LALC Teacher Resources: October 2006

Beth's Idea for the Thanksgiving Dinner

Beth's Idea for the Thanksgiving Dinner

Each age group makes contribution to meal.

Even toddlers can push button on microwave for corn or stir pudding.

Babies can help plan the menu by pointing to food in magazines.

Older children can help with planning menu, how many servings, etc.

All children make invitations, decorations, etc.

The night of the meal, no extensive entertainment, but slide show of planning phases.

If possible, I would like to have a stand up comedy segment of children telling their favorite Thanksgiving joke.
http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/jokes.htm

http://jokes.net/shortthanksgivingjokes.htm

http://jokes.net/shortthanksgivingjokes2.htm

http://www.funmunch.com/events/thanksgiving/thanksgiving_jokes.shtml

Fun Ideas for Thanksgiving

http://members.aol.com/Panda34911/Thanks/HolidayFunPg12Thanks.html

The Meal Must Go On! (Skit)

http://library.thinkquest.org/5291/skit.html

The Meal Must Go On !-A Lesson in CooperationThis skit takes place on Thanksgiving at the home of Grandma and Grandpa. There is a little arguing going on in the refrigerator, find out what happens....
Scene 1
(Thanksgiving morning at Grandma's and Grandpa's house. Preparations for the feast have gone on for days. Guests will be arriving soon.)(Scene opens inside fridge)
Narrator- It's early Thanksgiving morning. Grandma Josephine and Grandpa Joe are still asleep, and in the refrigerator the food is chatting.
Food- Hubbubing
Cranberry Sauce- I can't wait for dinner!
Turkey- But, I'm the traditional main dish! So I must be the best, in fact, I am the best!
Mashed Potatoes- Thanksgiving just wouldn't be the same without me! Mashed potatoes are always everyone's favorite!
Stuffing- Turkey, you think your so important! But you're nothing without me, the tasty stuffing!
Turkey- Tasty stuffing?! Even the dog, Sparky, doesn't like you!
Pumpkin Pie- You all think you're so important! They always save the best and the sweetest for last!
Cranberry Sauce-You're not the only one who can taste sweet, you know.
Mashed Potatoes-You guys may be sweet, but I'm the favorite!
Stuffing- Quiet everyone! Someone's coming!!

Scene 2
(Grandma opens the fridge door)
Grandma- Joe? Must be getting old. I could of sworn I heard some rustling in here!
Grandpa- You must be getting' old! Better start cookin'! The guests will be arriving soon.
Grandma- What do you mean, me?! Don't you mean, we!

Scene 3
Narrator- Later that day, the guests are arriving.
Grandpa- Josephine, I heard the doorbell!
Grandma- Go get it then! Don't leave 'em out in the cold!
(Guests enter open door)
All- Happy Thanksgiving!

Scene 4
Mom- Oh, it smells wonderful in here!
Dad- I'm starving!
(Sparky enters)
Sparky- Woof! Woof!
Grandpa- Even Sparky came. Look!
Grandma- Come in and sit down, dinner's almost ready.
Megan- Do you need any help in the kitchen, Grandma?
Rachel- I'll help, too!!!
Taylor- Are there any good football games on today?
Dad- We'll watch the games after dinner.
(Girls bring food to the table)

Scene 5
Narrator- Thanksgiving dinner is over, and it's time to compliment the cooking.
Taylor- That meal was great!
Sparky- Woof! Woof!
Rachel- Sparky thinks so too!
Grandma-Wasn't the turkey delicious!?
Grandpa- It's especially good with mashed potatoes!
Mom- The stuffing really goes well with the turkey!
Megan-The Cranberry Sauce ties it all together.
Dad-It just isn't Thanksgiving with out the pumpkin pie.

Scene 6
Narrator-The family went home and grandma and grandpa put the leftovers in the fridge.
Turkey-I guess I have to admit the dinner was pretty good because of all of us.
Stuffing- We do go together pretty well.
Mashed Potatoes- I got a little cranberry sauce mixed into me and you did taste pretty good.
Cranberry Sauce- Why, Thank you! You didn't taste too bad yourself.
Pumpkin Pie- Well, it goes to show you, that if you cooperate you can really put something great together.

http://library.thinkquest.org/5291/costumes.html Costume suggestions

http://library.thinkquest.org/5291/makeup.html Makeup tips

http://library.thinkquest.org/5291/skit.html#tips Stage tips

A Frontier Thanksgiving

A Frontier Thanksgiving

Divide the audience into seven groups and assign each group one of the following sound effects to be given on cue.

Settler: “Davey Crockett,”
Gun: “Bang, bang.”
Dog: “Man’s best friend:”
Turkey: “Yum, yum.”
Cabin: “Shut the door!”
Frontier: “Way out west!”
Indian: “Geronimo!”
Thanksgiving: Everyone pats tummy.

Early one Thanksgiving morning, many years ago on the old Frontier, a Settler stood before his lonely Cabin with his trusty Gun and faithful Dog ready to hunt the Turkey he needed for dinner, hoping no Indians would spoil his feast. Whistling to his Dog, the Settler shouldered his Gun and started down the forest trail. Meantime, the Indian, also with a Dog, came down the forest trail from the other direction. Just at that moment a fat Turkey flew between them. Out flew an arrow, off went the Gun, down fell the Turkey, in bounded the Dogs, up rushed the Indian and the Settler. “It’s mine,” claimed the Settler. “Ugh - him mine,” said the Indian. “Gr rr,” snarled the Dogs. The noise of the argument shook the Cabin and awoke the whole Frontier. But the Turkey, which was only stunned, took off unsteadily and flew in the open door of the Cabin, where it was promptly captured by the Indian and the Settler and the Dogs. And thus, Thanksgiving came to a lonely Cabin on the old Frontier.

http://www.scoutxing.com/skits/audience_participation/skitap_016.htm

Thanksgiving Recipes for Baby

http://www.makingfriends.com/pro_thanksbaby.htm

http://babiestoday.com/articles/74.php?wcat=19

President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation 1863

Washington, D.C.October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

The Ugly Turkey

The Ugly Turkey
Adapted from "The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Andersen

SETUP
This play can be shortened or lengthened to suit the needs and skill levels of the children participating. Props can be simple puppets made from lunch bags or more complex marionettes. Use a large cardboard box for the backdrop. Paint, or draw with crayons, rolling hills, trees, a farm house and fence.

SCRIPT
Narrator: There were once five turkeys, all born on the same day, but one turkey was not quite like the others.
Turkey #1: "Isn't it a beautiful morning? It is GREAT to be a Turkey today!"
Turkey #2: (Strutting around) "I am so proud to be a Turkey, don't you think we are beautiful?"
Turkey #3: "I think we are the most handsome creatures on earth!"
Turkey #4: "The four of us are definitely gorgeous to behold, but what happened to you (speaking to the Ugly Turkey)? You do not look like the rest of us, you are not as beautiful as we are."
The Ugly Turkey: "It is true I do not look like you, but won't you be my friend anyway? Are looks all that is important? I am a good friend, a good listener, and I would help any of you if you were in need."
Turkey #1: "Honestly, I don't think I want to be friends with someone who is so different from myself."
Turkey #2: "Yeah, you aren't cool like the rest of us."
Turkey #3: "We don't want to play with you."
Turkey #4: "Go away."
The Ugly Turkey: "I am sad that you will not be my friend. I will go away, surely there is someone who will like me for who I am and not what I look like."
Narrator: So The Ugly Turkey turned and walked away. He wandered over the hill and through the trees and the four Turkeys thought nothing of it. As time passed the four Turkeys grew bigger and fatter! They grew and grew until they were so round they could hardly walk. They were not quite so cute as they were when they were little. When the farmers grandchildren came to visit they would stop to look at the horses, the cows, the puppies and kittens. They would giggle as the ducks waddled by and squeal with delight as the sheep scampered over the hills, but when they saw the Turkeys they just kept walking, some even looked a bit scared. Then one day a strange animal showed up on the farm.
Turkey #1: "Who's that strange bird over there on the hill, does anyone know?"
Turkey #2: "He's beautiful isn't he? Look at his tail feathers, they're rich in color and intricately patterned."
Turkey #3: "Did you see the plume atop his head, like a crown of glory? He stands tall and perfectly trim."
Turkey #4: "Do you think he will want to be our friend, we are not near so grand as he is?"
Turkey #2: "Let's go introduce ourselves and see if he will join us."
Narrator: As the four Turkeys approached the beautiful bird on the hill they noticed that the bird looked familiar.
Turkey #1: "Hello. We were wondering if you would like to join us? You are so beautiful we would be honored to have you for a friend."
The Ugly Turkey: "Do I not look familiar to you? Once I tried to be your friend but you all rejected me saying I was ugly and different."
Turkey #3: "I remember. That was so long ago. You are definitely not ugly now! You are the most magnificent bird on this farm."
Turkey #4: (With head hung low) "If you do not want to be our friend we understand, we are not nearly so grand as we thought we once were."
(The four Turkeys turn to walk away)
Turkey #5: "We do not want to embarrass you, we will go away."
The Ugly Turkey: "Please don't go. Have you not learned anything while I was away? It is not what you look like on the outside that matters but what you are on the inside that is important. I would be happy to be your friend."
Narrator: So the four Turkeys and the Peacock took a stroll over the hill and through the trees. They were often all seen together strolling about. When the farmers grandchildren would visit they would often stop by the five birds, talking excitedly. The four Turkeys knew that that the children were looking at the beautiful Peacock, but it didn't matter. It didn't matter because they were all friends and they were all equal.
(All participants say, "THE END" in unison and take a bow)
Contributed by Alecia Dixon
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/print/turkeyplay.html?trnstl=1