Tape
Old Belt (or paper or cloth strip)
Beach Bucket
Measure around the rim of the bucket with the belt and ask an adult to punch another hole and cut off the extra piece of belt. Loop belt into a circle and buckle belt. If using paper bags, open up the sides and cut off the bottoms. Tape
them together. Place paper centered over the upside-down beach bucket. Press paper down with hands around bucket to shape. Place looped belt over top and push down to the bottom of the bucket near the rim securing the paper in place. Remove hat from bucket.

INDIAN NAMES -ACTIVITY

INDIAN NAMES -ACTIVITY
Native American Indians give their children names that have a special meaning. Give your children some examples of Indian names translated into English (Running Bear, Morning Star etc.). Have the kids think up a name that they would like to use for your Thanksgiving Day celebration. Try to encourage the kids to choose names that will have special meaning for each of them.

THANKSGIVING FINGER PRINTS

Make a turkey shape using only fingerprints and add the following poem.
Turkey birds are different,
From sea to shining sea.
And you'll never see another bird
Like this one to you from me.
Can you see what makes him different?
Do you need some helpful hints?
I made him from my very own
Thumb and fingerprints!

ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY

ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY
Sing to tune of "O' My Darlin' Clementine"
Albuquerque, he's my turkey, and he's feathered and he's fine
And he wobbles and he gobbles and I'm awfully glad he's mine.
He's the best pet you could ever get better than a dog or cat
Albuquerque, he's my turkey and I'm awfully glad of that.
Albuquerque, he's my turkey he's so cozy in his bed
Because for our Thanksgiving dinner, we had scrambled eggs instead.

JUST LIKE THAT - FINGERPLAY

JUST LIKE THAT
Turkey, turkey,
Big and fat, (bend arms out as sides)
I'm going to eat you,
Just like that! (open and close mouth)

PUMPKIN SEEDS

I wash and dry my pumpkin seeds. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter and stir in 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce. Stir in seeds and spread on baking sheet with sides. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and bake at 350 degrees. Turn/scrape once during baking. It takes about 10 minutes. I spread them on a cookie sheet, spray with PAM, and sprinkle with salt or cinnamon & sugar, roast till crisp, cool and enjoy!

M & M TURKEYS -Snack

M & M TURKEYS -Snack
These make great decorations for the Thanksgiving dinner table. The kids love making them, but like eating them more!
For each turkey, you will need 2 pieces of orange nylon net, about 10" square
1/2 of a brown pipe cleaner;
1 section of red chenille bump;
2 tiny wiggle eyes;
A piece of strong thread or thin string;
About 1/2 to 1 cup plain M&Ms,
a dab of glue or Royal Icing
Put the 2 pieces of net together, with the corners of one along the sides of the other, making 8 points. pour M&Ms in center, gather up the points, twist and tie securely.
Coil the brown pipe cleaner, leaving about 2"; curve the 2" to form the neck.
Tuck the red bump into the bottom of the coil to form the wattle.
Glue a tiny eye on each side of the head.
Shape the body - the M&Ms - so that the ends of the net become the tail and stick out the back. Insert the neck through the net in the front.

THANKSGIVING MEAL POEM

THANKSGIVING MEAL POEM

The turkey is my favorite bird and
Pumpkin is my favorite pie and
Cranberry is my favorite sauce,
I wonder why.
I'm thankful for them all, Aren't you?
And for the stuffing too.

STRUT MR. TURKEY RHYME

STRUT MR. TURKEY RHYME

Strut Mr. Turkey, big and fat,
Strut Mr. Turkey, just like that.
Strut Mr. Turkey, strut, strut, strut.
Strut Mr. Turkey, prance and play,
Thanksgiving day is on the way
So strut today, strut, strut, strut.

THANKFUL WREATH

Cut out an orange or yellow circle to fit a paper plate, and have child glue to center. Then have them crumple up and glue colored tissue paper (fall colors) to the outside of the wreath. Cut out a bow shape and either glue a small picture of the child in the center of the bow, or have the child write his/her name on the bow. Glue the bow to the outside of the plate. Discuss thankfulness, and ask the child what they are thankful for. Then write that in the center of the plate i.e. "I am thankful for my parents.". Then attach a ribbon or string on the back to hang the wreath.

THANKSGIVING FOODS: BEFORE AND AFTER

Find pictures in magazines of foods before and after they are prepared. For example: Fresh cranberries and cranberry sauce, raw carrots and cooked carrots, raw potatoes and mashed potatoes, raw yams and candied yams. Glue each picture to a piece of felt. Show the children all of the pictures. Place one of the "before" foods up on your flannel board. Have someone find the "after" food to match it. Continue matching up all of the foods.

THIS IS THE WAY WE STIR THE PUDDING - SONG

THIS IS THE WAY WE STIR THE PUDDING
(sung to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way we stir the pudding,
Stir the pudding, stir the pudding
This is the way we stir the pudding
All in a Pilgrim's day!

Each time the song is repeated, replace the underlined phrase with one of the following:

Knead the bread,
Feed the hens,
Milk the goats,
Fetch the water,
Gather the wood,
Hoe the garden,
Pull the corn,
Husk the corn,
Catch a fish,
Pick up nuts

DINNER IN A PUMPKIN

DINNER IN A PUMPKIN
1 medium Pumpkin.
1 4-oz can Mushrooms, drained and sliced.
1 Onion, chopped.
1 10-oz can Cream of chicken soup.
2 tbsp. Vegetable oil.
1 8-oz can Sliced water chestnuts, drained.
1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Ground beef.
1 1/2 cups Cooked rice.
2 tbsp. Soy sauce.
2 tbsp. Brown sugar.
Cut off the top of the pumpkin and clean out seeds and pulp. Paint on appropriate face on front of pumpkin with permanent marker or acrylic paint. In a large skillet, sauté' onion in oil until tender; add meat and brown. Drain drippings from skillet. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cooked rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into pumpkin shell. Replace pumpkin top and place entire pumpkin, with filling, on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour in 350F°F oven or until inside meat of pumpkin is tender. Put pumpkin on a plate; remove top and serve. For your vegetable, scoop out cooked pumpkin and serve. Serves 6 people

CORNUCOPIAS (HORN OF PLENTY)

CORNUCOPIAS (HORN OF PLENTY)
We use ice cream cones sometimes to make great "cornucopias" for Thanksgiving Day snacks. The children mix up bite-sized snacks (pretzels, mini crackers, cheese bites, nuts and the like) and we will mix them all together and fill the cones with the mix. Good snacks to have around while watching the football game and waiting for the turkey to cook!

POULTRY PARTY HATS

Make light brown head bands for all the children. To the front, glue a five inch brown circle. Add black paper eyes, a red wattle, and a folded orange triangle for a beak. Bend several strips of 2"x18" colorful construction paper in half; then glue the ends to the back of the headband. Finally, fringe the round part of two half circles; glue them on the side of the band for wings.

INDIAN CORN

INDIAN CORN
Cut a corn shape out of cardboard. Pop some poping corn and let it cool. Using dry tempera paint, place a hand-full of popped corn in a baggie with a teaspoon of dry tempera and shake until coated. Repeat with other colors until you have all the corn colored. Have your children glue the corn onto the cardboard and add construction paper corn husks. You can hang these on your front door or adhere a magnet for placement on the fridge.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE -GAME

GOBBLE, GOBBLE -GAME
A child is chosen to be "it". "It" closes his/her eyes and sits in one spot in the room. Another child is chosen to be the turkey. The turkey runs and hides in some part of the room/house? When the turkey has been hidden, he/she should be saying, "gobble gobble, gobble." "It" tries to guess who it is from the sound of the voice. He/she has three guesses. Little ones can follow the sound and find the turkey, and older kids will like to play "Hide and seek" again.

CATCH THE TURKEY (GAME)

CATCH THE TURKEY (GAME)

A holiday game of tag. All the children are turkeys except one who is a Pilgrim. The Pilgrim chases the turkeys until he catches one. The child who is caught becomes the Pilgrim.

THANKSGIVING LESSONS FOR YOUR CHILDREN:

THANKSGIVING LESSONS FOR YOUR CHILDREN:
Thanksgiving time is a good time to reinforce in our children a number of values. Not is it a time dedicated to being thankful for what we have, it is a time to be thankful for who we have in our lives. Traditionally we get together with family and friends and enjoy a big dinner. On the first Thanksgiving the Pilgrims and Indians shared more than food, they shared the skill of hunting, and how to cook and grow foods that were native to North America. They shared their friendship and hope for a promising future in the New World. Talk with your kid about how they would make new people to the neighborhood feel at home. Ask them what qualities make a good friend.

TURKEY TOAST

While you're getting the turkey ready for the oven, why not let your kids make breakfast? Here's an idea for turkey toast that is quick, simple and fun to make!
Use a large turkey shaped cookie cutter to cut out shape from toasted wheat bread. Spread the whole shape with peanut butter, Use a raisin for and eye, a slice of a red gummy worm for the wattle, and fruit loops for the tail feathers. Tastes good, and kids love it!

STYROFOAM TURKEYS -

STYROFOAM TURKEYS -
Styrofoam balls - I think I bought 6 or 8 inch - about 2.50 each
Brown paint
Paint brushes
Craft spoons - like the ones that come with ice cream cups (at the craft store)
Wiggle eyes - small - to go on the craft spoon
Felt scraps -in red and yellow
feathers in lots of colors and sizes!
TO MAKE:
Cut Styrofoam. balls in half. Paint the ball brown. Give the kids feathers and they stick them into the ball. I bought all different sizes. The larger feathers make it look kewl! Glue wiggle eyes on the craft spoon - which is the turkey head and neck. One eye on each side. Glue a little yellow felt triangle on the edge of the
spoon for the beak. Cut a gobble out of red and glue it below. It just didn't stick well with craft glue (You may want to use a hot glue gun.) Shove the head in the side of the ball somewhere.

MY TURKEY -FINGER PLAY

MY TURKEY
I have a turkey, big and fat
He spreads his wings, (Fan hands at hips)
And walks like that (Strut)
His daily corn he would not miss (Pretend to eat corn)
And when he walks, he sounds like this, ('Gobble, Gobble, Gobble)

TURKEY SHOOT -GAME

TURKEY SHOOT -GAME
A good game for after dinner, when your feeling a bit full. This is a fun game that is not too active.
Instructions:
1.You will need an empty box, such as a cereal or shoe box.
2.Cut three openings about one inch square in one side.
3.Draw three turkeys over one opening, two turkeys over another opening, and one turkey over the middle opening.
4.Shoot the turkeys by rolling marbles into the openings in the box.
5.Each player sits about six feet away from the box and has five turns.
6.Keep score by counting the number of turkeys above the openings into which the marbles roll.

TOILET PAPER ROLL TURKEY

Take a toilet paper tube and cover it with brown construction paper. Trace both hands on white paper and let child color feathers. Cut out hands. Cut thumb off. Lay tube horizontally. Glue hands to back of tube. Cut out peanut shape for head and glue to the front of tube. Use a red piece of felt to droop down from top of his head. Add wiggle eyes.

TURKEY FEET

A cute turkey idea is to trace the child's foot (in socks) on brown construction paper, then trace their hand on orange, yellow, blue, green (really any colors you want) construction paper and cut them all out including the foot. Turn the foot upside down (the heel part on the top). Add eyes, beak and waddle and then glue the hands to the back (lower portion) for the feathers--you've created a cute project using their own hands and feet--then do it again next year and let them see how much they've grown.

PAPER CORNUCOPIAS

Cut a cornucopia out of brown paper. Cut as many fruits and vegetable shapes out as there are days left until Thanksgiving. Decorate each one with glitter or marker, if desired. Leave space on the shape to write
what you are thankful for. Then, glue one shape onto the cornucopia at a time. When the shapes are all glued on, you have a handmade door decoration! Be sure to put the year and your child's name on the back and use it year after year.

I AM THANKFUL

I AM THANKFUL
This is a poem that makes a good Thanksgiving Day grace

I am thankful for my pets
I am thankful for my school
I am thankful when I
can swim in a pool.

I am thankful for my home
and the food that I eat.
I am thankful for all
the new friends that I meet.

I am thankful for my health
and for my family.
I'm especially thankful
that I am just me!

FEED THE TURKEY -GAME

FEED THE TURKEY GAME
When the house is filled with cousins and friends on Thanksgiving break out this game for fun.

First you have to make the game, a great little family activity a few days before. Start with a large brown paper grocery bag. Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Now stuff two small paper bags with newspaper and twist the top of the bags and close up with an elastic band, these are the drumsticks… attach them to either side of the larger bag. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.

TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.

THANKSGIVING TIME -POEM

THANKSGIVING TIME

Thanksgiving time is here,
Let's clap and give a cheer
For food and friends and family --
Thanksgiving time is here!! (clap hands and cheer).

THANKSGIVING GRACE

THANKSGIVING GRACE
This year when you say your usual thanksgiving grace, consider this little activity. After grace is said go around the table and each person take a turn telling what they are the most grateful for this year. Your children's answers may amaze you.

COOKIE & CANDY TURKEYS

COOKIE & CANDY TURKEYS
These are adorable little treats to make for your child on thanksgiving. For each turkey treat your will need a square caramel, a candy corn, a Hershey kiss and a chocolate striped cookie.
Soften a caramel in the microwave, about 10 seconds--but don't get too soft. Take the caramel, place the cookie- (stripes facing front), on the back of the caramel. The candy corn piece goes on top of the caramel for the beak, then place the caramel on top of a chocolate star or kiss, for feet-- you have a candy turkey
Cut off bottom of cookie to make a flat bottom.
Spread cookie with frosting. Sprinkle with orange tinted coconut. Cut Black Licorice pieces to make stem and parts of face. Attach stem and face to cookie. Also, instead of licorice - you can use a tube of black frosting or icing.

TURKEY HANDPRINT

TURKEY HANDPRINT
For this turkey take an piece if brown construction paper and then let the kids that are able to, trace and cut the shape of their own hands. Then glue feathers on the "fingers" to make the turkey. After gluing a magnet on the back side of this turkey, add a poem:

This isn't just a turkey.
As anyone can see.
I made it with my hand,
Which is a special part of me.
It comes to you with lots of love,
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!!