Workshop Wednesday

Thanksgiving Matching Cards

These photo cards are absolutely beautiful. Follow the link and print 2 sets of the cards and laminate. Use the cards as a simple matching game or as a game of memory. You could even place the cards in the literacy area as writing prompts or language development.

Thanksgiving Matching Cards from Montessori for Everyone

Transition Tuesday

Try this fun finger play with your students this month.

Mr. Turkey 

Mr. Turkey went for            (Start with hands behind your back.)

A walk one day                     (Bring right thumb out in front of you.)

In the very best             

Of weather.

He met Mr. Duck                 (Bring left thumb out in front.)

Along the way
And they talked                   (Have thumbs look at each other.)

Together.

“Gobble, gobble, gobble.”        (Wiggle right thumb.)

“Quack, quack, quack.”           (Wiggle left thumb.)

“Good-bye.”                           (Bow right thumb.)

“Good-bye.”                           (Bow left thumb.)

And they both walked back!   (Wiggle thumbs behind your back.)

Taken from Dr. Jean, 2011

Make & Take Monday

Paper Plate Turkeys

Materials: paper plates, markers, paper tube, turkey head pattern, construction paper, and glue

Directions:
1. Have children color paper plates with markers (see photo).
2. Trace turkey head pattern and cut out. Add eyes, beak, and waddle.
3. Glue turkey head pattern onto paper tube.
4. Staple tube to plate.

Feature Friday

A preview of Thanksgiving books for the classroom.

"A Plump and Perky Turkey " by Teresa Bateman is such a cute and funny book about a town that needs a turkey and the lengths they go to to find one. The town is sadly outwitted by the turkey and end up eating shredded wheat for thanksgiving. The illustrations will keep your studnets interested even though the story’s humor may be a little above their heads.

“10 Fat Turkeys” by Tony Johnston is a classroom favorite.  It’s about as silly as a book gets and the children will have no clue they are actually learning about subtraction while listening to the crazy rhymes. This book will not explain the pilgrims, or talk about the Mayflower, but it will make your kids laugh! Very cute!

“The First Thanksgiving Day : A Counting Story” by Laura Krauss Melmed is a stunning gem of a book. The book has so many layers it will keep toddlers and preschoolers alike busy and engaged. The text explains the first Thanksgiving while counting 1-10 in rhyming poetry and the illustrations by Mark Buehner have hidden treasures, see if you can find them!

"Thanksgiving is for giving thanks” by Margaret Sutherland is book that explains what Thanksgiving is, and gives lots of examples of things to be thankful for. The narrator is thankful for lollipops, a teacher’s encouragement, grandma’s hugs, and sunny days.The book as a whole is a valuable teaching tool about Thanksgiving.

Workshop Wednesday

Pumpkin Pie Counting Game

Materials:

aluminum pie pans (small); orange construction paper; cotton balls; bowl; tongs; marker

 

Directions:

1.Cut a piece of orange paper in the shape of a circle and place in the bottom of each pie pan.

2. Write numbers on each paper circle (You can have 1 - 10 or random numbers you are working on).

3. Place a bowl with cotton balls next to the pie pans.

4. Have the children place the correct number of cotton balls (whip cream) on each pie.
5. Use tongs for extra fine motor practice.

Taken from Kidsoup

 

Transition Tuesday

TURKEYS ALL AROUND
Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Turkeys, turkeys all around
On the fence, on the ground.
On the haystack, on the chair.
All around, everywhere.
Turkeys, turkeys all around.
Gobble, gobble what a sound!
                                Jean Warren

Make & Take Mnday

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I made this playdough and shared it with Jack's classroom. They LOVED it!

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Playdough
Ingredients:
2 cup Flour
1 cup Salt
2 tablespoon Cream of Tartar
2 tablespoon Cooking Oil
2 cup Water
Nutmeg, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice
Orange food coloring (add to water)

Directions:
1. In a medium sized bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix well. Add wet ingredients to bowl and, again, mix well.

2. Add contents to a large pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until it forms a ball.

3. The dough is ready when the mixture pulls away from the pan and when the wet parts begin to look dry.

4. Turn the dough onto your counter-top and knead it until smooth. It will be quite warm to the touch, so be careful!

5. Add the spices AFTER the dough has cooled. The scents won't "take" as well when the dough is hot/very warm. The spices will turn the orange dough a nice pumpkin color.

6. Place playdough balls in an airtight container.