In Montessori preschool, learning to be grateful is an everyday activity, but the fall season is a good time to practice the art and learn about the meaning of Thanksgiving. The leaves are changing colors, mornings are getting chilly, and kids can feel changes coming in the winds. These activities should give you a good starting point for some additional Thanksgiving-inspired activities of your own.
Thanksgiving Trays
Small pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and turkeys are all traditional parts of the holiday season. Maybe add some cut-outs of happy pilgrims and native Americans or even a scarecrow to match the season. In the Montessori preschool, putting together collage trays of traditional Thanksgiving foods will keep small children occupied and interested in learning more.
Apple Activities
Washing, coring, and slicing apples with an apple slicer teaches hands-on practical life skills. Even better, the apple slices can be part of math projects before finally getting shared with others and gleefully eaten. There are endless ways to use apples for education and learning about sharing and gratefulness, all of which end with a tasty, fruity treat.
Turkey Activities
Turkey drawing, coloring, and cut-outs are all great turkey activities that lend to themselves to other learning such as sensory skills, counting, and hand-eye coordination, among others. You can even organize group games like turkey pinatas, pin the feather on the turkey, and more. Read books about turkeys, sing turkey songs, and enjoy learning the Montessori preschool way.
Circle Time
There are plenty of songs and rhymes about Thanksgiving and gratefulness that can be incorporated into Circle Time. Choose songs to match themes for several different sessions, such songs about being thankful one day and rhymes about Thanksgiving the next.
With Thanksgiving as the theme, a whole world of activities opens up, from counting and sorting to learning phonetic sounds and basic math. Talk to your child’s Montessori preschool teacher to find out how to extend her plans into your own activities.
