Thanksgiving

    Now is the time for giving, and it just so happens that one of my favorite kids books is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.  This has brought about a fun tradition that involves both parents and children, and feels much better than telling parents "give us stuff".
    Teachers make a tree out of brown construction paper (the hardest part is making the branches, which just means there is some cutting involved.).  Make a large quantity of leaf cutouts and allow the children to decorate them with paints, glitter, markers, and so on.  Then take a look around your classroom.  What are you missing that would enhance the children's learning experience?
    I tend to ask for mostly cost efficient items and only put a few large items down on a piece of paper.  When the leaves are complete, start writing down the items that you listed.  Display the tree as a bulletin board, and invite your parents to take a look at your giving tree and take a leaf or two. 
    You would be amazed at how giving people are when asked in this creative way!

The Polar Express

    'Tis the season to go out and find holiday experiences that your kids will not soon forget.  While going onto the Polar Express probably wouldn't be realistic for a whole class, a family would fit right in with a mug of hot cocoa and some holiday crafts.
    For those living in Michigan, Owosso is hosting the Polar Express train ride.  For four hours you and your family will view Michigan's wintry landscape(whenever we get snow. Not that this teacher, who has to deal with at least 10 snowsuits right out of "The Christmas Story" in order to go on the playground, is complaining.), drink hot cocoa with a cookie, take part in holiday crafts, and meet Santa while shopping in his mart.  The cost for adults is $85 and children ride for $55 (perhaps the mug you can take home contains some deluxe hot chocolate?). 
    If you can forgo the chocolate goodness, then adults ride for $70 and children go for $40 .  The train departs from the Steam Railroading Institute Visitor's Center in Owosso, goes to "Santa's Village", and ends back up at the Institute's Visitor's Center.
    There are also other options for those not in Michigan.

The First Thanksgiving

    It is a job that I have given myself as a teacher to somehow explain Thanksgiving and that part of history to the children in my classroom.  While 3-year-olds might need a bit longer to follow all the history, there is a great interactive site that teachers and parents should definitely check out.
    Scholastic has a web site devoted to the voyage of the Mayflower, the struggles in Plimoth Plantation, and the first Thanksgiving.  There will even be a live web cast from the plantation on November 16th. at 1pm.,  that people can sign up for online. 
    The videos and tours through the Mayflower and Plantation make this part of history more tangible for young children.  Children under five need other resources rather than textbooks and this site appears to be the journey to take during this holiday season.