Oh, my word! One thing that I love is celebrating Thanksgiving with my students. I love all of the turkey’s, fall colors, yummy food, and telling others what we are thankful for and let’s be honest, it is sooo much better than Halloween in my opinion!
For the last 6 years, I have done this Thankful Turkey activity with my class. I love this activity so much that I make sure that my whole team does it with me. I make 150 copies of feathers and information sheets each year for all of the 2nd graders at my school. Before sending the feather home, we brainstorm ideas of what we are thankful for as a class. Then we send home a turkey feather the day after Halloween and wait for the feathers to come back in and see what our students are thankful for.
Thankful-Turkey
Thankful-Turkey
I use either construction paper or Astrobright paper. It doesn’t matter the color or type of paper, because the feathers will be decorated and it will be mostly covered up.
Over the years, I have noticed that students are so excited that they go home and use their pencil and write what they are thankful for, but this year I have told my students this year that I want more creativity. I know, I know, not all of my students have access to crafting materials at home, but I know that a majority of my students have access to markers, crayons, or colored pencils, even if they have to complete their feather at school, that is perfectly fine.
After the feathers go home, it is time to hang up my giant TURKEY!
Thankful-Turkey
This year one of the kindies at my school called it a giant chicken…? I got a giggle out of that.
Now, you sit back and wait for the feathers to come in. I will start to add them to the turkey right away and then we watch it grow. You will need a LARGE wall space for your turkey.
Thankful-Turkey
After the first couple of feathers come in.
Thankful-Turkey
When all of the feathers are returned. Pro tip: have students put their names on the back of the feather when they first get their feather to send home. Have them also list your last name as well. It will help when you are returning the feathers back to 150 students.
