Tommy Turkey- Submitted by Cheryl

The tale of Tommy Turkey
Happened many years ago
When he fell off a cliff one day
Onto a ledge below.

"Help!" cried Tommy Turkey,
"I can't get up from here!"
"Please, somebody, help me!"
He gobbled loud and clear

Time passed, and then an Indian boy
Came walking home that way
He climbed right down the cliffside
And saved Tommy's life that day!

Tommy thanksed the Indian boy,
"What a brave, brave thing to do!"
He plucked his best tail feather
and said, "Here, this is for you!"

The Indian placed it in his band for everyone to see..
And from that day on the feather was a sign of bravery!

*****

A Thanksgiving Story- Submitted by Cheryl
(author unknown)

Make these felt figures: three squirrels, one brown, one grey, one red two bunnies, one lady and one gentleman a basket, with some nuts and apples)

It was the day before Thanksgiving Day. Little grey squirrel was sitting all alone in her house in the hollow oak tree. Grey squirrel could not run about like the other squirrels. One day when she had been out gathering nuts for the wintertime, she had caught her foot in a trap that some bad boys had set in the woods. She had pulled and pulled, and, at last, she had managed to get her foot out of the trap. But her foot was broken! Poor grey squirrel had hopped and jumped on one foot, and, somehow, she had managed to reach home.

That had happened more than a month ago. All that time grey squirrel could not move outside the door of her house. Before she had hurt her foot she had gathered a few nuts. She had eaten only a few each day to make them last. Now they were all gone and tomorrow was Thanksgiving Day! Poor little grey squirrel. She felt very sad sitting there all alone.

"I wonder how grey squirrel is getting along" said Mrs. Red Squirrel to herself. " It's a shame! I haven't been to see her for days and days. I know what I'll do! I'll fix up a basket of good things and take them down to her for her Thanksgiving dinner." Mrs. Red Squirrel took her biggest basket down from the hook. From the cupboard in her hollow tree home she filled the basket with as many chestnuts as she thought she could carry. Then she started off for little grey squirrel's house.

Soon she came to Mrs. Brown Squirrel's house. Mrs. Brown Squirrel was out in her garden digging up some of the nuts she had put there for the winter. "Good Afternoon, Mrs. Red Squirrel," said Mrs. Brown Squirrel. "Where are you going with your basket this lovely day?" "I'm going down to little grey squirrel's house to take her a Thanksgiving dinner," answered Mrs. Red Squirrel. "Oh do let me put some of these hickory nuts into your basket," siad Mrs. Brown Squirrel. 'I have plenty, and I shall feel so happy to think that I can give some of them to little grey squirrel." Mrs. Brown Squirrel put so many hickory nuts into the basket that Mrs. Red Squirrel had all she could do to carry it. "Thank you, kindly, Mrs. Brown Squirrel,"said she, and off she started again.

Soon she came to Mr. Rabbit's bramble house. Mrs. Rabbit was standing at the door. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Red Squirrel," said she. "Where are you going this lovely day?" "I'm going down to little grey squirrel's house to take her a Thanksgiving basket," answered kind Mrs. Red Squirrel. "Oh, just wait a minute!" said Mrs. Rabbit. I have something that I can send, too. Some boys were having a picnic the other day, in the woods back of my house.

When they went away I ran around there and found ever so many good things they had left. Wait just a minute and I will get them from my cupboard." Mrs. Rabbit ran into her house and opened her cupboard in the dry grass and straw. "Come in, Mrs. Red Squirrel," she called; "Come in with your basket." And Mrs. Red Squirrel went into the little bramble house. "Here are the peanuts I found," said Mrs. rabbit, "I know grey squirrel will like them. I have plenty of cabbage and carrots stored away, and I really don't need the peanuts. You may take this red apple too. Perhaps grey squirrel will eat it."

"Thank you," said Mrs. Red Squirrel. "You are very, very kind." "Oh , no, not at all!" said Mrs. rabbit. "It makes me feel so happy to think that I can help little grey squirrel." "Thank you all the same," said Mrs. Red Squirrel. And once more she started off for little grey squirrel's house. The basket was very heavy now, and it was all Mrs. Red Squirrel could do to carry it. "Why, Mrs. Red Squirrel!" said a voice, "where are you going with that heavy basket?" Mrs. Red Squirrel looked about and saw Mr. Rabbit sitting among the brambles by the roadside. "I am going down to little grey squirrel's house to take her a Thanksgiving basket," answered Mrs. Red Squirrel.

"Did you stop at our house?" Mr. Rabbit asked. "I think Mrs. Rabbit may have something for your basket." "Yes, I stopped at the house on my way," said Mrs. Red Squirrel, "and Mrs. Rabbit gave me some peanuts and a red apple for my basket." "I am very glad she thought of them," said Mr.Rabbit.

"Now, you must let me help you carry that heavy basket." "Oh, thank you..." said Mrs. Red Squirrel, "but I think I can manage it the rest of the way. I'm almost there now." "Never mind," said Mr. Rabbit. "I can help you carry it for even a little way." And he took hold of the other side of the heavy basket. Mrs. Red Squirrel was very glad to have Mr. Rabbit's help for the basket was indeed to much for her to carry alone. They soon reached the hollow oak tree in which little grey squirrel lived.

Mr. Rabbit knocked at the little door. "Who's there?" called a sad little voice. "How do you do, little grey squirrel?" answered Mr. Rabbit. "This is Mrs. Red Squirrel. She has brought you a Thanksgiving basket." and they opened the door and went in. Little Grey squirrel had been crying because she felt so lonely and hungry. "Oh, Mrs. Red Squirrel," said she, "how can I thank you!" Then Mrs. Red Squirrel told little grey squirrel about Mrs. Brown Squirrel and Mrs. Rabbit. "And Mr. Rabbit helped me carry the basket," said she.

Little grey squirrel felt very happy to know that she had so many friends. Tomorrow would be Thanksgiving indeed! The wonderful Thanksgiving basket lasted little grey squirrel all winter long and that was all she needed, for, when the warm springtime came, her foot was quite well and she could run about again.

*****

Tommy Turkey- Submitted by Cheryl

You will need: A turkey body in brown, Yellow duck with orange beak, Green snake, Cardinal bird, Owl, Two feathers each in yellow, orange,green and red

Tommy was all brown and didn't like the way he looked. He went for a walk and met a duck who was yellow and orange. The duck said, "Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, you're the funniest turkey I ever did see." Tommy said, "I want to be yellow and orange like you." So he put on yellow and orange feathers the duck gave him but he was still unhappy.

Then he met a snake who said, "Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, you're the funniest turkey I ever did see. Tommy said " I want to green like you." So he put on green feathers but he was still unhappy. Then he met a cardinal who said, "Ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, hee, you're the funniest turkey I ever did see." Tommy said, I want to be red like you. So he put on red feathers and he was still unhappy.

Then he met the wise old owl. Tommy said, "I don't like the way I look, Mr. Owl." Mr. Owl suggested that the children give him a bath and make all the colors run together. Well, he was the happiest and most beautiful turkey in the world and this is how the turkey got so many colors.

*****

Thanksgiving Flannel Board Story- Submitted by Cheryl

Use four pieces of felt, cut in the shape of a pie. One should be red (cherry pie), one should be orange (pumpkin pie), one should be blue (blueberry pie) and one should be brown (chocolate pie). You can also cut our a farmer, his wife a cat and a dog but they are not necessary.

SPLAT! It was Thanksgiving Day and Farmer Johnson asked his wife, "Wife, what kind of pie are we having with our Thanksgiving feast?" The wife said to her husband, "Husband, I do not know what kind of pie we're having with our Thanksgiving fest. The neighbors are each bringing a pie and I forgot to tell them what kind to bring."

Just then, they heard a knock at the door. "Rat-A-TatTat!! Rat-A-Tat-Tat!!", went the door When Farmer Johnson opened the door, Farmer Platt was standing there, holding a pie. He stepped through the door, tripped over the cat, his pie flew up and it went SPLAT!! right onto the floor.
(Put the orange piece of felt on the board and let the children guess what kind of pie it was.)

Just then they heard another knock at the door Rat-A-Tat-Tat!! Rat-A-Tat-Tat!! went the door. When Farmer Johnson opened the door, Farmer Matt was there holding a pie. He stepped through the door, tripped over the cat, his pie flew up high and it want SPLAT!! right onto the floor
(Put the brown piece of felt on the board and let the children guess what kind of pie it was.)

Just then, there was another knock at the door. Rat-A-Tat-Tat!! Rat-A-Tat-Tat!! went the door When Farmer Johnson opened the door, Farmer Flatt was standing there holding a pie. He stepped through the door, tripped over the cat, his pie flew up high and it went SPLAT!! right onto the floor.
(Put blue piece of felt on the board and let the children guess what kind of pie it was)

Just then, they heard another knock at the door. This time, Farmer Johnson got smart. He picked up the cat and through him out the back door. Then, he opened the front door. Farmer Blatt was standing there holding a delicious pie. He stepped through the door, tripped over the dog, his pie flew up high and it went SPLAT!! right onto the floor.
(Put the red piece of felt ont he board and let the children guess what kind of pie it was.)

OH well, said Farmer Johnson, "We'll just have to eat lots of mashed potatoes."

*****

Old Tom Turkey Feltboard Story- Submitted by Cheryl

Old Tom Turkey lived on a hill,
--gobble, gobble, gobble.
If he's not gone, he lives there still,
--gobble, gobble, gobble.
A duck came by and said hello,
--quack, quack, quack
--gobble, gobble, gobble.
Goodbye now, friend, it's time to go.
--quack, quack, quack
--gobble, gobble, gobble.

Feltboard figures:
Turkey, duck. Cut a hill from brown or green fabric and pin it to the feltboard.

Storytelling:
Add simple body motions for children to imitate--move your head from side to side while you are saying Gobble Gobble and flap your arms when you say Quack, quack.

*****

Thanksgiving- Submitted by Cheryl
by Judith Lindberg

T is for the Trust the Pilgrims had so many years ago.
H is for the Harvest the settlers learned to grow
A is for America, the land in which we live.
N is for Nature and beauty which she gives.
K is for Kindness, gentle words, thoughtful deeds
S is for Smiles, the sunshine everyone needs.
G is for Gratitude--our blessings great and small
I is for Ideas, letting wisdom grow tall.
V is for Voices, singing, laughing, always caring.
I is for Indians, who taught them about sharing.
N is for Neighbors, across the street, over the sea.
G is for Giving of myself to make a better me.

*****

Pilgrims- Submitted by Cheryl

The Pilgrims came to this new land because they wanted to be free--
free to worship God as they believed they should.

They came because they wanted to make laws that would be fair and good--
laws that would treat everyone the same.

That is why the Pilgrims came.

*****

A Thanksgiving Poem- Submitted by Cheryl
based on a poem written by Craig Sathoff

With each Thanksgiving dinner
There's a thought of yesterday
Of Indians helping Pilgrims
To get the feasting underway.

Of course, there's roast turkey
And baked sweet potatoes too,
Succotash from corn and beans
And cranberries sweetly stewed.

With each Thanksgiving dinner
Family and friends bow and pray,
Thankful for our America
Both now and yesterday

*****

Group Activities- Submitted by Sherry

Have the children take turns tossing a bean bag into a box decorated like a turkey.

Hold a treasure hunt using items related to Thanksgiving.

Explain how children long ago didn't have TV, so they played or danced. Have the children play musical freeze, the Hokey Pokey, etc.

*****

Mr. Turkey Flannelboard- Submitted by Sherry

Mr. Turkey was so sad.
He lost the feathers he once had.
Now he wants us to help him find
all the feathers of his kind.

We will look both high and low,
we will find them, don't you know.
Here's a red one and a blue.
Look, we've found a green one too.

Here's an orange one and a yellow
soon he'll be a feathered fellow.
Now we've found the purple one,
Black and white-we're almost done.

If we just look up and down,
I know we'll find the feather brown.
Now Mr. Turkey is so glad,
We found the feathers he once had.

(Make large turkey from brown felt, and feathers from coordinating colors; give each child a feather. Place the turkey on the board and let each child place a feather on Mr. Turkey).

*****

Thanksgiving Books- Submitted by Sherry

Over the River and Thru the Woods-Handmade adaptive book.

12 Days of Thanksgiving - Adaptive Big Book, teacher made color in book.

Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down-Adaptive Big Song Book, Handmade.

*****

Thanksgiving Books- Submitted by Lisa in VA

One, Two, Three Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa
Silly Tilly's Thanksgiving Dinner by Lillian Hoban
The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin by Stan and Jan Berenstain
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
Daisy's Crazy Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
'Twas the Night Before by Dav Pilkey
Thanksgiving at Our House by Wendy Watson

*****

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