November Celebrations
Thankful Leaves
Always modify activities to the interest of the child(ren) on that day at that time... it changes!
Our child chose objects we found in the yard and park,
looked them up in the field guide and then used those for the tree in the photo above.
Red maple leaves, brown pinecones, yellow chinaberries, orange oak leaves, green magnolia leaves.
Our child chose objects we found in the yard and park,
looked them up in the field guide and then used those for the tree in the photo above.
Red maple leaves, brown pinecones, yellow chinaberries, orange oak leaves, green magnolia leaves.
Books
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=7604
The following titles for grades K-8 are available in The Teacher Store at Scholastic.com.
Magic Tree House Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne
Pilgrims; Fact Tracker companion
The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward (Grades PreK-1)
Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern (Grades PreK-1)
Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell (Grades PreK-2)
Gracias, el pavo de Thanksgiving by Joy Crowley (Grades PreK-2)
Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac (Grades K-3)
Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen (Grades K-3)
If You Were at the First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma (Grades 1-4)
If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern (Grades 1-4)
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace, Margaret M. Bruchac. Photographs by Cotton Coulson, Sisse Brimberg (Grades 3-5 )
The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce: A Pilgrim Boy, Plymouth, 1620 by Ann Rinaldi (Grades 4-8)
The following titles for grades K-8 are available in The Teacher Store at Scholastic.com.
Magic Tree House Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne
Pilgrims; Fact Tracker companion
The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward (Grades PreK-1)
Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern (Grades PreK-1)
Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell (Grades PreK-2)
Gracias, el pavo de Thanksgiving by Joy Crowley (Grades PreK-2)
Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac (Grades K-3)
Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen (Grades K-3)
If You Were at the First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma (Grades 1-4)
If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern (Grades 1-4)
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace, Margaret M. Bruchac. Photographs by Cotton Coulson, Sisse Brimberg (Grades 3-5 )
The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce: A Pilgrim Boy, Plymouth, 1620 by Ann Rinaldi (Grades 4-8)
Activities
Opening Song: Magic Words from Signing Time!
Thankful Leaves
1. WITH COLORED PAPER, CHALK OR DRY ERASE BOARD, CREATE A TREE. GO ON A NATURE WALK OR PERUSE A DENDROLOGY FIELD GUIDE AND ENCOURAGE THE CHILD TO CHOOSE WHICH TREE TO CREATE IN THE HOME. TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE SHAPE OF THE TREE AND THE LEAVES. IF YOU FEEL SO MOVED, YOU COULD LAMINATE YOUR TREE FOR ANNUAL USE AND MAKE IT A FAMILY TRADITION!
2. FOLD LEAF-COLORED PAPER (THIS IS FUN ESP IN AUTUMN WHEN YOU MIGHT CHOOSE SEVERAL COLORS!) AND CUT INTO LEAF SHAPES. DEPENDING UPON ABILITIES, CHILD MIGHT EXCEL IF LEAF SHAPES ARE DRAWN ONTO PAPER SQUARES. THIS ACTIVITY MIGHT BE PAIRED WITH ANOTHER MONTESSORI LESSON AND THE CHILD CAN PRACTICE CUTTING OR HOLE PUNCHING THE LEAF SHAPES. AGAIN IF YOU FEEL SO MOVED, LAMINATE THE LEAVES AND USE DRY ERASE MARKERS FOR REPEATED USE. PACK THE LEAVES & TREE AWAY WITH YOUR HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR!
3. ON A DIRECTION PAGE, WRITE AND PROVIDE A DRAWING OR GENERIC CLIPART PHOTO FOR FAMILY, FRIEND, HELPER, TEACHER, LIBRARY AND ANY OTHER AREA THAT YOUR CHILD FREQUENTS AND MIGHT EXPRESS THANKS TO A PERSON FOR PROVIDING SERVICE, THOUGHTFULNESS OR AID IN SOME WAY. YOU COULD WRITE EACH CATEGORY IN A DIFFERENT COLOR AND COORDINATE THE LEAF COLOR TO THE CATEGORY. EACH WEEK YOU COULD CONCENTRATE ON A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.
4. GIVE THE CHILD A LEAF WITH HIS OR HER NAME ON THE FRONT AND ON THE BACK A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE CHILD IS HELPFUL. INVITE THE CHILD TO HANG THE LEAF ON THE TREE. HELP CHILD TO READ THROUGH TO LIST OF CATEGORIES AND CHOOSE ONE CATEGORY. YOU COULD TAKE THE LEAVES WITH YOU TO THAT PLACE AND CHALLENGE THE CHILD TO THINK OF WHO THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND WHY.
5. WRITE A PERSON'S NAME ON EACH LEAF.
6. ON THE BACK OF THE LEAF WRITE WHY THIS PERSON DESERVES A PLACE ON THE THANKFUL TREE.
7. THE CHILD MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE LEAVES BY CATEGORY OR RANDOMLY ON THE TREE AT HOME.
8. ONCE YOUR TREE IS FILLED, CELEBRATE THE VARIETY, COLORS, CATEGORIES...
9. AS A THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY, GIVE OR MAIL THE LEAVES TO THE PERSON WHOSE NAME IS LISTED ON THE FRONT WITH A LITTLE NOTE EXPLAINING THE THANKFUL TREE TRADITION.
2. FOLD LEAF-COLORED PAPER (THIS IS FUN ESP IN AUTUMN WHEN YOU MIGHT CHOOSE SEVERAL COLORS!) AND CUT INTO LEAF SHAPES. DEPENDING UPON ABILITIES, CHILD MIGHT EXCEL IF LEAF SHAPES ARE DRAWN ONTO PAPER SQUARES. THIS ACTIVITY MIGHT BE PAIRED WITH ANOTHER MONTESSORI LESSON AND THE CHILD CAN PRACTICE CUTTING OR HOLE PUNCHING THE LEAF SHAPES. AGAIN IF YOU FEEL SO MOVED, LAMINATE THE LEAVES AND USE DRY ERASE MARKERS FOR REPEATED USE. PACK THE LEAVES & TREE AWAY WITH YOUR HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR!
3. ON A DIRECTION PAGE, WRITE AND PROVIDE A DRAWING OR GENERIC CLIPART PHOTO FOR FAMILY, FRIEND, HELPER, TEACHER, LIBRARY AND ANY OTHER AREA THAT YOUR CHILD FREQUENTS AND MIGHT EXPRESS THANKS TO A PERSON FOR PROVIDING SERVICE, THOUGHTFULNESS OR AID IN SOME WAY. YOU COULD WRITE EACH CATEGORY IN A DIFFERENT COLOR AND COORDINATE THE LEAF COLOR TO THE CATEGORY. EACH WEEK YOU COULD CONCENTRATE ON A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.
4. GIVE THE CHILD A LEAF WITH HIS OR HER NAME ON THE FRONT AND ON THE BACK A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE CHILD IS HELPFUL. INVITE THE CHILD TO HANG THE LEAF ON THE TREE. HELP CHILD TO READ THROUGH TO LIST OF CATEGORIES AND CHOOSE ONE CATEGORY. YOU COULD TAKE THE LEAVES WITH YOU TO THAT PLACE AND CHALLENGE THE CHILD TO THINK OF WHO THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND WHY.
5. WRITE A PERSON'S NAME ON EACH LEAF.
6. ON THE BACK OF THE LEAF WRITE WHY THIS PERSON DESERVES A PLACE ON THE THANKFUL TREE.
7. THE CHILD MAY CHOOSE TO PLACE THE LEAVES BY CATEGORY OR RANDOMLY ON THE TREE AT HOME.
8. ONCE YOUR TREE IS FILLED, CELEBRATE THE VARIETY, COLORS, CATEGORIES...
9. AS A THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY, GIVE OR MAIL THE LEAVES TO THE PERSON WHOSE NAME IS LISTED ON THE FRONT WITH A LITTLE NOTE EXPLAINING THE THANKFUL TREE TRADITION.
Clicks
The Holiday Spot offers the following & so much more:
History of Turkey
Thanksgiving Prayers
Books and CDs
Have a Green Thanksgiving
Craft Ideas
Decoration Ideas
Thanksgiving Day Quotes
Music
Puzzle Activities
Hilarious Jokes
Coloring Book
Facts and Trivia
Round the World
Turkey Song
History of Turkey
Thanksgiving Prayers
Books and CDs
Have a Green Thanksgiving
Craft Ideas
Decoration Ideas
Thanksgiving Day Quotes
Music
Puzzle Activities
Hilarious Jokes
Coloring Book
Facts and Trivia
Round the World
Turkey Song
Closing Song:
Blow A Kiss By Lori Berkner Under a Shady Tree cd
Take the Theme:
Take several leaves with you wherever you go and have your children acknowledge all of the people every day who make them smile, help your family, or provide services... even if you only know them by first name, it is powerful to be thankful for the grocery clerk, mail carrier, doctor, etc...
*Be sure to revisit your family's policies on speaking to strangers & sharing information.
Blow A Kiss By Lori Berkner Under a Shady Tree cd
Take the Theme:
Take several leaves with you wherever you go and have your children acknowledge all of the people every day who make them smile, help your family, or provide services... even if you only know them by first name, it is powerful to be thankful for the grocery clerk, mail carrier, doctor, etc...
*Be sure to revisit your family's policies on speaking to strangers & sharing information.