Preschool Activities for Thanksgiving: Fun Projects for School and Home

During the month of November we celebrate the joys of Thanksgiving. To coincide with this holiday, focus on activities that relate to the famous book, Over the River and Through the Wood, by Lydia Maria Child and the traditional song of the same name. The poem "Over the River and Through the Wood" was originally titled "A Boy's Thanksgiving Day" published in 1844 in Flowers For Children by Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880). The new book Over the River and Through the Wood is beautifully illustrated by Nadine Bernard Wescott.

I'm Thankful

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks. In the past, Pilgrims and Native Americans worked together to host the first Thanksgiving. Today, we celebrate this holiday 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. The following recording enhances this activity: Things I'm Thankful For: Holiday Songs and Rhymes by Hap Palmer

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 your children to look at the pumpkin talking about its color and shape. Look inside at the strings and seeds. Does the outside and inside look the same? How does it smell? An adult can cut pieces of pumpkin into shapes. 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.

Another sensual 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!

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.

Visiting Grandparents

Glue five craft sticks down on construction paper in the shape of a house. Fill in the details, like windows, doors, chimney, etc. with crayons.

Terrific Turkeys

Create these hanging turkeys to decorate your classroom. Bend a wire coat hanger into a circle with the hanging hook at the top. Pass a "leg" of pantyhose around the circle. You will need to cut two eyes, beak, wattle, feet and feathers from construction paper or felt. Glue these features onto the nylon turkey. Real feathers could be used also. The turkey is ready to hang and is such a symbolic reminder of Thanksgiving.

Let the Winter Games Begin

Over the River

This is a game that is as traditional as the song itself. In order to get to Grandmother's house, the children must jump over the river. Make a "river" by laying two parallel strips of masking tape on the floor. Line the children up and have them take turns jumping over the river. If their feet touch the lines they will get wet. You can move the "river boundaries" wider apart as the children master this skill.

Pull the Sled

"The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh through the white and drifted snow!" Use a long jump rope placing several children inside with the rope around them. Choose a driver to hold the two ends of the jump rope. Instruct the children to walk slowly around the room, having the driver and the team of horses working together. This is also a fun game to do outside in the snow.

Warm Mittens

You'll need some warm mittens on your sleigh ride to Grandfather's house! Prepare two paper mittens for each child. Have the children decorate their mittens with colorful crayons. Encourage the class to design a pair of mittens--the designs should be the same on both. Take a length of yarn and attach a mitten to each end. Drape this around the child's neck with a mitten hanging down on each side.

These preschool activities for Thanksgiving are fun for young children and teach the symbolism of this famous holiday. For more Thanksgiving fun read my article on gratitude. Happy Holidays!

Source: Personal experience in the classroom