Thanksgiving Fun: Lessons, Recipes, and a Couple Freebies!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner!  Here is what I will be teaching for the next couple of weeks!

First up, I sent home the parent letters, graphic organizer, and turkey outline for Gladys from Teaching in High Heels' Turkey in Disguise project.  This project is just too cute!  I can't wait to see what the kids bring back to school!

Next, we'll be working on some how-to and persuasive writing with Mrs. Wheeler's Thanksgiving Writing Pack!  There are seven different writing activities with multiple paper and font choices.  Everyone will be happy!

In reading, I'll be introducing some poems from Tanja from Journey of a Substitute Teacher's Gobble It Up Thanksgiving Poems.  She wrote them herself and they are so cute!  A perfect tie into what we are learning about being thankful, but also some history of the first Thanksgiving!

Also in reading, we'll also be reading some fun Thanksgiving stories and doing my Turkey Talk Graphic Organizers.  We did one last week and the kids loved it!  I plan to do the realistic/fantasy and the problem/solution ones this week!

In math, we will be doing some fun center work for the next couple of weeks.  I've already printed and laminated DeAnne from First Grade and Fabulous' Don't Get Cooked math fact game (a FREEBIE!).  The kids are going to love it!

Another math center we will be doing is practicing adding 3 addends with Sandra from Sweet Times in First's Stuffed Like a Turkey Thanksgiving Pack.  We've been working on double digit addition and subtraction over the past couple of weeks, but I still have some kiddos who need help with the 3 addends.  This game will be perfect for some guided center work!

I just prepped this awesome place value center from Fern Smith: Thanksgiving Place Value Race!  My kids definitely need some practice with place value since we've moved on to double digit addition and subtraction.  This game is great practice!

If you are looking for the mother load of 2nd grade math centers, Jen Ross from The Teacher's Cauldron is all over it!  Her Turkey Time Math Centers pack is Ah.Ma.Zing!  There are 8 different math centers for students to practice skills in a fun way!  I can't wait to start using it!  Just got to finish laminating!

I teach art to my son's first grade class on Fridays (his teacher does writing with my class).  I plan to do Michelle from Apples and ABC's fun Turkey Time Craftivity!  We'll read a book, make the adorable turkeys, and if time, do one of my graphic organizers.  I can't wait!  Those firsties are going to love this!

Next week, my class will be having our annual Thanksgiving Feast!  I'm sending home the parent letters this week asking for food donations and we'll be making Corn and Bean Stew in the classroom in my crock pot!  We will also be making turkey hats and fun placemats while the children wait for their food to be served.  This is a great way to pass the time for kiddos who have a hard time waiting their turn :)

Here are my kids and me modeling our hats!

If you have a parent volunteer or instructional aide, I would suggest mounting the placemats on construction paper ahead of time.  It's no fun coloring on wet glue! 

My son made me a wonderful sample of the writing project.  He is the most thankful for our new home and new friends here in Hawaii.  Love that boy!

And because I love you all so much, I'm sharing my mother-in-law's infamous Pumpkin Chiffon Pie recipe.  It is sooooo good!  I'd love to hear if you end up making it and what you think!  It is a staple on the Heinlein family Thanksgiving table!

Click the picture to open in Google Drive and grab for free!

And because you have all made it this far and read all about the fun I get to teach over the next two weeks, I uploaded this freebie for you on Google Drive: Fact and Fiction Turkey Talk Graphic Organizer!  I hope you enjoy!

I'm linking up to DeAnne from First Grade and Fabulous' Holiday Recipe Linky Party!

How do you plan to celebrate Thanksgiving in your classroom?  Will you be using any of the same lessons and activities as me? I'd love to hear all about it!