Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving is coming next week, this is a good time to think about Thanksgiving in kindergarten.  It is good to help young children think about things they are thankful for.  This is a great time to make a class book where everyone makes their own picture of something they are thankful for.  The child can then write words, or can dictate words that the teacher writes or types on the computer.  Then all the pages from the entire class are put together to make a book.  Another project is for the teacher to make a large turkey and then each child writes what he/she is thankful for on a tail feather.  I also enjoyed doing a fun turkey project where children glued pieces together to make their turkey.  Sometimes we also had a modified "feast".
Here are some books that I loved reading to the children to prepare them for the holiday.
OH, WHAT A THANKSGIVING!  by Steven Kroll
David imagines what it would be like to be a Pilgrim boy at the first Thanksgiving as he participates in his own present-day holiday.
THANKS FOR THANKSGIVING by Julie Marks
This book depicts many things that children are thankful for.
OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOOD by L. Maria Child
I think every child should learn this song!  Seeing the pictures help the children understand the words.
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY:  A COUNTING BOOK  by Laura Krauss Melmed
I always liked to share books that involved a skill I was trying to teach, such as counting!