Talk TURKEY to me!

Aright people it's time to talk TURKEY!  With Thanksgiving next week it is the perfect time to bring out the turkey activities and have fun teaching all about these quirky animals.  To get started I always like to see what my kiddos know by asking them "what do you know about turkeys?" and charting their responses on a schema chart.  This is an example of the chart I'd make.  You could draw it out on chart  paper and fill it in with sticky notes or use it with a projector.  I made it in color and black and white. Grab it FREE by clicking the image below.

Clipart by Krista Wallden of Creative Clips and Border by Sandra Macadamias

After charting our schema we'd then read a variety of nonfiction turkey books throughout the week.  We'd add our new learning to the chart and discuss any misconceptions.  Here are my favorite nonfiction choices.

Turkeys on the Farm by  Mari C. Schuh

Turkeys by Aaron Carr

All About Turkeys by Jim Arnosky

Turkeys by Hollie Andres

Next I'd have students complete a labeling activity like the turkey one included in United Teaching's Label It set. Check it out by clicking on the cover image below... IT'S FREE!

Lastly, I'm a HUGE fan of tree maps, so for writing I'd pull out my turkey tree map activity set.  We'd get to work filling out what turkeys can-have-are as a class and then students would write their own sentences and complete the turkey craft to attach their writing to. 

The craft can also be used as an add on to make a silly turkey hat!

Do you tie in teaching about turkeys when talking about Thanksgiving?  What kind of activities do you do?

S is for...

It has been an amazing week filled of Thanks!  Today is the final day to link up with Blog Hoppin's Week of T-H-A-N-K-S and I have to say that it's a little sad.  This little linky has been a great reminder to stop and really think of all the things I am grateful for.  Big and Small, I have so much to be thankful for this year and every year.  So with that here's the last day!

I wouldn't be who or where I am today without my amazing support system.  Sometimes I like to believe that I can do it all on my own, but really without the help and support of friends and family it'd be near impossible.  When things just aren't great or maybe not going well it is nice to know that I  have so many people to turn to and help me through.  When I've accomplished something great and want to share, I always know who I'm going to call first.  If I'm stressed out or in over my head, a phone call, visit, or even text message to family or friends can help make things alright.  I've never felt alone because I have so many who are there for me and for that I am so thankful.  I couldn't imagine my life without these people and am blessed to call them my friends and family.

K is for...

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!  My husband and I were lucky enough to spend the day and enjoy a great meal with our friends here.  It's day 5 of Blog Hoppin's Week of Thanks and today...

One day I will have kids of my own and know they would be included in this post, but today I am thankful for my "kids"  and I of course am referring to the students I have taught.  I think all teachers refer to their students as their "kids"and this is because these kids don't just come into our lives and leave, but rather become a part of who we are.  Each year a new set of kids walks in our classroom doors, we spend 8 hours a day for about 190 days with them.  We laugh, we learn, we play, we grow, we support, and WE TEACH this group of kids.  We do everything we can to help these students succeed and will continue to each day after.  I am thankful to have the opportunity to work with kids each day and to enjoy the journey.

N is for...

So it's day 4 of Blog Hoppin's Week of T-H-A-N-K-S!

I am thankful for nature's many gifts.  From providing us with all we need to survive, to the joy we get out of exploring its beauty.   I love walking along the coastline, listening to raindrops hit the ground, hiking through forests and fields, and discovering natural wonders for the first time.  Nature has an amazing power to provide in many ways and for that I am thankful. 

Ibiza, Spain 

Bristol, England

White Cliffs of Dover

Cinque Terre, Italy

Voss, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Interlaken, Switzerland

A is for...

Hey All!  It's day 3 of T-H-A-N-K-S!

I couldn't imagine my life without my husband Andrew.  We have been married for over 3 years and each day I feel so lucky to wake up next to him.  He is my laughing partner, shoulder to cry on, silly companion, number one fan, and the man I love!  

Back in the Day!

I said YES!

Wedding Day

Today :)

Click below to hop on over to Blog Hoppin' to read more.

H is for...

A Week of Giving Thanks...

Today I am thankful for my home.  If you follow along you know that my husband and I were given the awesome opportunity to move to England for 3 years.  Not only do we have an amazing home here, but we have also been able to travel like crazy because we live here.  This has been UNREAL!  Plus, after 3 years we easily get to move back to our forever home...California. (I know! We've been here a year and a half and sometimes I still don't believe it!)  Sure, we miss family and friends but we both know that this opportunity is once in a lifetime and boy are we making memories to prove it.  I am so thankful!

Want to know what everyone else is thankful for?  Head over to Blog Hoppin' to check out the linky.

T is for....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Week of Thanksgiving!  This week I'll be linking up with Blog Hoppin'  for a Week of Giving Thanks.  I have so much to be thankful for, big and small, so today for "T" I'm thankful for Target, Teaching, and Thanksgiving!

Target:  I am thankful for Target!  I know that seems crazy, but honestly I love target.   The dollar spot finds, great prices, and the fantastic selection of products.  It is my one stop shop and I can't wait to reunite with this store in less than a month!

Teaching: I am thankful for teaching AND teachers.  I come from a family of teachers.   I have had some fantastic teachers in my life.  And I love teaching.  I am so grateful for this profession and all it has provided me.  Also, this year I have really missed being in the classroom, but I am so thankful for the many teachers I've met through blogging and TpT.  

Thanksgiving:  I am Thankful for Thanksgiving.  Every year my family gets together for Thanksgiving dinner.  We talk, laugh, give thanks, and of course enjoy a great feast!  It is always a day full of family and great memories.

Be sure to link up and join in!

Book Talk Tuesday.. Thanksgiving is Here!

Hi All!  I hope that your week is off to a fantastic start.  Just a quick post to link up with Mrs. Jump's Class for Book Talk Tuesday.  For some reason I left this Thanksgiving favorite off my previous holiday shares... so here ya go.  

Click HERE to see it on Amazon :)

This story by Diane Goode is all about a family who is gathered for the Thanksgiving holiday at grandma's house.  As relatives arrive everyone pitches in to help with the dinner preparations.  They peel potatoes, move furniture, and set the table.  Finally everyone has arrived and it is time to sit down for their Thanksgiving feast.  Yum!   The detailed pictures are full of surprises and the fun sounds encourage your little ones to join in.  This story perfectly captures a family holiday from beginning to end and is sure to get your kiddos talking about their own family Thanksgiving. 

Be sure to check out other great books by heading over to Mrs. Jump's Class!

Thanksgiving Fun!

Have you checked your blog feed lately?!   If you have I'm sure you have seen post after post about wonderful Thanksgiving Classroom Happenings.  Well, I don't want to disappoint you so I thought I'd share some of my activities, favorite stories, TpT Finds, and other awesome blog posts that you should definitely check out.  

To get started I'd like to share a few activities I made that I'd definitely be doing with my kiddos this week.  

We'd start off the week with a story about The First Thanksgiving.  Then as follow up we'd make and start to fill out this flip book.  I wouldn't do this all on one day.  The pages of this book would get filled out over the course of the week as we re-read, re-tell, and act out The First Thanksgiving Story. 

We would also spend some time talking about the Mayflower.  Scholastic has a great interactive text that allows for students to "take the journey" on the Mayflower.  Check it out HERE.   We'd discuss what we learned about the Mayflower and then create this craft listing 3 facts we learned.

For fun we'd make this silly turkey hat!  It'd be the perfect follow up to a turkey read aloud or even a turkey poem.

Our centers for the week would all be Thanksgiving Themed.  This is a picture of a Thanksgiving themed Write-The-Room center, the directions for a Thanksgiving measurement center, and a word family cut and paste activity.

We'd also compare and contrast pilgrim children and children today.  I'd do this on a large class diagram and then have students fill in their own recording sheet.  

I love these Native American and Pilgrim Writing Displays.  I'd let students choose which one they wanted to make and then display their "I'm thankful for" writing on them.

Lastly, we'd prepare for our Thanksgiving Day Feast.  One thing we'd do in preparation is make a placemat by weaving construction paper.  I'd laminate and cut out these mats so that they'd be ready for our feast.  

I LOVE teaching about Thanksgiving and really think it should be a FUN learning experience for the kiddos.  If you're still looking for more ideas why not check out the resources below.  Have a great week!

Books

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross

The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene

Pilgrims of Plymouth by Susan E. Goodman

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

TpT Finds

My Thanksgiving Unit

Doodle Bugs Teaching: Native American Directed Drawing (FREE)

Wendy Boyd's: Thanksgiving Costume Patterns & More!

BB Kidz: Thanksgiving Emergent Reader

Krista Wallden's: Gobble Gobble! Clip Art

Fabulous Blog Posts by Fellow Bloggers:

"Together We Are Better" from Kindergarten Crayons

Pilgrim Class Project by Kelley From Teacher Idea Factory

"Thanksgiving Fun in Kindergarten" by Sharing Kindergarten

Fun Thanksgiving Stories & Freebies by Live, Love, Laugh...Everyday in Kindergarten

Pilgrims & Native Americans by Little Miss Glamour Goes to Kindergarten