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Here are some ideas that I have
created or "tweaked" from the ideas others have shared.
There are lots of things out there to do in correspondence to
Thanksgiving.
Writing a Pilgrims and
Jamestown Readers Theater
Family Feast
Other
Thanksgiving Readers Theaters
Scarecrow Glyph
 Persuasive Turkey
Writing
Thanksgiving Books
Writing a Pilgrims and
Jamestown Readers Theater
Part of the curriculum that we teach in
fourth grade is the Pilgrims and the Jamestown settlers. After
this concept has been introduce and students have had some exposure
to this time in history, we write a readers theater.
First thing I do is look at the standards
at what students should know about these settlers. Then as a
whole class we brainstorm what we would like to learn about AND
teach other people about. Last year we brainstormed the trip
on the Mayflower, Life in Plymouth, Mayflower Compact and so on.
Since I team teach, one class writes readers theaters about Pilgrims
and the other class writes about Jamestown.
I then break the class into small groups
of four and five. I break the groups up and create
heterogeneous ability groups This way students can support
each other. Then students discuss what topic they would like
to write about. I draw names and then the groups choose what
topic they would like to write about. For the first two days,
students simply read about their topic and take notes and
discuss what they have learned. Then on the third day,
students choose one person to be the scribe. I model how to
write a reader theater. By this time in the year, we have
already performed two- three scripts so they are familiar with the
format. I give the students about two days to write the script
(45 minutes each session). While they are collaborating, I
walk around and help students go in the right direction and help
resolve any issues.
I take the scripts home and type up
their readers theater. I do this for a few reasons. I
can do some small editing/ revisions if the scripts don't make
sense. Also, it is easy to make copies and for students to
read.
On the fifth day students practice and
rehearse. This includes the order we perform and who
introduces each play and how students introduce themselves.
Then the next day is show time at the family feast.
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Family Feast
My team teaching partner and I send a
note home a few weeks before Thanksgiving. We invite parents
to send in a traditional or favorite family recipe to our
Thanksgiving Feast. We also ask them to attend to watch
their children perform readers theaters they have written about the
Pilgrims and Jamestown.
Click here to see a copy of the letter we
send home.
This has become somewhat of a tradition
that students look forward to in our class. Every year I worry that
there will not be enough food or parents and every year I am
shocked. Now keep in mind we do this with both homerooms and
their families together in the same classroom and celebrate
together. It is standing room only, crazy full. Parent and the
kids love it.
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Other Thanksgiving
Readers Theaters
Thanksgiving Readers Theater from Education World
ABC's for the First Thanksgiving Readers Theater by Marci McGowan
(suitable for lower grades)
Turkey Trotten Readers Theater
Thanksgiving
at the Tappletons (without the religious overtones)
Turk
and Runt
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Scarecrow Glyph
I am just entering the world of teaching
math and lower grades (since I taught fourth grade language arts for
so long!). I found this
scarecrow
glyph and decided to "pretty it up " for my second
graders. Click here to see my
printable
version. They will create the glyph as part of one of
their math stations. After everyone has created their glyph
and we have hung them in the hall, I will send students out to read
the glyphs
using this sheet. As soon as I create my sample (this
week), I will post it!
Persuasive Turkey
Writing
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All graphics are from
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