What are your children thankful for?

My favorite Thanksgiving activity is going around the room and talking about what each person is thankful for. The younger kids usually enjoy it as well but have a harder time coming up with things to say so I came up with a more kid-friendly activity.

First, we read a book about thankfulness such as: Thanks for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks, or Thank You, World. While we are reading, we discuss if they also like or are thankful for the situations illustrated in the story.

Next, we each create a turkey out of construction paper and write, draw, or paste a picture on his feathers that show what we are each thankful for. You can do as many or as few feathers as you like. This project is very easy and a lot of fun.

When it's all finished, have the kids share their turkeys with the adults. It usually inspires a wonderful conversation that truly captures the spirit of Thanksgiving.

How to make a Grateful Gobbler:

You will need:
-approximately 3 different pieces of construction paper (depending on how colorful you want your turkey)
-crayons or markers
-glue (liquid or stick)
-magazines to cut out pictures (optional)
-photographs to cut (optional)


Directions:
-Cut out 1 pear shape approximately 5 inches in height for the turkey body
-Cut out 5 feathers approximately 5 inches long
-Glue the feathers to the back of the pear shape
-Glue the turkey onto a full sheet of construction paper
-After everything is glued down, make a face on the turkey
-Help your child draw or write about what they are thankful for.
-An optional idea would be to cut out photos or pictures from magazines
to show what they are thankful.

What your child is learning:
-Fine Motor Skills - strengthening of the small muscles in their hand
-Creative Expression
-Colors
-How to follow directions
-Family / Holiday Tradition
-Thankfulness

Here is a sample of what your child's turkey may look like: