| Here are some activities that you can use to help | | | | you have lying around. You can laminate each |
| teach your children the meaning of Thanksgiving. | | | | placemat to make it last even longer. |
| One: Thanksgiving Sequencing Activity | | | | Number Four: Thanksgiving cards |
| With this activity you are going to need to have felt cut | | | | Using construction paper, you can have children make |
| outs in the shapes of turkeys, Indian corn, pilgrims, | | | | a card for their family for Thanksgiving. You can use |
| Indians, and other symbols that are related to | | | | stamps that represent the different symbols of |
| Thanksgiving. You want to have each of the symbols | | | | Thanksgiving; you can also use things you find in a |
| in a variety of sizes. For the activity, you can talk | | | | nature walk. On the inside of the card, you will have |
| about what each symbol means as the children place | | | | the children write down why they love their families or |
| the symbols in sequence from large to small or small | | | | you can have them include things that they are |
| to large. | | | | thankful for. Just remember to let the kids do the |
| Number Two: Thanksgiving Matching Game | | | | thinking; do not alter their thoughts because the card |
| You can make your own cards or you can buy cards | | | | will mean more coming straight from a child's heart, |
| that have a variety of Thanksgiving symbols on them; | | | | even if what they are thankful for is the big television |
| make sure there is one pair of each symbol at least. | | | | that dad bought for video games. |
| You can use the cards to play memory if the children | | | | Number Five: Cornucopia Treat |
| are old enough or you can allow the children to place | | | | The cornucopia is a big symbol for Thanksgiving, so |
| them into pairs. While playing the game you can talk | | | | you want to be sure to include it in the activities if |
| about what the various symbols stand for and why | | | | possible. One thing that you can do is make a snack |
| they are related to Thanksgiving. | | | | called a Cornucopia Treat. To do this you will need |
| Number Three: Turkey Placemats | | | | large sugar waffle ice cream cones, one for each kid. |
| Get some construction paper that is about the same | | | | You will also need a large bag of trail mix, some M |
| size as a placemat or cut the bigger construction | | | | & M's, and honey roasted peanuts. All you have |
| paper to size. Using finger paint or tempera paint, you | | | | to do is fill the waffle cone with the trial mix, M & |
| can have the child paint their hand. They can paint the | | | | M's, and honey roasted peanuts. Once it has been filled |
| palm of their hand brown and their thumbs to make | | | | use colored saran wrap to wrap the waffle cone |
| the turkey's body and head. They will need to paint | | | | securely; you don't want the insides falling out. Tie the |
| each of their fingers a different color for the feathers. | | | | end of the waffle cone with a bow and it is finished |
| Once the paint has dried, you can have the kids | | | | and ready for you to eat or use to decorate. |
| decorate the placemats with miscellaneous items that | | | | |