A Thanksgiving Beast Feast

This is a glimpse of one of our activities last year.  For reading, Alissa was reading the book A Thanksgiving Beast Feast.  I checked it out from our library, but it can be purchased online.   (http://www.amazon.com/Thanksgiving-Beast-Feast-Karen-Ruelle/dp/0439221986/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351543750&sr=1-8&keywords=beast+feast)

After reading the book, we made our own beast feast.  We gathered these materials: 

pine cones, peanuts, trail mix, peanut butter, a spoon, and string.

To make the feast, cover the pine cones with peanut butter, and press the other food items into the peanut butter covered pine cones. 

We then placed the pine cones in two different areas in the yard:

 

hanging from the bird feeder stake, and

in a tree.

 

We then turned it into an experiment to see which "feast" would be eaten first.  She wrote out how she made it, and which one she thought would be eaten first.  She later went back and wrote which one was eaten first.  It was the one in the tree.  ;)  Looking at this picture, I see it would also make a great writing project.  Poor Alissa's pen pal is starting to get a lot of writing projects.  :)

 

 

I have many Thanksgiving related children's books, but the following is a list of children's books I like to use for my Thanksgiving season lessons and activities:

 

Squanto:  Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla

 

...If You Lived With the Iroquois by Ellen Levine

 

...If You Lived With the Cherokee  by Peter and Connie Roop

    There are other "...If You Lived With...:" books, but these are the only two I own.  I actually will cover many different Indian groups this year.

 

Thanksgiving Day by Mir Tamim Ansary

 

Let's Celebrate God's Blessings on Thanksgiving by Lise Caldwell

     This book give a simple comparison of the first Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving today for younger children.  There are also great Bible verses at the end of each comparison.

 

The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola

 

The Quilt Story by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola

     This book doesn't relate to Thanksgiving, but I just like it for this time of year.  One idea I just thought of is to make a quilt square or two each year to put together in a large quilt to give to your child/children when they are grown.  Can you imagine the memories they can wrap around them when they pull out the quilt?  :)

 

Samuel Eaton's Day:  A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy by Kate Waters

 

Sarah Morton's Day:  A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters

 

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

 

The Pilgrims of Plimoth written and illustrated by Marcia Sewall

    If you happen to look this up, make sure you spell Plymouth the way it is spelled in the title.

 

Turkey's Gift to the People by Ani Rucki

   Even though this book is a story based on a traditional Navajo folktale, there is a great opportunity to relate how Christians are a part of the body of Christ.  We all have our jobs and gifts and we need each other.

 

A Thanksgiving Wish by Michael J. Rosen

   I don't own this book.  I found it in the library last year.  I really hope they will have it in this year!  If not, I liked it so much, I will probably buy it.  It doesn't give a Christian viewpoint, but it is just a sweet story.

 

I hope you have lessons and other books to share! Please feel free to leave your ideas or link in the comments.

 

Until we meet again, may you be blessed!