Lesson Topic: Fall Thanksgiving Turkey.
Grade Level: Kindergarten-November 13 and 18
Teacher of Lesson: Barrie Wexler
Approximate Time: 1-2 hours

Objectives:

1. Children will begin to discuss and understand what Thanksgiving is all about.
2. Students will raise their hand when they would like to share with the class or contribute.
3. Students will be able to use their fine/large motor skills to cut, draw glue and paint.
4. Students will demonstrate social skills and curiosity on our fall walk when they pick up nature objects and leaves and observe surroundings.
5. Children will develop own ideas as to what they are thankful for.

Materials:

1. Paint.
2. Glue.
3. Paper.
4. Plates.
5. Cardboard box circles.
6. Markers.
7. Scissors.
8. Paint brush.
9. Thirty 16x23 pieces of green Construction paper.
10. 30 copies of leaves, turkey, girl and boy Pilgrims.
11. Over the River and Through the Woods by Lydia Maria Child.

Procedure:

1. Discuss Thanksgiving - What does it mean to you? Why do we celebrate it?
2. Have room previously decorated. Ask children what they notice about the blackboard.
   
   Raise your hand if you have ever seen a cornucopia-Horn of Plenty before? Walk over to blackboard and point out what a cornucopia looks like. Talk about what foods are in a cornucopia- discuss things we are thankful for.
   
   What would you put in your cornucopia?
3. Explain how turkeys look different in color-shape, etc. Show pictures of types of turkeys around room.
   Point to the turkey's feathers-
   What do you notice about them? Colors, patterns, shapes.
4. Review Thanksgiving story.
   Mayflower introduction- Pilgrims
   -large ship, storage, journey to America
   
   Who can raise their hand and tell me why the Pilgrims left England? Where were they going? Did they take a car or plane? How did they get there?
   
   Was the Mayflower a little ship? Why not- Who remembers how long the Pilgrims had to stay on the Mayflower? 2 months and three days.
5. Read or sing the story Over the River and Through the Woods by Lydia Maria Child with excitement! Gain childrenís interest. While showing pictures, explain that colored pages are what is actually going on in the story at the time. The black and white pages are what is going to happen in the story. Ex. Hold up page 4-black and white. This shows grandma baking and getting ready for Thanksgiving.
6. Tell children they can sing the song along with you while you show pictures but they need to stay with you. Sing slowly so they can join in and participate.
7. Who can raise their hand and tell me what the Pilgrims and Indians did to celebrate their new friendship?
8. Explain directions for fall turkeys.
   1. We are going to make turkey decorations to hang around our room and we will be painting and drawing.
   2. Remind students of appropriate behavior during art activities.
   3. I will call you over to the art table to paint and when I see you are working hard at your tables and listening to directions.
   4. You are going to color in the leaves and cut them out so you can glue them around your turkey when you are finished.
   5. Explain to the children that they need to color in their turkey and use different colors to make their feathers.
      Remind children of patterns and shapes. Do not have children cut out turkey by themselves. When the class is finished have them sit on the rug and the teacher will demonstrate what lines need to be cut. Children will see that they have to be careful with the scissors and keep their turkeys shape or it might lose a head or foot.
9. While the students are coloring, I will be walking around asking them what they are thankful for.
10. Tell students I am looking for girls and boys who are sitting quietly with their hands in their lap to begin activities.
    Call four names to come to art center with me and begin painting.

Evaluation:

1. Walk around room and observe childrenís progress. Are they on task?
2. Make sure each child is demonstrating fine and large motor skill abilities while drawing, painting, cutting and gluing.
3. Did the students participate and contribute during storytime. Were they able to understand basic Thanksgiving story and associate previous knowledge with Thanksgiving.
4. Did the students listen, follow directions and demonstrate appropriate classroom behavior.