Turkey Trivia and a Creative Way to be Thankful

Leaves are falling, temperatures are starting to drop and kids have settled into their school routines.

Halloween is fast approaching and so is Thanksgiving. 

A holiday celebrated primarily in North America, Thanksgiving is observed on the second Monday of October in Canada and the fourth Thursday of November in the United States.

Stephanie M. Corder

Sitting with my coffee this morning -  thoughts of crisp air, multicolored leaves and turkeys in my mind -  I recalled a terrific lesson plan submitted by Susan Futch, a teacher from Valdosta, Georgia.

Thankful or Blessing Boxes are a lovely way for younger children to stop and think about the things they are most thankful for.

The materials required for this lesson are few -- empty milk cartons (washed and dried), brown construction paper, glue, white poster paper and magic markers. Paint is optional.

Parents and teachers will need to cut the milk carton down, leaving a flap on one side (see photograph).

From there, students can either cover the milk carton with construction paper or they can paint it - inside and out.

Stephanie M. Corder

Next, students can trace their hands (using markers) onto white poster board. Or, they can dip their hands into paint and make a multicolored hand print. These hand prints (or cut outs) will become turkeys with a few added touches (including a beak and turkey wattle).

Once dry, the hand print turkey can be attached  to the outer side of the flap.

On the inside of the flap, students can write or paint their names.

Inside the box, children can add some favorite items, including notes which talk about all the things they are most thankful for.

Give it a try and remember, you can find more Thanksgiving ideas at KinderArt:
http://kinderart.com/seasons/thanksgiving.shtml

Turkey Trivia: Turkeys have no feathers on their necks or heads. Instead, those areas are covered with red, fleshy skin. The soft floppy growth on the front of the head, which dangles down over the beak, is called a snood, while the pouch-like area at the front of a turkey's throat is known as a wattle.


Until next time,
~Andrea