Gobble Gobble Jar of Thanks

Submitted by: Audrey Meidl

A great way to give thanks and to share what young ones are thankful for.

Goals:

• To reinforce social/emotional development
• To encourage creativity

Before You Start:
Have on hand craft foam, felt or construction paper in brown, red, yellow and orange. You will also need a papier-mâché flower pot or glass jar, scissors, tacky glue and wiggly eyes. You will also need sentence strips (or strips of cut-up lined paper) and pencils.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Using felt, foam or paper, cut out two ovals of the same size. Glue the two ovals to the outside of the flower pot or jar. This will be the turkey head. Allow the young ones to be creative with this; there is no “right” or “wrong” way.

Step 2.
Using felt, foam or paper in fall colors such as red, yellow, orange, etc., cut out more oval shapes (one of each color) and glue them to the opposite end of the flower pot or jar, on the outside.

Step 3.
Glue on wiggly eyes and use leftover felt, foam or paper to create the waddle and beak.

Step 4.
After the children are finished creating their turkey pots, have them write down things they are thankful for on the strips of paper and place them into the pot.

Step 5.
During circle time, have each child take turns sharing what they are thankful for.

Furthermore:
Tip: you can also use craft feathers instead of felt or foam for added texture. Also, add more details such as feet, or, you might want to paint the pot or jar to give it more color.

Products You May Need:

• Decorate your Own Papier-Mache Flower Pots – Set of 12
• Foam Sheets, 9″ x 12″ – 30 Sheets
• Colored Felt, 9″ x 12″ – 50 Sheets
• 9″ x 12″ Colorations® Heavyweight Construction Paper
• Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue® – 4oz.
• Black Regular Wiggly Eyes – Pack of 100
• Natural Feathers Classroom Pack
• Colorations® Comfort Grip Blunt Tip Scissors
• Rainbow Assorted Sentence Strips – 100 Strips
• Colorations® Best Value Plastic Handle Paint Brushes – Set of 30
• BioColor® Paint, 16 oz.
• Colorations® #2 Pencils

Thankful Turkeys

These terrific turkeys incorporate a lesson about Thanksgiving and giving thanks!

Goals:

• To learn about and practice expressing thankfulness
• To encourage creativity and self expression

Before You Start:
Gather materials needed: Construction paper in various colors, wiggly eyes, feathers, crayons, markers, any collage items you wish to add, glue and scissors.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Help children trace their hand on a sheet of construction paper, making sure to have them spread their fingers wide.

Step 2.
Explain to the children that their thumbs will be the neck and head of their turkey and the other fingers will be its “feathers.” Have them color and decorate their turkeys any way they like.

Step 3.
Demonstrate to children how to cut feather-shaped pieces from the colored construction paper. Have them each cut several “feathers” using the different colors of construction paper.

Step 4.
Talk to the children about the history of Thanksgiving and how the holiday is celebrated today. Ask the children what they are thankful for and have them write the names of the people, animals and other things they are thankful for on each feather. Help them with writing, if necessary.

Step 5.
Have the children glue the “feathers” onto their turkeys. Add any additional collage materials if you wish to. Now everyone has their own unique Thankful Turkey to display around the classroom!

Furthermore:
Construct a large classroom turkey to display in front of the entire class. Have the children each create a few “feathers” with messages of thanks to add to the turkey. Now you have a collective classroom Thankful Turkey!

Products You May Need:

• Colorations® Fine Tip Washable Marker Classroom Pack – Set of 200
• Black Wiggly Eyes – 1000 Pieces
• Colored Wiggly Eyes – 1000 Pieces
• 9″ x 12″ Colorations® Heavyweight Construction Paper
• Rainbow Feathers Classroom Pack – 8 oz.
• Super Feather Classroom Pack
• Black Self-Adhesive Wiggly Eyes – Pack 100
• Colorations® Marker & Crayon Combo Pack- 400 Pieces
• Colorations® Comfort Grip Blunt Tip Scissors
• Colorations® Washable School Glue – 1.25 oz

Turkey Handprint Book Covers

Submitted by: Stephanie Averett

Create simple Thanksgiving-themed book covers out of handprints!

Goals:

• To reinforce fine motor skills
• To encourage creativity

Before You Start:
You will need a sheet of 12″ x 18″ manila paper for each child and Biocolor® paints in fall colors and gold. You will also need paintbrushes. (Optional: Have on hand an assortment of markers, crayons and colored pencils for children who may want to add more color and detail to their book covers.)

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
For older children, allow them to write Happy Thanksgiving along the top of the sheet of paper, and November 2008 across the bottom. (For younger children you can have sheets already prepared. Another option would be to glue foam alphabet letters and numbers onto the sheet of paper.)

Step 2.
Help each child paint one of their hands with brown paint, making sure to cover only the palm and thumb of one hand.

Step 3.
Let the young ones each choose three more colors.

Step 4.
Have the children paint horizontal stripes of each color starting near the base of the fingers and going all the way to the tops of their fingertips. Encourage them to be creative with their color choices. Press the child’s hand on the paper and hold the brown part still, but gently slide the fingers back and forth the create a beautiful and realistic tail.

Furthermore:
You could also add embellishments with markers or crayons for the waddle, eyes and feet – have fun with these!

Products You May Need:

• BioColor® Paint – 16 oz.
• Manila Paper, 12″ x 18″, 50 lb. – 500 Sheets
• Colorations® Best Value Plastic Handle Paint Brushes – Set of 30
• ABC Foam Shapes in a Bucket – 1/2 lb.
• Number Foam Shapes – 150 Pieces
• Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue® – 4oz.
• Colorations® Eye Stickers – 2000 Pieces
• Colorations® Stubby Chubby Colored Pencils – Set of 48

Woven Flint Corn

Submitted by: Tracy Emond

Young ones will create a festive flint corn decoration for the Thanksgiving season.

Goals:

• To reinforce fine motor skills
• To introduce the concept of weaving using a Thanksgiving theme

Before You Start:
You will need construction paper in the following colors: yellow, green, red, brown and orange. You will also need a glue stick. Optional: if you choose to make a decorative landscape, have on hand tacky glue and leaf shapes. You can also use raffia ribbon or string to add more detail.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Have the children draw a corncob on a piece of yellow construction paper, making sure each corncob is wide enough to be folded in half lengthwise.

Step 2.
After everyone has folded their corncobs in half (lengthwise), have them cut slits into the fold by starting at the folded edge and stopping just before the opposite edge. (You might want to demonstrate this step.) Make sure the children are careful not to cut all the way through; have them cut just enough to create slits. The slits should run the whole length of the cob, spaced about 1/4″ apart.

Step 3.
Cut sheets of red, brown and orange construction paper lengthwise, into strips.

Step 4.
Show the students how to weave the colored paper into the yellow ear of corn, using an over, under, over, under pattern.

Step 5.
Have them take green construction paper and cut out corn leaves to put around the corncob.

Step 6.
Lastly, everyone will glue on the leaves.

Furthermore:
You many choose to add raffia or string to the top of the corn for added interest and texture. Add a whole crop of corn, or a few fall leaves to create an entire landscape.

Products You May Need:

• 9″ x 12″ Colorations® Heavyweight Construction Paper
• Fall Fabric Leaves – 200 Pieces
• Colorations® Washable Glue Sticks
• Colorations® Comfort Grip Blunt Tip Scissors
• Beginner’s Wooden Loom – Set of 12

Turkey Picture Frame

Submitted by: Jenny Noll

A fun and easy Thanksgiving project that turns a simple circle frame into a turkey.

Goals:

• To develop fine motor skills
• To reinforce color recognition

Before You Start:
For each child, you will need a wooden photo frame ornament, 5 small and 5 large oval wooden shapes, and assorted glittering craft rhinestones. Have on hand assorted Colorations® markers for coloring wood. You will also need either wood glue or craft glue. Have each student bring in a small picture of themselves, and help each child cut his or her picture to fit each frame.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Have each student choose 5 different rhinestones that they will later glue onto the tops of the oval shapes (these will be the “feathers” of their turkey).

Step 2.
Next, have the children use the markers to color in large oval “feathers” with their choice of colors.

Step 3.
Have students color in wooden frame with brown markers. After large ovals are colored in, glue smaller ovals on with rhinestones (already adhered on top of the smaller ovals) and let dry.

Step 4.
Have students put their pictures in the frames.

Step 5.
Than, have the children glue on “feathers” (wooden oval shapes) and they are now officially turkeys!

Furthermore:
Turkey frames make great gifts or keepsakes.

Products You May Need:

• Wooden Photo Frame Ornaments – Set of 12
• Colored Wood Shapes – 220 Pieces

Turkey Name Tags

Submitted by: Jennifer Galvin

This Thanksgiving, hold your space at the table with a cute as can be turkey that you’ve made yourself! With just a few feathers, beads and a few more art supplies, you and your children can make some turkeys to turn your table into a festive holiday display.

Goals:

• To create a Thanksgiving turkey to use as a name place holder on your Thanksgiving table
• To practice fine motor skills
• To practice practice name writing

Before You Start:
Gather materials: Feathers, brown, red, and orange felt, wiggly eyes, Tacky glue, Sharpie® markers, scissors and large wooden beads. Provide each student with several feathers, a large bead, two eyes, and orange and red felt for which to cut the beak and waddle. You could also cut a craft roll into thirds and use one part for the body in place of the large bead.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Have the children cut a circle out of brown felt and glue it onto the bottom of the bead (or craft roll). Next have them squirt a bit of glue down into the bead, filling it about halfway.

Step 2.
The children should now poke 4-5 feathers down into the glue-filled bead. Note: if using a craft roll, you will need to glue or tape the feathers to the inside of the roll.

Step 3.
Now the children should cut a small light bulb shape out of brown felt (this will be your turkey’s head).

Step 4.
The children should now glue eyes onto the head – and also glue the beak and waddle on under the eyes.

Step 5.
Next, glue the head onto the bead (or roll).

Step 6.
Finally, the children should write their name on the bead (or roll) under where the turkey’s head was glued.

Furthermore:
Make as many turkeys as you will have guests for Thanksgiving. Write each guests name on their bead and place it on the table so they will know where to sit. Or, just have students make one for themselves and send them home with instructions on how to make more for their families.

Products You May Need:

• Colored Felt, 9″ x 12″ – 50 Sheets
• Black Regular Wiggly Eyes – Pack of 100
• Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue® – 4oz.
• Bright Wooden Beads – 1 lb.
• Sturdy Recycled Craft Rolls – 24 Pieces
• Sharpie® Black Permanent Fine-Tip Markers – Set of 12
• Colorations® Comfort Grip Blunt Tip Scissors

Fall Leaf Placemat

This activity can be done as individual autumn place mats or attach them together to make a table runner for your Thanksgiving feast!

Goals:

• To help develop fine motor skills by painting, gluing and assembling their place mat
• To remember to give thanks to God

Before You Start:
Materials Needed: 9″ x 12″ white drawing paper, Large white crayons, regular crayons in orange, yellow and red, leaf rubbing plates, foam paint in red, yellow, orange and green, foam rollers or shaving brushes, paper towels.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Using the Leaf Rubbing Plates, tape six to nine different ones to a table.

Step 2.
Have the colored and white crayons sitting on the table for easy access. The white ones they won’t be able to see and will be a surprise when the paint is added.

Step 3.
Show the children how they can lay their paper over the rubbing plate and rub hard with the crayon to get their relief print.

Step 4.
Move their paper over all the different rubbing plates to get lots of different leaves.

Step 5.
The teacher or parent can write on the child’s paper what they are thankful for when they are done.

Step 6.
Take their paper to another table where the foam paint is already in trays separated by color.

Step 7.
Using rollers or brushes have them cover their entire paper with foam paint.

Step 8.
Using paper towels rub hard on the paper until all the foam paint is gone and their crayon resist is bright. Amazingly their paper is dry already.

Step 9.
Laminate for Autumn or Thanksgiving placemats or staple them all together and use as a table runner for the feast day.

Products You May Need:

• Leaf Rubbing Plates – Set of 16
• Large White Crayons – Set of 12
• Chubby Crayons – Set of 40
• Colorations® No-Drip Foam Paint, 8 oz.
• Foam Brush & Roller Super Set – 40 Pieces
• White Sulphite Paper – 500 Sheets

Turkey Handprint Placemats

Submitted by: Julie Edminster

Create one-of-a-kind placemats by creating turkeys out of children’s hand prints.

Goals:

• As a process art project, the children will create a placemat that can be used each Thanksgiving Holiday

Before You Start:
Supplies: Colorations® jumbo stamp pads in orange, yellow and red, Colorations® markers, Colorations® crystal clear plastic covering or clear contact paper, gold glitter, Colorations® glue sticks, Colorations® card stock (8-1/2″ x 11″).

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Have the children create handprints using the jumbo stamp pads and print them on the cardstock.

Step 2.
Have the children add turkey-like features to each thumb, such as a beak, eyes and feet using the markers.

Step 3.
Have the children outline the turkeys with the markers.

Step 4.
Rub the glue sticks onto the turkeys and various parts of the paper.

Step 5.
Pour the glitter onto the glued areas and shake off.

Step 6.
Cover with the clear contact paper or laminate.

Furthermore:
The children can also add pumpkins and cranberries by making thumbprints in red and orange. Use the markers to create green stems for the pumpkins.

Products You May Need:

• Colorations® Classic Colors Jumbo Washable Stamp Pads – Set of 6
• Plastic Glitter Pack – Set of 6
• Colorations® Washable Glue Sticks

Thanksgiving Expressions

Submitted by: Melanie Troxler

Talk about all the personal traits and characteristics that make each of us special.

Goals:

• Students will express themselves through art
• Students will compare and contrast ways in which they are unique and special

Before You Start:
Students should each bring in a light colored or white pillowcase. The teacher can use brown dye or tea bags to dye the pillowcases, and prepare various sponge stamps, paintbrushes, and paints. You will also need Colorations® Fabric Medium and a book of American Indian symbols.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
We end the Marvelous Me unit of study by representing personal characteristics in a variety of ways.

Step 2.
We then turn our attention to the traditions and symbols of Thanksgiving and the first feast (our school holds a “feast” for the students and their guests).

Step 3.
We take the dyed pillowcases and turn them into American Indian vests by cutting neck and armholes and fringing the bottom.

Step 4.
We then the help the children decorate (paint) symbols and signs, which represent characteristics that make them unique.

Furthermore:
As we prepare for Thanksgiving and our “feast” we carry this concept one step further by having the children identify and “express” themselves by creating a Native American costume illustrating these traits and characteristics.

Products You May Need:

• BioColor® Paint – 16 oz.
• BioColor® Fabric Medium, 16 oz.
• Colorations® Best Value Plastic Handle Paint Brushes – Set of 30

Thankful Tree

Submitted by: Erin O’Neill

Using the children’s hand prints, create a tree for them to write what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Goals:

• To have the children learn about Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful
• Teaching appreciation for the things that are important to each child
• Using fine motor skills to trace and cut

Before You Start:
You will need enough pieces of construction paper for your class, I like using fall colors such as red, yellow, green and orange.

Let’s Get Started!
Step 1.
Assist children in tracing their hands.

Step 2.
Help them cut out the shape of their traced hands and have them write, “I am thankful for…” on the hand (they choose what they are thankful for).

Step 3.
Help the children construct the trunk of the tree by using brown construction paper.

Step 4.
Next, each child can tape or glue their “thankful hands” to the tree.

Step 5.
You can also add pictures of the children if you would like!

Furthermore:
Your “Thankful Tree” can remain in the classroom throughout the Thanksgiving season!

Products You May Need:

• Set of all 28 – 9″ x 12″ Colorations® Heavyweight Construction Paper
• Brown Fadeless® Paper Roll, 48″W x 50’L
• Colorations® Washable Glue Sticks