Getting Ready for Thanksgiving!

November 16, 2013

So, one more week to go before Thanksgiving week! We get the whole week off, but I think some schools only get Thursday and Friday off. I am thankful for those extra days!

If you wish to have a little fun in the classroom this week, I have found that my students really love reader’s theaters and acting out plays and skits. I guess a little drama is okay this time of year. My students love to read out the stories and interact with the text. Here are some ideas for you to keep your students active and engaged, and have some fun, too!

Product/Thanksgiving-Readers-Theater-Gobble-It-Up A reader’s theater that’s fun with lots of different parts. On the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims and the Indians are coming together for a three day feast, and Mr. Turkey Lurkey has to take cover. There are 26 short speaking parts, so everyone can be involved! It takes approximately 20-25 minutes to be performed. No costumes necessary, but you can dress it up.

Thanksgiving-Skit-A-Joyful-Harvest A short Thanksgiving play that is quick and easy to perform, and fun! Set the day before the first Thanksgiving. Four characters – a pilgrim boy and girl, and a native American boy and girl. A fun way to act out the preparations for the first Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving-Hunting-Homophones-PowerPoint This isn’t a play, but a Thanksgiving short story read-aloud on slides. Students have to search each slide for two incorrect homophones! Students have fun, and learn revising skills, too!

Thanksgiving-Then-and-Now-Venn-Diagram-SmartBoard-Activity Another interactive way to get kids up and involved is to use technology. If you have a Smart Board, then this is a fun activity to do around Thanksgiving. Students have to drag the foods that are common to our era and that are common to the Pilgrim’s era into the Venn Diagram. Kids love to move the words around on the board.