Thankful Leaves

I made this project as a way for my kids (and myself!) to be reminded how much we have to be thankful for!  We have been busy writing what we are thankful for on all of the leaves!  I love to walk by and look at them!

I made the banner and leaves with my Silhouette.  The banner was Lori Whitlock's "happy birthday banner 2".  I had to change the word on the banner, so I used "ActionIs" font for the letters.  The leaves were from the "8 fall leaves" shape also by Lori Whitlock.  My Silhouette cut everything out, so I just had to assemble and laminate.  I especially wanted to laminate the leaves so that I can wipe them off and use them again next year.  I added magnets to the back of the leaves so they would stick on our metal fireplace screen.  I love how it turned out and how it reminds me to be thankful!

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Turkey Cheese Ball

I made this cute turkey cheese ball for a Thanksgiving appetizer.  The recipe is the same one I used for the pumpkin shaped cheese ball HERE.  However for the turkey cheese ball, I wrapped it in plastic wrap to form a ball and then rolled in pecans.  I added 6 pretzel crackers for the turkey's tail & then added a red bell pepper strip for the turkey's face.  Yummy & cute!

Thanksgiving Fun Friday

I'm doing my 2nd grader's Thanksgiving Fun Friday.  We do crafts and/or games, have a fun snack, and read books. 

We are going to do 2 crafts.  First, we are going to make foam leaf wreaths.  This is a kit from

Oriental Trading.  I got it ready to go for the kids by punching out the leaves, gluing on the wreath hanger, and setting aside the bow & beads.  They will attach the leaves and acorns to the wreath with glue dots and then write things they are thankful for on the leaves.  Here's my example and a prepped craft:

Second, we are going to draw turkeys.  I made a card that says "Thanksgiving 2012" that you can download HERE (Or, you can download these without a year HERE).  Then I used my Silhouette to cut brown turkey bodies and orange turkey beaks.  The kids will glue the turkey bodies, turkey beaks, & 2 goggle eyes to the card.  Then, they will draw on the turkey feathers and legs.  Here's my example:

Then we are going to play a quick game that I used at my preschooler's Harvest Hoedown (POST HERE).  I colored and laminated 4 fall coloring pages.  I taped these to buckets and will put 1 bucket in each corner of the classroom.  The kids will choose a bucket to stand at.  I will pull the name of one of the coloring pages from a bag.  All of the kids at this coloring page are out and will sit down.  Now, all the kids remaining at the other 3 coloring pages choose a new coloring page to stand at.  Then, we will just repeat again and again until we have a winner!

We have to provide a healthy snack, so I am going to do the same popcorn cups that I did last year (POST HERE).  I have different cups and bags this year but it's the same idea.

For books, I am going to bring Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano, I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson, and Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey by Herman Parish.

It should be fun!

Leaf Lanterns

The kids and I had fun making these festive Leaf Lanterns that I saw on Pinterest and adapted from 5 Orange Potatoes.  A couple of days before we made the lanterns, we collected leaves from the yard and put them in a book to press them.  Non-crispy leaves that have just fallen or are picked off the trees are best.  Also, the thin leaves worked better than the thick ones.

Materials:
Leaves, pressed
Mason jars
Mod Podge with paintbrushes
Non-flame "candle" lights
Wax paper

Directions:
Cover your work area with wax paper. 

Cut stems off of leaves if any.  Coat mason jar with Mod Podge glue using paintbrush. 

Press leaves onto jar.  If we had trouble getting the leaf to stick, we would also brush a coat of Mod Podge on the leaf too. 

Let dry completely. 

Coat the leaves and jar with more Mod Podge and let dry completely. 

Add the non-flame candles and you have safe Leaf Lanterns!

Thanksgiving Snack

I made a simple and quick Thanksgiving snack for my 1st graders' class.  I popped 4 bags of popcorn and poured it into cute plastic Thanksgiving cups.  I put the cups in clear Thanksgiving bags and tied them up.  So easy!  I think the kids will enjoy their healthy Thanksgiving snack!

Thanksgiving Ideas

These are Thanksgiving ideas from prior years. 

Food: turkey, apples, carrots, popcorn, cornbread, pumpkin pie.
Decorations: centerpieces

Crafts: t-shirts, head dress, necklaces, & face paint for the kids