Thanksgiving

It used to be that we would do food books with Thanksgiving to help fill it out, but now I think we have enough, that we do it as a stand-alone theme.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy.  Yes, like the song and yes, I actually sing it - and try to get the kids to sing with me on the easy parts about Pilgrims, Indians and turkeys.  There are expositional parts talking about gathering, farming, and hunting all the food for the first Thanksgiving that I sing by myself.  I also talk a bit about the first Thanksgiving, in an effort to remind the kids that it's not just about trying to eat until you puke.

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano.  Turkey knows that he'll be served up for Thanksgiving dinner unless he comes up with a great disguise, so he tries dressing up like all the animals (each disguise worse than the last). Finally he comes up with the perfect one to save the day.  It can be a bit long, but if you ask the children questions and have them make the animal noises, it keeps them engaged.

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes. Yet another book I use to try to remind the kids that Thanksgiving isn't just about a ton of food.  I usually ask them what their thankful for - or what they're glad they have.  After they all answer toys, and maybe one or two other things, I read this to give them an idea of other things they're probably thankful for.

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey.  I love this book, but I've decided I just can't read it to my preschoolers anymore.  Not because of content - but because of the length and that I kinda have to lead them through the end of the book to understand what happened.  The children visit a turkey farm, make friends with the animals, and find out the turkeys are all going to die the next day.  So they hatch a plan to rescue them and take them home.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson. A great take on There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.  And yes - I sing this one too.  Though I stop and ask kids what the foods are she's about to eat and if they could do that and what they think will happen to her.  Of course all of them answer "She's gonna pop!" or "She's gonna explode".  She does neither, and unfortunately I sometimes have to explain the end of this one too.  Sometimes my children are too young to have really seen the Macy's parade and the giant balloons they use, so it's a bit lost on them.

I actually have a couple of songs I do for this theme too!  It's just a song-filled week!

Albuquerque the Turkey

(I have a turkey puppet I use and I just sing this by myself)

Albuquerque is a turkey, he is feathered and he's fine

He wobbles and he gobbles, and he's absolutely mine

He's the best pet that you can get, better than a dog or cat

He's my Albuquerque turkey, and I'm awfully proud of that

Albuquerque, the turkey, is so happy in his bed

'Cause for my Thanksgiving dinner I had scrambled eggs instead.

I'm Glad Thanksgiving Time is Here

(sung to the tune of This Land is Your Land, and I just have them repeat after me)

I love the turkey,

I love the stuffin, 

I love the gravy, 

I love corn muffins, 

I love my family,

gathered all together

I'm glad Thanksgiving time is here!