Learning Objectives

• The students will identify the letter T
• The students make and recognize the T sound
• The students will learn to trace and write upper and lower case Ts
• The students will identify objects that begin with the letter T
• The students will learn that T is for Thanksgiving
• The students will participate in Thanksgiving dramatic play
• The students will participate in Hot Turkey

Handwriting and Phonetics

Create a letter T poster board which shows both the upper and lower case T. On this poster board, glue pictures of objects cut from magazines or draw objects that begin with the letter T. Display this poster board up for the duration of the Letter T unit.

Introduce the children to the letter T, discuss the poster board, and talk about objects begin with the letter T. Demonstrate the T sound and also ask the children to make (repeat) the T sound. Ask students what things they can think of (objects, names, etc.) that begin with the letter T. Emphasize that T is for thanksgiving and discuss the meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday.

Have children practice tracing the letter T in both upper and lower case, using a letter T worksheet. A good example of a letter T worksheet can be found on First-School’s website.  Provide pencils or crayon and blank sheets of lined or unlined paper. Then, let students practice making the letter T in both upper and lower case.

Circle Time: Scavenger Hunt and Object Sorting

Make a scavenger hunt list with pictures of items what begin with the letter T. Hide the items within the classroom, then go over the list with the children, explaining that all of the items that begin with the letter T. Let the children search for the items. The scavenger hunt is over when all of the items have been found.

Object sorting is great cognitive learning activity which will help children identify objects that begin with the letter T. For this cognitive learning activity, place toy or real objects which begin with the letter T in a cardboard box or other large container. Along with these items, place objects beginning with other letters of the alphabet. As each object is revealed, children will sort those objects that begin with the letter T from those that do not.

Examples of objects that begin with the letter T: Tiger, teabag, tractor, toothbrush, towel, twig, toast, tooth, tent, telephone, turtle, treasure chest, turkey, tomato, toothpaste, toad, t-shirt, and tuna.

Thanksgiving Feast: Directed and Undirected Play

In the pretend play area, set up a Thanksgiving scene. Stress that that T is for Thanksgiving, turkey, tomahawk, table, and thankful. Provide Pilgrim and Native American costumes. Also provide a table, paper or plastic plates, eating utensils, and plastic food. Discuss things to be thankful for. Prompt the children to talk about all of the delicious food they would eat at a Thanksgiving feast.

T is for Turkey: Hot Turkey Game: This game is a version of the classic “Hot Potato” game. Have the kids sit in a circle and pass a mini plastic turkey around while the music is playing. Once the music stops, the person holding the turkey is eliminated from the game but gets a small prize.

These simple activities will greatly enhance language learning for children in your daycare center.  Have fun with the child care job of lesson planning. Be creative in seizing moments of opportunity to teach.

Related posts:

• Christmas: Teaching Preschoolers the Letter C; Alphabet Recognition Activities Preschoolers and young children in child care centers can successfully...
• Teaching Preschoolers the Letter S: Alphabet Recognition Activities Preschool teachers and daycare providers can help children learn to...
• Teaching Preschoolers the Letter D: Alphabet Recognition Activities Preschool teachers and daycare providers can help children learn to...

Celebrate Thanksgiving in your daycare center by reading age appropriate stories that focus on the symbols of Thanksgiving and by implementing Thanksgiving themed activities.

Consider the following reading lists and resources for free Thanksgiving worksheets, coloring pages, and handwriting practice sheets for your child care center:

Reading List

Thanksgiving Board and Picture Books Baby-Age 3

Happy Thanksgiving, Emily by Claire Mauserel and Susan Calitri [Puffin, 2004]

Turkeys Never Gobble by Joan Holub and Jennifer Beck Harris [HarperFestival, 2002]

Happy Thanksgiving (Wee Board Book) by Wendy Cheyette Lewison [Grosset & Dunlap, 1993]

My First Thanksgiving Tomie dePaola [Grosset & Dunlap, 2008]

Turkey Time! by Kelly Asbury [Price Stern Sloan, 2000]

Corduroy’s Thanksgiving by Lisa McCue [Viking Juvenile, 2006]

Spot’s Thanksgiving by Eric Hill [Putnam Juvenile, 2003]

Hello Kitty: A Day of Thanks by Higashi Glaser [Abraham Brooks for Very Young Readers, 2005]

This is the Turkey by Abby Levine and Paige Billin-Frye [Albert Whitman & Company, 2000]

Thanksgiving Parade by Jodi Heulin and Kelly Asbury [Price Stern Sloan, 2000]

Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon [Price Stern Sloan, 2005]

Thanksgiving Early Readers Ages 4-8

Turkey Trouble by Wendy Silvano and Lee Harper [Marshall Cavendish, 2009]

1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa and Robin Kramer [Albert Whitman, 1991]

Albert’s Thanksgiving by Leslie Tryon [Aladdin, 1998]

Gus, the Pilgrim Turkey by Teresa Bateman and Ellen Sasaski [Albert Whitman, 2008]

One is a Feast for a Mouse: a Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox and Jeffery Ebbeler [Holiday, 2008]

Run, Turkey, Run! By Diane Mayr and Laura Raider [Walker, 2007]

Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim [Clarion, 2003]

The Night before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing and Tammie Lyon [Grosset & Dunlap, 2001]

Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland and Sonja Lamut [Grosset & Dunlap, 2000]

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston and Richard F. Deas [Cartwheel, 2004]

Thanksgiving Parade Surprise by Cecile Schoberle and Kristina Stephenson [Little Simon, 2000]

Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern and Elroy Freem [Scholastic Paperbacks, 2003]

The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli and JoAnn Adinolfi [Square Fish, 2007]

The Story of the Pilgrims by H.L. Ross [Random House for Young Readers, 1995]

Free Thanksgiving Preschool Worksheets and Printables

There are many worksheets for fall that you can print out and use for your lesson plans and activities. Worksheets should include coloring pages like those on ABCTeach’s website, handwriting worksheets, and printable craft patterns.

The following websites provide free Thanksgiving printables:

ABCTEach: Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

First-Preschool: Free Printables for Thanksgiving

DLTK: Thanksgiving printables for preschoolers and worksheets for school aged children

Christian Preschool Printables: Thanksgiving Bible Crafts for Preschoolers

KidZone: Thanksgiving Math Activity Worksheets

Related posts:

• St Patrick’s Day Reading and Resource List: Free St. Patrick’s Day Activity Printables St Patrick’s Day is a holiday during which many parts...
• Valentine’s Day Preschool Reading and Resource List: Free Valentine’s Day Activity Printables Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated on...
• Thanksgiving Theme Lesson Plan for Preschoolers Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the 4th...

Daycare providers can create a Thanksgiving lesson plan filled with fun, educational activities.  First provide children with a brief summary of the meaning of Thanksgiving.  It is appropriate to discuss the story of Thanksgiving and the spirit of thankfulness, along with the symbols associated with Thanksgiving with the children in your licensed home daycare.  The traditional Thanksgiving symbols include turkeys, pilgrims, Indian corn, autumn leaves, and cornucopia. Your Thanksgiving lesson plan should include activities in a variety of areas of development.

Thanksgiving Craft for Preschoolers

Salad Spinner Turkeys
Materials:
Paper plates
Salad spinner
Brown Water based paint
Yellow water based paint
Orange water based paint
Light brown construction paper
Pipe cleaners in orange yellow and red

Instructions:
Place a paper plate inside of the salad spinner. Drop teaspoons of different colored paint inside the salad spinner. Replace the salad spinner lid and turn the handle of the spinner to create a pattern on the paper plate. Let the paper plate dry completely.  This will be the turkey’s “feathers”. Cut out the body of a turkey from brown construction paper. Using pipe cleaners, create a beak, waddle, and legs for the turkey. Attach the turkey’s body to the paper plate.

Thanksgiving Cognitive Activity for Preschoolers

Thanksgiving Matching Game
Cut out pairs of items from felt that symbolize Thanksgiving. This can be turkeys, corn, pilgrims, fruits and vegetables (harvest), pumpkins, ducks, autumn leaves or anything that represents Thanksgiving.   Place them randomly on a felt board, and then let children match the pairs of Thanksgiving items on the felt board.

Thanksgiving Circle Time Activity

Old Tom Turkey Flannel Board Activity*
Materials: Flannel board, Felt turkey, felt duck, felt hill

Flannel Board Story:

“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”.

Thanksgiving Cooking Activity for Preschoolers

Turkey Pin Wheels
Ingredients:
Whole wheat tortillas
Cream cheese
Turkey slices
Cucumber
Shredded carrots

Let the children spread whole wheat tortilla with cream cheese and add turkey slices, shredded carrots, and cucumber. Next, roll the tortilla using stick toothpicks to hold the roll in place if necessary. Using a knife, cut the roll into 1-inch slices.  Arrange on a platter and serve.

*Old Tom Turkey Flannel Board story Adapted from Providers N Friends

Related posts:

• Thanksgiving Preschool Reading and Resource List: Free Thanksgiving Printables Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth...
• Thanksgiving: Teaching Preschoolers the Letter T, Alphabet Recognition Activities Preschoolers and young children in child care centers can successfully...
• Teaching Preschoolers the Letter V: Alphabet Recognition Activities Preschool teachers and daycare providers can help children learn to...