03:33
Faizan
Your students may be surprised to learn that not only was there likely no pumpkin pie and parade during that first Thanksgiving, but the first participants didn't look like the pilgrims and Indians we portray. In fact, it wasn't until the 19th century that Thanksgiving festivities began to look like what we may recognize today, according to National Geographic Kids. While we have come a long way since the first Thanksgiving, the meaning of the holiday--to remember things for which we're thankful--hasn't changed. Art activities are a practical way to help your students reflect on this meaning.
Candle Holders
This craft will make a nice decoration for your students' Thanksgiving tables at home. Have each student bring in a small baby food jar that is clean and empty. Students can paint their jars in a fall color, such as orange, brown, yellow or red. Sprinkle glitter on the jar while the paint is still wet. When it dries, they can tie some ribbon or raffia around the rim, then insert a votive candle so their candle holder is ready to use. Alternatively, your students could glue on some Thanksgiving-themed foam shapes instead of painting the jar.
Window Treatment
This is a fun craft for students that you can use for your classroom decorations. Cut out some fall-colored (red, orange, yellow and brown) leaves from construction paper. Give each student two or three leaves and some small wooden Thanksgiving-themed pieces. On one side of their leaves, have them write something for which they're thankful. On the other side, students can lay wooden pieces on their leaves, then sponge-paint over the pieces. When they're done, they'll pick up the wooden pieces, leaving behind an outline. Students can also just paint their leaves, but sponge-painting will give them a textured look, particularly if you use a loofah sponge. You can then tie some string along one of your classroom walls or windows and have the students take turns going to the line of string and taping the stems of their leaves to the string. When they do this, they can share with the class the things they're thankful to have. Before Thanksgiving, provide students with an inexpensive photo frame to take their leaves home and display them.
No-Sew Quilt
This project is a great group activity for your class. It will also show students how they can each work together with something little to make one big decoration. Give each student a square cut from fleece material in fall-themed colors, such as red, orange, yellow and brown. Provide them all with some fabric paints (the kind in a squeeze bottle will be easier for them to use at their desks) and let them decorate their squares however they want with a Thanksgiving theme. When the paint dries, have students cut twelve, 1-inch wide strips along each side of their square (the slits should be 3 inches long). They can then line their squares up side by side on a table, in a quilt-block pattern (the number of columns and rows will depend on the number of students) and join the squares by tying the strips together in knots. The result will be something you can hang on your wall with the title, "Our Thanksgiving Quilt" above it.
Candle Holders
This craft will make a nice decoration for your students' Thanksgiving tables at home. Have each student bring in a small baby food jar that is clean and empty. Students can paint their jars in a fall color, such as orange, brown, yellow or red. Sprinkle glitter on the jar while the paint is still wet. When it dries, they can tie some ribbon or raffia around the rim, then insert a votive candle so their candle holder is ready to use. Alternatively, your students could glue on some Thanksgiving-themed foam shapes instead of painting the jar.
Window Treatment
This is a fun craft for students that you can use for your classroom decorations. Cut out some fall-colored (red, orange, yellow and brown) leaves from construction paper. Give each student two or three leaves and some small wooden Thanksgiving-themed pieces. On one side of their leaves, have them write something for which they're thankful. On the other side, students can lay wooden pieces on their leaves, then sponge-paint over the pieces. When they're done, they'll pick up the wooden pieces, leaving behind an outline. Students can also just paint their leaves, but sponge-painting will give them a textured look, particularly if you use a loofah sponge. You can then tie some string along one of your classroom walls or windows and have the students take turns going to the line of string and taping the stems of their leaves to the string. When they do this, they can share with the class the things they're thankful to have. Before Thanksgiving, provide students with an inexpensive photo frame to take their leaves home and display them.
No-Sew Quilt
This project is a great group activity for your class. It will also show students how they can each work together with something little to make one big decoration. Give each student a square cut from fleece material in fall-themed colors, such as red, orange, yellow and brown. Provide them all with some fabric paints (the kind in a squeeze bottle will be easier for them to use at their desks) and let them decorate their squares however they want with a Thanksgiving theme. When the paint dries, have students cut twelve, 1-inch wide strips along each side of their square (the slits should be 3 inches long). They can then line their squares up side by side on a table, in a quilt-block pattern (the number of columns and rows will depend on the number of students) and join the squares by tying the strips together in knots. The result will be something you can hang on your wall with the title, "Our Thanksgiving Quilt" above it.
Posted in: arts
