Thanksgiving
Day Activities & Crafts
History
of Thanksgiving
In
1621, after a tough and devastating first year in the New World
the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful.
There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was
packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They
found they had enough food to put away for the winter.
The
Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness,
they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long
coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors.
Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving
that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring
Native American Indians.
The
custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the
harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution
(late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by
the Continental Congress.
In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual
custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states
also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham
Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then
each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually
designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.
Popcorn
Relay Race
Age:
4 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Empty bowls, popcorn and small measuring
cups
Instructions: This is an activity for your
child and family during Thanksgiving. Set out bowls full of
popcorn at one end of the room and
empty bowls at another. Teams must transport the popcorn from
full bowl to empty, using a measuring cup. Caution: popcorn
is a choking hazard for children under four.
Thankerchief
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: Low
Material: Handkerchief
Instructions: Arrange the family in a circle
and pass around the "thankerchief" (handkerchief).
When every person receives it they recite this poem: Thankerchief,
thankerchief, around you go, Where you'll stop, nobody knows.
But when you do, someone must say what they are thankful for
this day. Then they have to say what they are thankful for.
The younger ones will need help with the poem but it is always
so cute to hear them say it.
Play
American Indian
Age: 5 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Colored paper, large paper bag, beads,
crayons, tape and scissors
Instructions: Younger children will need lots
of help with this activity. Measure your child’s head
and cut a 2” strip from a sheet of brown paper. This is
going to be your child’s head band. Make sure it is long
enough to fit well but not too tight. Next cut three or four
feather shapes from the colored paper. Fold the feathers in
half length wise. Tape the feathers to the middle of the headband.
Tape the ends of the headband together. (Folding the feathers
help the feathers stand straight up). Next make an Indian leather
vest from the brown paper bag. Cut up the middle of one side
of the paper bag and cut a hole in the bottom of the bag. Also
cut our holes on each side near the bottom of the back. Have
your child decorate the vest with the crayons. Have then put
on the head band and vest and play Indian.
Turkey
Feather Hop
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Colored paper and scissors
Instructions: Cut out large Turkey feather
shapes from colored paper. Place them on the floor and ask your
child hop from one feather to another.
Turkey
Hunt!
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Paper and scissors
Instructions: Cut out 6 pictures of a turkey.
Have your children leave the room except for you the leader
who hides the turkeys around the room. The hunter (children)
comes back in to begin the hunt. As each turkey is found, it
is brought back to the leader. When all the turkeys have been
caught, the hunter with the most turkeys is the winner and becomes
the leader for the next round.
Homemade
Indian Beads
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Noodle with holes in them (examples
are Penne, Macaroni, Wagon wheel pasta), paint and yarn
Instructions: Younger children will need help
painting the noodles. Have your child paint the noodles all
different colors. Once the noodles are dry have them make homemade
Indian bead necklaces and bracelets by stringing the yarn through
them.
Thanksgiving
Place mats
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Enough large sheets of paper for
all family members and crayons or paint.
Instructions: You can have your child make
a place mat for themselves or have them feel special and make
one for each family member. On each large sheet have your child
make a special Thanksgiving Picture. If their creations are
extra special have them laminated to last.
A
Turkey in Your Hand
Age: 4 and Up
Mess: High
Material: Paint and white paper
Instructions: Paint your child’s palm
and thumb (turkey’s neck) brown. Then paint each of their
fingers a different bright color such red or blue. Have your
child press their hand onto a piece of white paper. Draw on
feet and characteristics like eyes and a beak.
Teepees
Age: 3 and Up
Mess: Medium
Material: Brown paper, tape and crayons or
paint.
Instructions: Take the piece of paper and make
it into a cone shape. Tape the cone securely and have your child
decorate it. If they are going to use crayons to decorate the
teepee then have them decorate the flat sheet of paper before
it is rolled into shape.
