November/Thanksgiving

Learn The Story Of Thanksgiving From Mudpie

Print Out The Page Linked Below Or Write Us And We'll Send It To You

Beginning November 22nd through November 26th, Guy Gilchrist is telling the story of Thanksgiving in the Mudpie comic strip. I uploaded it to our site last evening so we can make it available to adults in the business of educating and entertaining children. http://www.gilchriststudios.com/mudpie/thanksgiving.asp
We get letters from many teachers who use Guy's poems, art and comics to teach in their classrooms. It is my hope that we can get the word out to as many people as possible before Thanksgiving that this material is available. If educators don't have the ability to print the page I'll mail them a copy. If you would like to direct kids to that page or use it on your site let me know.
Angie Gilchrist
Studio Administrator
Canton, CT
Link to Guy's Bio:
Home Page: http://www.gilchriststudios.com

For our third graders we do a grade level feast. We assign each room a different item to bring in. We order chicken fingers and biscuits from KFC. KFC has always provided the plates, plastic, and napkins. One class will bring salads, one desserts, one veggies, etc. We have parents come in and set up the tables and do the serving of the food. We encourage the parents to come and eat with their child--we even have relatives come also. All the leftover food is then taken to soup kitchen.
Another idea: Jack Prelutsky (sp.?) wrote a poem book on Thanksgiving- I believe the title is "It's Thanksgiving". Scholastic or one of the book order companies has it and a tape that goes with it. In a very old magazine I found lots of ideas to use the poems and relate them to the students. Such as, painting murals of a Thanksgiving table, add people around the table if desired; writing poems; going into a discussion of customs; comparing the difference in foods.
Jeanette Phillips
Palm City, FL

Thanksgiving Feast
On Thanksgiving, my third grade class has a Thanksgiving Feast. We have some of the original food the Pilgrims ate. Fish, vension, fruit, berries, popcorn, cornbread, etc. We invite the parents to feast with us. Before the feast, we present a short play on the story of Thanksgiving. Each child takes their parent and serves their plate and sits with him or her. This gives the child and parent a special time together. Any relative or friend is welcome. Grandparent, aunt, uncle, neighbor...
Emily Morgan
Cherokee, Centre, AL

Favorite Pie Graph
Graph the students' favorite pie by giving them a square of paper and having them draw an apple, pumpkin, pecan, cherry, etc... Place results in a row graph.

Sing "If You're Thankful and You Know It" to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It".
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL

Hand Turkey Cards
Paint children's hand brown and each finger a different color. Press onto paper to make a hand turkey. Add feet and "gobbler"with marker or crayon. Add the following poem.
This isn't just a turkey
As anyone can see
I made it with my hand,
Which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of love
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

I am Thankful For...

Materials: Paper plate for each child and colorful fall leaves made of construction paper

Have the students cut colorful fall leaves out of construction paper. These may already be xeroxed on the construction paper or they may make cut them free hand depending on the grade level. Glue these colorful leaves around the outside edge of a paper plate and then in the center have them write and complete the sentence "I am thankful for..." You can write this part for kindergarten students. Display in the classroom and then send home before Thanksgiving.
Jolene Gallup
Tempe, AZ