Thanksgiving Workshop

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I love to set up my Thanksgiving workshop.  I love workshop because all the kiddos work at their own pace and always moving forward from job to the next job.  The only exception is before the kiddos can move to the next job  I have to see the current job they finished.  In other words my eyes see all the kiddos work.

Thanksgiving Workshop

I do workshop every week and have been doing so for my 36 years of teaching. Each week I have a different theme to my workshop.  This week is Thanksgiving workshop!  I use workshop in place of math centers and literacy centers as I find it more effective and efficient.  Need to get your workshop set up?  Check out how I set up my workshop, why I use workshop, rules for workshop, and get your free workshop set-up! 

Thanksgiving Workshop Job 1

Job 1 – Thanksgiving Book

Prior to job 1,  I have read several First Thanksgiving books to the kiddos The reason I like this as my first job is I want the kiddos to take time and do their best job. The Thanksgiving Book  is 9 pages, the kiddos will be working on this for several days.

I have rules for  the kiddos to follow to complete Job 1.

1. I play music on my I pod, they must work on this project until I stop the music on my I-pod, which is about 7 minutes.  In other words the kids can’t get up and say they are done.

2. 5 colors must be used

3. 5 details in the picture

All the kiddos finish with this job at the same time. 

You can find Job 1 Thanksgiving Book in  the  Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Activities.

Thanksgiving Workshop Job 2

Job 2 –  Roll a Sight Word– A partner game

I love partner games or small group games.  Games teach children to work together, follow rules of the game, and play fairly.

Roll a Sight Word has programmed words you can use or  the blank copy to use you own set of sight words.  I use a wooden block to make a sight word die.  The kiddos have turns rolling the die and  each use one crayon  to color the box of the sight word each kiddo has  rolled.  Continue the game until all sight words have colored.  The kiddo with the most colored sight words, wins.

You can find Job 2 Roll a Sight Word  in  the  Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Activities.

Thanksgiving Workshop Job 3

Job 3-Thanksgiving Number Sequence (Cut and Paste)

Each kiddo has a recording sheet and a number sequence  sheet.  The number sheet has 5 rows of numbers. The rows are easy to identify because they each have a specific theme.

Cut out the numbers in each row and glue the numbers on the recording sheet from smallest to largest number. The skill in this job is understanding number order and number value.  This game does not have to be finished in one workshop session, I sometimes have the kids do two rows of numbers at a time.

You can find Job 3 Thanksgiving Number Sequence  in  the  Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Activities.

Thanksgiving Workshop Job 4

Job 4-Pumpkin Patch Beginning Sound Game

There are 26 beginning sound picture  cards and a recording sheet.  The kiddos are listening to the beginning sound of each picture card and then write the letter on the recording sheet. Each picture card has a number in the corner that corresponds to the recording sheet.  I often have the kiddos play this sound game on the floor so the cards are spread out and can be seen easily.  I also make two sets of the beginning sound cards for a whole class.  I don’t have the kiddos do all 26 sounds at one setting,  I may say do 8 cards today and the following workshop day do more.  Prior to doing this job make sure the kiddos know what picture is on each card.

You can find Job 4 Thanksgiving Number Sequence  in  the  Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Activities.

Thanksgiving Workshop Job 5

Job 5  Art Project -Turkey

I love this little turkey project and do it most every year. It starts out as a circle body and the feathers are placed around it. It folds in half  and everything stays together!

I have also used it as a greeting card! If I use a brass tack  to close it up rather than glue the kiddos can write a message inside.  The kiddos love this idea and can hardly wait to bring it home.  Art projects are so important for children.   Art  fosters fine motor skills , creativity,  self-confidence, and problem solving.

You can find Job 5 Thanksgiving Turkey art projects  in  the  Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Activities.

Thanksgiving Workshop Job 6

Job 6 Never Ending Job-Manipulatives

Using math manipulatives is usually the final job in my workshop because they never end.  I use only one kind of math manipulative at a time.  Pattern blocks, Geo-boards, colored blocks, chain links, dominoes,etc.  I start out by letting the kiddos just create and experiment.  Later I  use pattern cards for another extension. Join The Teacher Bin and receive your FREE workshop visual cards perfect for manipulative stations! 

Get This Workshop Set Up

You can get everything you need and more to run Thanksgiving workshop in the Thanksgiving Math and Literacy Activities in my store.  Check out this short preview for even more of the great things included in this packet that can also be added to your Thanksgiving Workshop!