Category:

Cranberries…Sink or Float??

Supplies:

Cranberries
Glass or bowl of water

Directions: Guess if cranberries will sink or float. Next, place cranberries into the water to see what happens.

Examine Cranberries

Supplies:

Cranberries
Sharp knife

Directions: Cut a cranberry horizontally and vertically. Have the children examine the difference between the two different cut cranberries.

Cranberry Catapult

11/25/2013

Supplies:

Cranberries
Plastic Spoon
Some kind of target

Directions:
Using a plastic spoon catapult cranberries at a target. This activity will result in cranberries going in all different directions. If you are short on space or need to maintain order inside try doing this activity outside.

Cranberry Spoon Race

11/25/2013

Cranberry Basketball

11/25/2013

Did you know that Cranberries bounce??
Try your luck at bouncing cranberries with a game of Cranberry Basketball. (If the cranberry does not bounce it isn’t fresh!!)

Supplies:

Cranberries
Plastic cup

Directions:
Bounce a cranberry off a hard surface such as a table or floor into a plastic cup.

Cranberry Soccer

11/25/2013

Supplies:

Aluminum Foil
Cranberries

Directions:

Fold and shape aluminum foil into goals. Have children flick a cranberry into the goal.

Thanksgiving Inspired Activities

11/24/2013

Gobble, Gobble, Cook Me!

Thanksgiving version of Duck, Duck, Goose. Children sit in a large circle. One child is chosen as the turkey. The turkey walks around the circle in search of a cook who will try to catch him and roast him for Thanksgiving dinner.

The turkey walks around tapping each child on the head and calling each child either "Gobble" or "Cook me!" As long as the turkey says, "Gobble," he or she is safe and continues to stay seated. When the turkey calls "Cook me!," the player tagged must jump up and chase the turkey around the circle.

If the cook catches the turkey, the turkey must go sit in the center of the circle (the roasting pot). If the turkey sits in the cook's spot before the cook tags him, the turkey is safe, and the cook becomes the next turkey.

*Variation: Duck, Duck, Turkey

Turkey Calling Contest

Have children make turkey squawking sounds and act like a turkey with pecking, arm flapping, and wattle walking.

Present each child with an award or prize for different categories such as: most like a turkey, loudest turkey, cutest wattle, etc.

Turkey...Veggie Style

11/24/2013

Read the book A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Jeff Shelly.

A very colorful and well illustrated story about a community that pulls together to find a turkey for their Thanksgiving feast. They were not prepared to find a turkey that would outsmart them.

Serve a healthy snack such as vegetables in the shape of a turkey.

Cranberry Thanksgiving

11/22/2013

Read the book: Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende & Harry Devlin.

A classic, heart-warming, story of a grandmother that makes the very best cranberry bread with her special recipe. The special recipe goes missing while two special guest are visiting for Thanksgiving.

Our secret family recipe for Cranberry Holiday Crisp!

Ingredients:

1 can Whole berry cranberry sauce
1 can Mandarin oranges, drained
1 can Pineapple tidbits, drained
Optional: diced fresh apples, diced fresh pears, toasted pecans or walnuts

Crisp topping:

¾ cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
¼ cup butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix fruit and nuts in a medium sized bowl. Pour into an 8 x 8 pan.

In another bowl mix the brown sugar and flour.

Cut in butter. Stir in oats. Sprinkle over the top of the cranberry mix.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Turkey Finger Puppet

11/22/2013

Supplies Needed; Brown construction paper, Silk Fall Leaves, Wiggly Eyes, Bit of Red and Orange construction paper, Glue, Pencil, Scissors, Paper Pattern

Directions; Make a paper pattern for the turkey body. If you choose to draw your own body; Draw 2 holes near the bottom of the body big enough for fingers to fit through. If you need a pattern, use the pattern below to trace the body shape. Cut it out. Trace the turkey body onto the brown craft paper. Trace the leg holes, too. Cut the turkey out. Cut out the leg holes. Draw a beak on the orange craft paper. Cut it out. Draw a wattle on the red craft paper. Cut it out. Glue the eyes, beak and wattle onto the turkey. Glue on the feathers. Once the glue is dry, or hard, or cool, the turkey is ready to be played with.

Hungry Caterpillar at Thanksgiving

11/21/2013

Supplies needed; Clothes pin, fall colored pompoms, wiggly eyes, scissors, glue, printout of the Thanksgiving food page posted below.
Directions to make Caterpillar; Glue 4 pompoms to the back of your clothes pin. Once dry, glue on wiggly eyes.
Directions for food print out; Allow (or assist) children in cutting out food shapes from the image provided.
Directions for play; This project can be used with smaller children to help improve fine/small motor skills as well as creative play. With older children it can be used to teach food grouping, and the importance of proper nutrition and food choices. Allow children to "feed" their caterpillar foods by pinching the Thanksgiving food in the clothespin.