VPK Curriculum Enhancement Activities Circle Time Activities Theme: Thanksgiving 1. Five Little Turkeys: Materials: Chart paper & markers. Before you begin this activity; write the poem on chart paper, leaving room for turkey cutouts attached with Velcro. Encourage the students to use their fingers as “turkeys”. Emphasize and define the word in bold type. Hint: This is a great poem to copy and send home for parents to enjoy with their children. Five Little Turkeys 5 little turkeys standing beside the door, One waddled off, and then there were 4. 4 little turkeys frolicking under a tree, One waddled off, and then there were 3. 3 little turkeys bored with nothing to do, One waddled off, and then there were 2. 2 little turkeys basking in the noon day sun, One waddled off, and then there was 1. One little turkey, better run away For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day! 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: II.A.1 Shows curiosity and is eager to learn new things and have new experiences III.B.b.1 Interacts with and develops positive relationship with peers IV.A.1 Increases knowledge through listening IV.C.2 Shows increased vocabulary to describe many objects, actions, and events IV.F.1 Shows motivation for reading 1 2. Graph Favorite Thanksgiving Food: Materials: poster board or chart paper, pictures of seasonal food (turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, etc.), markers. Before you begin this activity: create graph based on seasonal food Directions: 1. Ask each child what their favorite seasonal food is and record each student’s response. Be sure to include a category for “other” so that all students may choose their true favorite. 2. Once the graph is complete discuss the results. Variation: 1. Provide each child with a strip of paper and ask them to write their name (you may need to assist them). 2. Allow the students to place their name strips under their favorite food. 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: I.A.1 Shows characteristics of good health to facilitate learning II.D.1 Shows initial signs of planning and learning from their experiences IV.C.1 Shows an understanding of words and their meanings IV.D.1 Uses age-appropriate grammar in conversations and increasingly complex phrases and sentences IV.G.1 Shows motivation to engage in written expression V.A.f.3 Represents and analyzes data 3. Let’s Be Thankful: Materials: Chart Paper and markers. Directions: 1. Begin by singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and explain that you are going to change the words to make a Thanksgiving song. 2. Write the song on chart paper and illustrate using drawings or magazine pictures. 2 3. Ask students about things for which they are thankful (maybe even make a class list). Let’s Be Thankful (Sung to: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) Let’s be thankful for this day For our friends and our play Let’s be thankful; let’s be glad For our food and the things we have Let’s give thanks for you and me And our home and family. 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: I.A.3 Demonstrates auditory ability to facilitate learning and healthy growth and development II.A.1 Shows curiosity and is eager to learn new things and have new experiences II.C.1 Approaches daily activities with creativity III.B.b.1 Interacts with and develops positive relationship with peers IV.B.1 Speech is understood by both a familiar and an unfamiliar peer or adult 4. All the Little Turkeys: Materials: Chart paper, markers. Before you begin this activity; Copy poem onto chart paper and illustrate. Directions: 1. Introduce the poem to the class by reading through one time before asking them to join in. Demonstrate actions and movements to accompany words. 2. Ask students what they notice about the words tree and Me and gobble and wobble (they rhyme). 3. Give examples of other words that rhyme with these words (remember…nonsense words count!). 4. Ask students why they think the turkeys might be hiding in the tree (accept all answers). 3 5. Ask for ideas about other places turkeys might hide (accept all answers). All the Little Turkeys (Sung to: Shortin’ Bread) See all the turkeys up in the tree, All the little turkeys try to hide from me. All the little turkeys go gobble, gobble, All the little turkeys go just like this All the little turkeys go wobble, wobble, All the little turkeys go just like this. 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: I.C.1 Demonstrates increasing motor control and balance III.B.b.1 Interacts with and develops positive relationship with peers IV.A.1 Increases knowledge through listening IV.B.1 Speech is understood by both a familiar and an unfamiliar peer or adult IV.E.3 Uses appropriate language and style for context IV.F.2 Shows age-appropriate phonological awareness IV.F.4 Demonstrates comprehension of text read aloud V.D.b.1 Explores music 5. Thanksgiving Story: Materials: Book about Thanksgiving (The First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story-Laura Krauss Melmed, The Story of Thanksgiving-Nancy J. Skarmeas, Thanksgiving, What Makes it Special-Harold Myra, P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet-Carol Crane). Directions: 1. Read a story and discuss elements of the first Thanksgiving. Be sure to include words like feast, Native Americans, Pilgrims, ship, cooperation, etc. 2. Introduce the poem, Five Pilgrims by reciting it and explaining the motions. 3. Ask students to join in and repeat 2-3 times. 4 Five Little Pilgrims Five Pilgrims fish in the morn (act like casting and reeling in fish) Five Native Americans help them plant corn (bend down and plant corn) The Native Americans bring the corn (hold up one hand) The Pilgrims bring the meat (Hold up the hand) Ten new friends sit down to eat (eat hands together) 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: III.B.b.1 Interacts with and develops positive relationship with peers IV.A.1 Increases knowledge through listening V.A.a.1 Demonstrates understanding of one-to-one correspondence V.A.a.2 Shows understanding of how to count and construct sets V.A.a.3 Shows understanding by participating in the comparison of quantities V.C.a.1 Begins to recognize and appreciate similarities and differences in people V.D.d.1 Explores dramatic play and theatre VPK Curriculum Enhancement Activities Art Theme: Thanksgiving 1. Turkey Feather Painting: Materials: Feathers, tempra paint, paper and paper plates. Directions: 1. Provide different colors of paint on paper plates with feathers. 2. Encourage children to dip the feathers into the paint and the use them as paintbrushes on their paper. 3. Enhance children’s language skills by asking them question and adding language to what they are doing. For example: “You are making broad stokes.” “Wow, it sure looks different than when you paint with a brush. Can you tell a difference? What is the difference?” 5 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: I.D.3 Shows beginning control of writing by using various drawing and art tools with increasing coordination II.A.1 Shows curiosity and is eager to learn new things and have new experiences II.C.1 Approaches task with flexibility and inventiveness III.A.b.2 Begins to use materials with increasing care and safety IV.C.2 Shows increased vocabulary to describe many objects, actions, and events V.D.a.1 Explores visual arts 2. Indian Corn Painting: Materials: Indian Corn (can be found at grocery store), tempra paint, paper plate, box lid, paper, thick paper. Directions: 1. Place paper plate into box lid. Provide different colors of paint on plate plates with corn cob. 2. Discuss how Indian corn differs from the corn children are accustom to seeing/eating. 3. Encourage your children to dip the cobs into the paint and then roll around on the paper. The corn will make an interesting design. Have children work in pairs or small groups to encourage social interaction and enhance language skills. 4. Also, have children do some comparing and contrasting of their paintings. 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: I.D.1 Demonstrates increasing control of small motor muscles to perform simple tasks III.B.b.1 Interacts with and develops positive relationship with peer III.B.b.2 Develops special friendships V.B.a.2 Examines objects and makes comparisons V.D.a.1 Explores visual arts 6 3. Rubber Glove Turkey: Materials: Clear rubber gloves, tissue paper cut or torn and rolled into small balls (red, orange, green…), popcorn. Before project begins have children tear/cut tissue paper and roll into small balls, separating by color. (This could be a small group activity earlier in the week) Directions: 1. Have children create a turkey by stuffing the four fingers of the rubber glove with colored tissue paper. 2. Have children use red tissue paper to stuff the thumb, explaining to children that this is the turkey’s waddle. 3. Encourage children to count the turkey’s feathers. 4. Have children fill the palm of the glove with popcorn. 5. Tie off the glove at the bottom for a cute, colorful turkey. Be available to facilitate this project with rich language and encouragement if children encounter difficulties. 4 Year Old Standards Addressed: I.A.2 Shows visual abilities to facilitate learning and healthy growth and development I.D.2 Uses eye-hand coordination to perform fine motor tasks II.B.1 Attends to tasks for a brief period and seeks help when needed IV.C.1 Shows an understanding of words and their meanings V.A.a.1 Demonstrates understanding of one to one correspondence V.A.e.1 Shows understanding of spatial relationships and uses position words (e.g., above, below, next to, beside, on top of, inside, outside) 4.