WE GIVE THANKS!

I sure am thankful that it's November, 2021, instead of November, 2020!  This is a good week to remember to GIVE THANKS!

We Give Thanks
(Tune: “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore”)
We give thanks for food we eat.
Hallelujah.
We give thanks for food we eat.
Hallelujah.

We give thanks for families…
We give thanks for friends so dear…
We give thanks for all the earth…

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2007/11_Nov/1booksNov/weGiveThanks.pdf

*Let children suggest other things they are thankful for and insert the words in the song.

*Make a language experience chart of things children are thankful for.

Over the River
(Traditional Tune: Happy Everything CD)
Over the river and through the woods (Pretend to hold reins of a sleigh
To grandmother’s house we go. and drive as you bounce up and down.)
The horse knows the way (Put hands behind back and nod
To carry the sleigh like a horse.)
Through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the woods, (Pretend to drive sleigh.)
Oh, how the wind does blow. (Wrap arms around self and shiver.)
It stings your toes and bites your nose (Touch nose and point to toes.)
As over the ground we go.

Through the country and cities far (Pretend to drive a car.)
In sun or wind or rain.
We might go by train (Pull down on train whistle.)
We might take a plane. (Fly hand like a plane in the air.)
Or maybe a bus or car. (Hold out right hand, then left.)
Through low valleys and mountains high (Look down low and then up.)
Now, grandmother’s house I spy. (Hand over eyes.)
Hurrah, for the fun! (One fist in the air.)
Is the turkey done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie! (Cheer with other fist.)

Comparisons 

Use a Venn diagram to compare what it would be like to visit grandmother a long time ago and how we visit now. How are things the same? How are they different?

*How will you travel to your Thanksgiving dinner?  Car?  Plane? Boat? Train? Bus? Stay at home!

The Olden Days
Bring in a record player, typewriter, rotary phone, old camera, etc.  (You might not have these things any more, so just show photos.)  Ask the children if they know what each item is and how was it used.  What do we use today in the same way?



            

Family Celebrations 

Holidays are a good time to talk about diversity. Not all families celebrate Thanksgiving, but most families do celebrate something. Ask children to bring in photos of celebrations they have in their home. Put their pictures together to make a class book.