November
Arts and Crafts
Large Handprint Turkey
large sheet brown construction paper
orange construction paper
small white paper plate
brown, red, yellow, green, orange, purple paint
Trace small plate in the center, near the bottom, of the brown paper. Have student paint the bottom of the plate brown. Using a small brush, paint student's fingers (across, as if you were doing a rainbow), then press onto paper, placing base of hand around the circle. You will have to pain hand several times. This makes the turkey's feathers. When paint is dry, cut around hand prints, leaving circle. Staple the painted plate in place where it was traces. On orange paper, draw and cut out feet and a long turkey neck and head (like an upside down J). Glue onto the middle of the plate at bottom of neck, folding back so it sticks out. This gives the turkey a real 3-D effect.
Tepee
Paint various Indian designs on a 12" circle of brown paper with florescent paints. Slit circle from edge to center. Place 3" brown pipe cleaner pieces in center and staple in place. Fold and staple circle together. Cut flap for door.
Indian Necklace
yarn, desired color, cut slightly longer than desired length
masking tape
noodles (recipe for dying below)
Make a tip on the end of the yarn by wrapping a small piece of tape around the end. At the other end of yarn, tie on one noodle. This keeps the others from falling off while stringing. Suggest students make up their own pattern. Be sure to leave enough yarn at the ends so they can be tied together. You may cut off the noodle tied on the end if desired.
Science
Baby Terrarium
Materials needed: baby food jars or aluminum foil pan
trowel
1 pail per child
five pieces charcoal from fireplace
extra soil and pebbles
Take a walk and gather mosses, pebbles, acorns, twigs, etc. Children can pick up these items in their pail. At home, have a good supply of soil, some charcoal and an extra supply of pebbles. Have children place at bottom of their terrarium a layer of pebbles, then charcoal, and then soil. Now arrange woodland treasures. Water and cover with Saran Wrap. Plants will survive indefinitely if kept moist.
Indian Corn
You will need an ear of Indian corn and a long shallow dish (like an ice tray). Lay the corn in the dish and add about one inch of water. Change the water every day and watch what grows!
Fun Fact
November 5th. is National Donut Day!
Egyptian architecture has it's roots in the geometric simplicity of the donut shape. Unfortunately, the circumference of their donuts was based on a value of Apple Pi which equaled 3.12. The pyramids had a look and feel that was later adopted in the Wintel Pi.
The Greek philosopher, Donutis, led a band of heretical disciples through some of the best Mediterranean pastry shops of his time.
Donut Day was established in the 100's, although there are traditions world-wide tht predate it. Scholars generally agree that all cultures contain within them elements of Donutatian Philosophy. Although the Thanksgiving tradition also originated in this time period, the day of thanks" was scheduled for Thursdays in deference to the already established Friday Observance of Donut Day.
Early settlers to the Americas brought donuts with them to trade for staple foods like corn.
The ubiquitous "American" donut (americas dunkonious) is actually a cross between the European and the Central American donut strains. Contrary to popular myth, donuts do not migrate (unless carried by an African or European swallow.)
Maple bars are not donuts! However, they are a distant cousin to the donut - as are fritters and those jelly-filled things.
What a perfect time to plan a field trip to Dunkin Donuts!
Books
'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving ~ Dav Pilkey
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' ~ Eileen Spinelli
Thanksgiving Day ~ Anne Rockwell
Thanksgiving Cats ~ Jean Marzollo
Thanksgiving Is... ~ Louise Borden
Arthur's Thanksgiving ~ Marc Brown
A Turkey For Thanksgiving ~ Eve Bunting
Thanksgiving Day ~ Gail Gibbons
How Spider Saved Thanksgiving ~ Robert Kraus
Feeling Thankful ~ Shelley Rotner
Over the River and Through the Wood ~ Lydia Maria Child
What is Thanksgiving ~ Harriet Ziefert
Thanksgiving is For Giving Thanks ~ Margaret Sutherland
Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit ~ Norman Bridwell
Germs! Germs! Germs! ~ Bobbi Katz
Recipes
Oreo Turley
Double Stuff Oreo
chocolate frosting
malted milk ball
5 pieces Candy Corn
cinnamon red hot
Break apart Oreo. The side with the filling is the base. Cut slit about 1/3 way down in filling. Stand plain cookie up inside slit, pushing filling against. Frost plain cookie with chocolate frosting. Place a small dab of frosting at base on the white filling. Place the milk ball on dab of frosting, up next to standing cookie (body). Arrange candy corn around back of standing cookie, points in (feathers). Place very small dad of frosting on top of milk ball and add red hot (head).
Pumpkin Bread
1 C oil 2 C canned pumpkin
2 C sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 C flour 1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs 1 C Chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift all dry ingredients. Add oil, eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla. Beat well. Ad nuts. Pour into two greased loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Cranberry Sauce
1 package fresh cranberries, washed
2 large navel oranges
sugar to taste
Peel oranges and put in blender. Add cranberries and blend. Add sugar to taste and blend.
Indian Noodles
1/4 C rubbing alcohol per box Rigatoni noodles
food coloring
Mix together alcohol and food coloring to get the desired color. Stir in noodles and toss. Spread on newspaper to dry.
Songs and Fingerplays
I'm a Little Indian (I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little Indian on the go,
Here is my arrow, here is my bow,
When I go hunting, hear me shout
Bears and buffalo better watch out!
I'm A Little Pilgrim (I'm a Little Teapot)
I知 a little pilgrim on the run,
Here is my knife and here is my gun.
When I go out hunting, hear my shout-
Deer and turkey- better watch out.
The Turkey
The turkey is a funny bird
It's head goes wobble, wobble.
But he only knows one word
Gobble, gobble, gobble.
The fourth one said, "Don't catch it on a nail."
Ten Little Turkey Gobblers (Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little turkeys
Four little, five little, six little turkeys
Seven little, eight little, nine little turkeys
Ten little turkey gobblers!
(Count backward 10 - 1)
What should we do with one little turkey?...
Poor Little turkey gobbler.
Put him in a pan and shove him in the oven....
Yum, yum, turkey gobbler!
Five Fat Turkeys
Five fat turkeys were sitting on a fence.
The first one said, "I'm so immense.
The second one said, "I can gobble at you.
The third one said, "I can gobble, too."
The fourth one said, "I can spread my tail."
The fifth one said, "Don't catch it on a nail."
A farmer came along and stopped to say,
"Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day."
Turkey Talk
Turkey in the barnyard; what does he say?
Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble all day.
Turkey on the table; what do you say?
Yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy all day.
Turkey in my tummy; what do I say?
I ate too much on Thanksgiving Day!
Let Us Give Thanks (Round the Mulberry Bush)
Thanksgiving Day will soon be here,
Soon be here, soon be here.
Thanksgiving Day will soon be here.
Let us now give thanks.
For the blessings of the year......
For our homes we love so dear.....
I'm a Little Turkey (I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little turkey, my name is Ned.
Here are my feathers, here is my head.
"Gobble, gobble, gobble," is what I say,
"Please don't eat me on Thanksgiving Day!"
Big Tall Indian
This is how the big tall Indian....
1. beats upon his drum *
2. prays for rain *
3. hunts for game *
4. gets ready for war *
5. smokes his pipe of peace **
* (Ho, Ho, Hiya, Hyia X 2)
**(Ho, Puff, Hyia, Puff X2)
I'm Thankful Thanksgiving Time (Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
I知 thankful for my friends
And my family.
I'm thankful for the food I eat-
I'm happy to be me!
On Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Song (Mary Had a Little Lamb)
Turkey is so good to eat,
Good to eat, good to eat.
Turkey is so good to eat,
On Thanksgiving Day.
Friends and family gather round,
Gather round, gather round.
Friends and family gather round,
On Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Time (The Farmer in the Dell)
Thanksgiving time is here.
Let痴 give a great big cheer,
For food and friends and family.
Thanksgiving time is here.
Thanksgiving Song (Twinkle, Twinkle)
Let's be thankful for this day
For our friends and for our play
Let's be thankful; lets be glad
For the food and things we have
Let's give thanks for you and me
And our home and family.
I知 Thankful
I知 thankful for my friends,
And my family.
I知 thankful for the food I eat,
I知 happy to be me!
Five Little Turkeys on Thanksgiving Day
Five little turkeys on Thanksgiving Day;
One little turkey went outside to play.
Four little turkeys on Thanksgiving Day;
One little turkey hid inside the hay.
Three little turkeys on Thanksgiving Day;
On little turkey ran far, far away.
Two little turkeys on Thanksgiving Day;
One little turkey went hopping every which way.
On little turkeys on Thanksgiving Day;
"Gobble, gobble, gobble!" was what he did say.
Do the Turkey Pokey
Sing the Hokey Pokey like normal, but then the last line goes as follows:
"You do the Turkey Pokey and you gobble all around, that's what it's all about."
Parent-Child Time
~ Discuss the meaning of Thanksgiving with your child
~ Name the things you are thankful for and then let your child do the same
~ Let your child help you prepare Thanksgiving dinner
~ Visit the library and check out books about Thanksgiving
~ Visit a turkey farm with your child
Calendars
CLASSROOM CALENDARS
Monday-Wednesday-Friday AM
Tuesday-Thursday AM
Tuesday-Thursday PM
Many of the monthly suggestions have been collected over the years I have been
teaching. It is not my intention to take credit for someone else's original idea.
Please see Resource Materials for a listing of books and publications I have and
the Links page.
