Thanksgiving in the classroom can be so much fun! Students love to make turkey crafts, talk about what they are thankful for, learn about the first Thanksgiving, and even have a Thanksgiving feast with their friends. Read on to learn about some Thanksgiving books you can incorporate into your teaching this November.
Turkey Trouble
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano is always one of my favorite books to read around Thanksgiving. Students always laugh at the turkey who is trying to disguise himself so that he doesn’t get eaten on Thanksgiving.
After reading, students can come up with their own disguise for a turkey. They can draw their own or decorate a turkey template using craft supplies. In the past, I have sent this home as an optional homework/family activity. Many students got creative and sent back turkeys in all kinds of disguises!
This is a great activity because it can be tied to several academic subjects. It can be an art project or a writing project where students write their own story or explain why they chose that disguise. It can also be incorporated into math where students can count the objects on the turkey, sort them by shape, etc. This can also be tied into science if you use it to teach about animals camouflaging, and have the students see if they can camouflage their turkey with different environments.
Simply Special Ed also has some great book companion ideas for Turkey Trouble included in this Thanksgiving book pack.
I Am Thankful
This book by Sheri Wall is a perfect companion book to use for Thanksgiving. It is important for students to learn about being thankful all year long, not just on Thanksgiving.
After reading the book, students can make their own turkey and write things they are thankful for on the feathers. Simply Special Ed also includes a story map, vocabulary cards, a leveled comprehension quiz, and more in the Thanksgiving book companion pack.
include photo of craft
Thankful
This book by Eileen Spinelli is another great book for Thanksgiving time in the classroom. You can even use this book all week long as a way to practice sequencing, comprehension, retelling, vocabulary, and more.
Simply Special Ed has the week planned out for you in the Thanksgiving bundle!
Students can also create their own acorn where they can write a word they are thankful for. The acorns can be put together to make a class banner.
Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie
Students love reading and talking about pie around the holidays! After reading this book by Jack Bishop to your students, they can complete extension activities. These include sequencing the story, practicing vocabulary using clip cards, and painting their own sparkly pie.
You can also have students draw/write about their perfect pie, count how many marshmallows are on their pie, etc.
Include photo of craft
Balloons Over Broadway
This book by Melissa Sweet is one of my favorite Thanksgiving books as well. It tells the true story of how the Macy’s Day Parade began.
After reading, students can design their own float for the Macy’s Day Parade. They can either draw their own float (shown below), or use craft supplies to create one. You can even have students walk around the school to display their float and have their own parade!
I hope you and your students enjoy reading these books for Thanksgiving time!
