Thanksgiving Lessons Begin!!!

I am so excited about wrapping up our current work and beginning on our Thanksgiving lessons!  I thought I might give you a preview of a couple of lessons we will start with.  Perhaps you may pick up some new ideas, but better yet, maybe you will have even better ideas to share!  I learned as a classroom teacher, that teachers love to "borrow" other ideas!  :)  I will share more as we complete our most interesting lessons or when I think of new ideas to share.


Math:  On the first day, we will create a calendar for November, marking special days such as Thanksgiving and family gatherings.  We will review months of the year and days of the week, asking questions such as "What month is before/after ________?",  "How many days until_________?",  "What day was it ___ days ago?" , etc... 

On another day, we will make a pumpkin pie to discuss reading a recipe, measuring, and following directions.  The next day we will divide the pie to review fractions.

Reading/History:  Read "Voyage of the Mayflower."  This is a booklet from the 1995 Sept/Oct Copycat magazine.  I will ask comprehension questions along the way.  The next day, the story and vocabulary will be reviewed and Alissa will answer written questions.

Science:  Discuss how people long ago may have kept food for long periods of time.  Discuss preserving foods, especially drying.  Next, let children help with drying apples.

1. Wash and dry apples.
2. Peel the skin off apples.
3. Cut each apple into 1/4" slices.  Point out the star made by the apple seeds.
4. Cut around center to remove seeds and create apple rings.
5. Cut a 36" length of string or dental floss, and string the rings about 2" apart on the floss so air can circulate.  The apples should not touch.
6. Hang the rings in a warm, dry, airy place.  It may take from a few days to two weeks to dry the apples.

On another day, we will discuss how settlers cleaned without chemicals bought in stores- They made their own from what they had or found.  We will discuss chemical and physical changes.  Next, we will make a paste of salt and vinegar like the pilgrim girls would have used to clean tarnished brass kettles and candle sticks.  The children will use the paste and an old rag to see how shiny they can make a tarnished penny.

Crafts:  We will be trying our hand at stitching fabric together to make a pouch.

Some of the next week's lessons include the use of Indian corn, regular corn, corn husks, and hominy!

What fun lessons have you got planned?  Please share!  I am always looking for new ideas for my lessons.  I'll be posting my pictures and other ideas when I can when Bill comes back home with my computer.