November 27: Toddler Storytime: Thanksgiving and Turkeys

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The ones listed below are the ones they picked.)

Opening song:                                (Tune: The Farmer in the Dell")

             We tap hola like this

             We tap ho la like this

                 Hi-ho cherry

             We tap hola like this

               Continue with other verses:

                  We drop hola like this...

                   We circle hola like this...

                 We spin hola like this...

                We toss hola like this..

                 We roll hola like this....

                     We stomp hola like this...

Story: "Run Turkey Run!" by Diane Mayr

Shaker song:

(I found a clip art of a turkey without feathers. I enlarged it in Microsoft Word. As we sang each verse, children took turns adding a feather to the turkey.)) 

“Turkey Wore His Red Feather”
(Tune: “Mary Wore a Red Dress”)

Turkey wore his red feather, red feather, red feather.
Turkey wore his red feather, all day long!
Turkey wore his orange feather, orange feather, orange feather.
Turkey wore his orange feather, all day long.
Turkey wore his yellow feather, yellow feather, yellow feather.
Turkey wore his yellow feather, all day long.
Turkey wore his green feather, green feather, green feather.
Turkey wore his green feather, all day long.

Additional verses:
Turkey wore his blue feather…
Turkey wore his purple feather…
Turkey wore his white feather…
Turkey wore his pink feather…


Last verse:
Turkey wore his rainbow feathers, rainbow feathers, rainbow feathers. 
Turkey wore his rainbow feathers, all Thanksgiving long!Action Song:

“If You’re Thankful and You Know It”
(If You’re Happy 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, then your face will surely show it. If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet. If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet. If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you’re thankful and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!” If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!” If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you’re thankful and you know it, shout “I am!”

If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three. If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three. If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you’re thankful and you know it, do all three.

Dance with me around the room (The children and parents stand up and line up behind me. I use an oatmeal container as a drum.):
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, kick, kick
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, spin, spin
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, hop, hop
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, fly, fly
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, walk sideways, walk sideways
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, walk backwards, walk backwards
Hop all the way back to your spot.

     

Story: "Bear Says Thanks" by Karma Wilson

Shaker song:

“Albuquerque Turkey”(Tune: "My Darling Clementine")

Albuquerque is a turkey And he's feathered and he's fine.
He wobbles, and he gobbles And he's absolutely mine!

He's the best pet you can get yet Better than a dog or cat He's my Albuquerque turkey And I'm awfully proud of that!

And my Albuquerque turkey Is so happy in his bed 'Cause for our Thanksgiving Dinner We have spaghetti instead!


I asked each child if he/she would choose to have spaghetti or turkey for Thanksgiving. Most chose turkey.

Goodbye Song:

 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap adios like this

 We tap adios like this

Hi-ho cherry

  We tap adios like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop adios like this...

   We circle adios like this...

  We spin adios like this...

   We toss adios like this...

  We roll adios like this...

           We stomp adios like this...

Craft Time: Turkey Place Mats

    Materials:

• Paint in a variety of colors
• 11 by 17 inch white paper
• Feathers
• Markers
• Glue
• Brushes to paint hand

While making an example, I talked about what a turkey looks like. I described the snood and the wattle. I talked about what color each part of a turkey generally is, but I told the children they could make their turkey any color they wanted,

My example

*All photos are with parental permission.

Additional suggested stories we didn't pick today:

1. "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey" by Alison Jackson

2. "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie" by Lucille Colandro

3. "Turkey Trouble" by Wendi Silvano