Thanksgiving Storytime!

The Plan

Books

1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

Extension Activities

Flannelboard: “Thanks A Lot”
Thanks a lot, thanks for Sun in the sky.
Thanks a lot, thanks for clouds so high.
Thanks a lot, thanks for whispering wind.
Thanks a lot, thanks for the birds in the spring.
Thanks a lot, thanks for the moonlit night.
Thanks a lot, thanks for the stars so bright.
Thanks a lot, thanks for the wondering me.
Thanks a lot, thanks for the way I feel.
Thanks for the animals, thanks for the land, thanks for the people everywhere.
Thanks a lot, thanks for all I’ve got. Thanks for all I’ve got.

Flannelboard: “Turkey Color Match”

Fingerplay: “Two Little Turkeys”
Two little turkeys sitting on a hill
One named Jack, the other named Jill
Run away Jack, run away Jill
Come back Jack, come back Jill
(cloud/quiet & loud, pole/fast & slow, sky/low & high)

Song: “If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re thankful and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
(stomp your feet, shout “hooray”, do all three)

How It Went

*Note: This is a way old storytime write-up from my last job that I kept meaning to schedule around November and never did before. I did this storytime in November 2013.

I read this at a district Family Reading Night. They specifically requested the theme “Thanksgiving”, but I tried to go more with food, family, and being thankful than the traditional holiday symbols/themes. The kids really enjoyed “I Know an Old Lady” and they had a great time with “Two Little Turkeys”! I think this went really well for an outreach event. I was on the stage and the kids were in the audience which was different, but wound up working all right.