ABCJLM Thanksgiving Ideas

• Activities
• Books, Cd's, & Videos
• Crafts
• Recipes
• Ideas on the Web

Activities

• Before the Thanksgiving meal, have everyone tell one thing that they are thankful for.  
           Other similar ideas - Kernels of Thanks, Blessing Turkey
• Prepare "Thankful Baskets" of goodies for people who you are thankful for.  Include a note of thanks.
• Create a collage of items in which you are thankful.  Draw or cut out pictures of the items.
• Create "Hand Turkeys" by either drawing around a child's hand or dipping it into paint.  Add eyes and a mouth to the "thumb".
         Poem (Original Source Unknown):
                    Dear ________________, 
                    This isn't just a turkey,
                    As anyone can see.
                    I made it with my hand,
                    That is a part of me.
                    It comes with lots of love
                    Especially to say,
                    I hope you have a very happy
                    Thanksgiving Day!
• Play Silly Turkey - a fun little computer activity on Starfall.com
• Start on the Handprint and Footprint Calendar - Use the November page as a Thanksgiving craft

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Books

    The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks (Christianbook.com) or Amazon 

     The Story of Thanksgiving by Nancy Skarmeas

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Crafts

  Turkey of Thanks - create a turkey from feathers, toilet paper roll, and construction paper.  Write what the child is thankful for on the feathers.
Apron of Thanks - Using an apron, paint handprints on the apron and give to a loved one
Thanksgiving Tree - Each year add more "leaves of thanks" to the family Thanksgiving Tree
Thanksgiving Turkey - Cut out several feathers and then mail to several family members with instructions for them to write what they are thankful for and mail back to you.  Adding a turkey body, collect all of the feathers and assemble together.  This is a great activity for those who are unable to get together with family for Thanksgiving.
   Hands and Feet Turkey Craft - Craft made from tracing a child's hand and foot
Turkey Treat Holder - Fun table decoration
Pumpkin File Folder Games - alphabet, number, and phonics free printable games
Videos of Crafts to Make by Little Blots - candy corn, pumpkin, lapbook, thankful pumpkin, etc.
  Thanksgiving Tree - a tree made of handprints
Thanksgiving Paper Chain - create a paper chain and write things that you are thankful for on each chain.  See how long you can make the chain!

Recipes

- Pilgrim Hat Cookies 
        Ingredients: 
             Vanilla frosting
             Yellow food coloring
             32 miniature peanut butter cups (unwrapped)
             32 fudge-striped cookies
             32 pieces orange mini Chiclets gum or orange tic-tac
        Directions:
             In a small bowl, combine frosting and enough food coloring to make the frosting yellow. 
             Dip the top (wide part) of the peanut butter cup in yellow frosting. 
             Center the peanut butter cup on the cookie forming a pilgrim hat. Add a buckle using frosting and a piece of Chiclets gum or a tic-tac. 
             Repeat with the remaining peanut butter cups and cookies.
-   Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats - Cute activity to discuss the 1st Thanksgiving.
-   Make these adorable turkey cupcakes out of marshmallows, candycorn, frosting and licorice.
- Turkey Handprint Cookies - Using a handprint cookie cutter or trace around a hand, decorate the sugar cookie like a turkey.
- Turkey Cookies
          Ingredients: 
             Sugar cookies
             Chocolate frosting
             Candy corn pieces 
             Mini M&M's
             Orange frosting
         Directions: 
              Bake sugar cookies according to directions.
              Pipe chocolate frosting on outer edge of half of the cookie.  
              Arrange candy corn pieces on frosting with points pointing toward the center of the cookie.
              Pipe orange frosting to create turkey feet and face.
              Place M&M's on frosting for eyes.

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Ideas on the Web

Collection of Thanksgiving Ideas from Little Blots
- Bible Lessons
- Bible Verses
- Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
- Bible Craft
- Thanksgiving Crafts
- Lapbook Songs & Activities
- Printables & Worksheets
- Take Home
- File Folder Games

Christian Preschool Printables - Thanksgiving and "I am thankful" crafts
DLTK Thanksgiving - crafts, recipes, color pages, etc.
Thanksgiving Crafts - color sheets, worksheets, crafts, early readers
Preschool Playbook Ideas - books to read, activities done in a preschool setting
Activity Village
Family Fun - recipes, crafts, decorations, printables