Get Ready for Thanksgiving With Fun Turkey Songs

Turkeys are large birds, both wild and domestic. The Pilgrims hunted wild turkeys for their Thanksgiving feast and this bird has become a tradition in most American families for this holiday. Turkeys walk with a specific waddle that children love to imitate. Invite the children to pretend to be turkeys as they sing these songs.

How many ways can the Hokey Pokey be adapted? Here is a version for Thanksgiving with plenty of movement.

You put your right wing in (the elbow),

You take your right wing out,

You put your right wing in and you shake it all about.

You do the Turkey Pokey and you wobble all around.

That's what it's all about.

Continue singing and playing this game with these verses:

You put your left wing in...

You put your right leg in...

You put your left leg in...

You put your head in...

You put your whole self in...

This open-ended song emphasizes the sounds that turkeys make and young children love to act out the infamous 'gobble' sound. Sing this turkey song to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot."

I'm a little turkey,

My name is Ted.

Here are my feathers,

Here is my head.

Gobble, gobble, gobble,

Is what I say,

Quick run...It's Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Dinner Song

Today this holiday is celebrated with a feast (just like the first Thanksgiving) with family, relatives and friends. Sing this song about what good food might be on the table. Use the tune of "Are You Sleeping/ Frere Jacques."

Turkey dinner, turkey dinner,

Gather round, gather round.

Who will get the drumstick?

Yummy, yummy drumstick.

All sit down, all sit down.

Cornbread muffins,

Chestnut stuffing,

Pudding pie, ten feet high.

We were all much thinner, before we sat for dinner.

Me, oh my, me, oh my!

All children benefit from experiences with music. It enhances learning especially the child's language development. These Thanksgiving songs for children will enlighten the holidays with fun music and energetic movement.

Note About Songs: Authors Unknown

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com --

Thanksgiving, Kaz/1443 and Turkey Cartoon, GraphicMama-team-225; all CCO Public Domain

You have several weeks to teach these cute songs to your children. Music puts us into the happy, holiday mood. Don't you think?

Happy Parenting,

Tania :)

Games to Play During Thanksgiving Weekend

Just because Thanksgiving Day is over, we don't have to truly let go of the holiday. We have the weekend to bond and play with the kids. Here are a few to engage in. 

Games of chance and dexterity were very important to the Native Americans and Pilgrims as they became friends during the humble year of the first Thanksgiving. These ideas for parents will help children learn the symbolic meanings of this November holiday. Since kids learn through play, here are a few teachable activities to try.

Pass the Stone -- Two teams of players (representing Native Americans) sit on the floor in lines facing each other. Members of the one team cover their hands with a blanket. While a leader beats on a drum, the team passes a stone from one player to the next under the blanket. When the drum stops, the players stop passing the stone. Chose a member of the opposite team to guess which player has the stone. If he/she guesses correctly, his team receives the stone. Repeat the game as long as there is interest. 

Over the River -- Place two strings parallel on the floor approximately one foot apart. Pretend this is the river to reach Grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner. The object of the game is to jump across the "river" without falling into the "water" (stepping between the strings). Keep moving the strings farther and farther apart with each round of the game.

Feather Hunt -- Purchase a bag of assorted colored feathers and hide these around the party area or yard. Mark one feather as a special token and the finder of this feather will become the chief of the tribe. Invite the players to hunt for the feathers. After all are found, use these feathers to make headdresses. Cut felt or wide ribbons to fit the child's head. An adult can use a low-temperature glue gun and adhere the feathers to the band. Glue the ends together to complete the headband. The Braves and Maidens may wear the headbands during your Thanksgiving celebration. 

The Hoop Game -- The early settlers of America played this game of chance. Place a hula-hoop on the ground (or make a circle with masking tape). A player stands a designated distance from the circle with his/her back to the hoop. Toss small sticks over the shoulder. The object of this game is to land the sticks inside the hoop.

Photo courtesy of mattysimpson/CCO Public Domain on pixabay.com 

Enjoy your holiday together.

Happy Parenting,

Tania :)

Thanksgiving Books for Preschoolers

Take time to read a variety of books with the children during your preschool storytime. Books can help children to learn about their world, visit new places, and practice skills needed for future learning.

This article will discuss the different kinds of books you can be reading with your group and suggested titles for Thanksgiving.

Traditional Children's Books

Think about fairy tales, folk tales, fables, myths, and legends from around the world and across the ages of time. Through these beloved stories, children become familiar with many different times, cultures, and traditions. Here are some Thanksgiving favorites.
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting [Sandpiper]
Cranberry Thanksgiving by Harry Devlin
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' by Eileen Spinelli [HarperColins]
Over the River and Through the Woods by John Steven Gurney [Cartwheel]
My First Thanksgiving by Tomie dePaola [Putnam]

Concept Books  

These books teach skills, such as counting, colors, and shapes. They may teach about things big and little or opposites like in and out. Many themes are taught in books where children can experience the farm, learn about animals, transportation, food, families, and feelings.
Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons [Holiday House]
The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross [Random House]
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston [Cartwheel]

Repetition and Pattern Story Books

Books with a 'catchy' phrase that is repeated become favorites with young children. They will pick-up the pattern and may be able to "read along." This lets them experience the joys of reading.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson [Puffin]

Rhyming Books

These books often include rhymes and repeated verses, which is why they are easy to remember and recite. These are especially appealing to young children.
'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey [Scholastic]
Turkeys Never Gobble by Joan Holub [HarperFestival]

Books About Different Cultures

These books have characters and situations both similar and different to those in the children's lives so they can learn about the world.
Gracias, the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley [Scholastic]
How Many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting [Sandpiper]
Thanksgiving at Obaachan's by Janet Mitsui Brown [Polychrome]
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas [Thomas Nelson]

Books and stories open the world of learning to children. Enjoy preschool storytime daily with your group and this month concentrate on Thanksgiving with an assortment of holiday titles.

**This article was originally published on Yahoo Voices by Tania Cowling

Clip art

Thanksgiving Songs for Children

Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It's a time of family gatherings, a time for gratitude, history, and turkey. Thanksgiving day has always been a fun time with songs and activities to enjoy. Give kids the opportunity to sing their gratitude this Thanksgiving, but don't forget about some fun Thanksgiving songs for children with a "gobble and wobble" too.

Songs of Gratitude

Gratitude is the action of giving thanks and to show appreciation for kindness. This song is a parody to the traditional song "If You're Happy and You Know It." Children love to do the actions as they sing this holiday song.

If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands

If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're thankful and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it.

If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

Other verses:

If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet...

If you're thankful and you know it, shout "I am!"...

If you're thankful and you know it, do all three...

Discuss that Thanksgiving is a special time to give thanks, just like the Pilgrims gave thanks for their plentiful harvest and food. This Thanksgiving song for children is sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Let's be thankful for this day,

For our friends and our play.

Let's be thankful; let's be glad,

For our food and the things we have.

Let's give thanks for you and me,

And our home and family.

Song of the Pilgrims

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower in 1620. The Pilgrims and Native Americans worked together growing crops and harvesting the bounty to celebrate their first Thanksgiving many years ago. Sing this song to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

The Pilgrims sailed away,

Far across the sea.

They came to America,

So they could be free.

The Native Americans

Helped them plant the corn.

Then they shared a great big feast,

Thanksgiving Day was born!

To all my readers, I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time,

Tania

 

 **All songs were used in my preschool classes and Mommy and Me sessions. Authors are unknown.

Photo courtesy of Tania Cowling, all rights reserved.

Thanksgiving Theme Unit for Daycare & Preschool

During the month of November families in the US celebrate the joys of Thanksgiving. Take this Thanksgiving theme across the curriculum to commemorate this holiday.

To coincide with this holiday, focus on curriculum activities that relate to the famous book, Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child [North-South Books, 1998], and the traditional song of the same name.

I'm Thankful Bulletin Board

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks. In the past, Pilgrims and Native Americans worked together to host the first Thanksgiving. Today, this holiday is celebrated with family, relatives and friends. At circle time, discuss "Things I'm Thankful For." Together, look through magazines and cut pictures of these items. Have the children bring in pictures of their family, including grandparents. Create a cooperative bulletin board or poster.

In the Pumpkin Patch

The Thanksgiving season is a good time to do pumpkin activities. A pumpkin pie, flavorful with spices, is traditional in most American homes. Take a pumpkin and cut off the top. Invite the children to look at the pumpkin talking about its color and shape. Look inside at the strings and seeds. Ask," Does the outside and inside look the same? How does it smell?"

An adult can cut pieces of pumpkin into shapes. The children can take a paintbrush and paint a thin layer of tempera on the shape. Press this down onto paper to make a print. Printing is a fascinating activity for children because they love to keep repeating this process. Clean and roast the pumpkin seeds. Place a few into cups for the children. They can count the seeds and then eat them as a nutritious snack.

Another sensory activity is to paint pumpkin pies. Cut paper into circle shapes and paint them orange. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle an assortment of spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice or ground cloves on the pie. Smell the aroma!

Off to the Grandparent's House

Glue five Popsicle (craft) sticks down on construction paper in the shape of a house. Fill in the details, like windows, doors, chimney, and such with crayons, markers or glued-on fabric.

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This article first appeared on Suite101.com by Tania K. Cowling