Thanksgiving Writing Paper Freebie

Good morning! Looking for a quick Thanksgiving writing paper freebie?  Don't worry, I've got one for ya!

The Thanksgiving countdown is on!  I'm sure this is a super busy week for everyone. Today, we will create a gift for our families.  My 2nd graders have been writing paragraphs about why they are thankful for their families.  Today, they will write their final copy on this paper: {click for your copy!}

This year, we are making a frame for this piece of writing.  This will be their favorite part, I'm sure!  They will create a Native American wall painting frame to mount their paragraph on.  It will be similar to the picture below, except the writing will be on top, instead of below.  I did those paintings last year with the kids and they LOVED it! We just did it on brown paper shopping bags {reduce, reuse, recycle!} but you can just use brown construction paper.  I'll post a picture on Instagram when they are done!

Have a great day everyone!  I can almost smell Thanksgiving Dinner!!!!

A Bundle of Thanks!

Hello there everyone!  I have a bundle of Thanksgiving goodies to share with you today! I think that these items will be perfect for those last few days before school lets out for Thanksgiving Break.  I have a huge math packet, a Thanksgiving Play that can double as Reader's Theater, a Thanksgiving Key Details packet, and of course some Thanksgiving FREEBIES!

The truth is, I've been working on a huge Thanksgiving Common Core Word Problems packet that took a little longer to finish than planned - I wanted to make sure it was quality!A packet this size is a little challenging to fit into the next 5 days of school before Thanksgiving break (work, kids, work!!!).  However, I do plan on picking and choosing some pages to introduce my students to problem solving strategies. It was important to me to create problems with what I call "manageable numbers" for my students.  Over time, I have witnessed children completely freeze up when presented with very large numbers in word problems.  They are almost too engrossed with the size of the numbers to focus on how to solve the problem.

Last year, I introduced my students to Common Core word problems with manageable, smaller numbers as well.  We looked at each type of problem and worked on identifying important information.  The students also learned how to use a bar model to organize the information from a word problem - this is much easier for them to do with manageable numbers.  After that...we moved on to larger numbers and THEY WERE READY!

Next year, this packet begins on November 1st, hahah!  Take a look! You can grab it and find out a little bit more about it by clicking on the cover below:

Here's a peek at some of the pages....

...and now a word from our FREEBIE #1.  I think I am going to use this as a cover to a Thanksgiving card I plan on having the kids make for their families.  I've been teaching my students how to write paragraphs, so the inside of the card will be a paragraph about what they are thankful for.  I always loved (and still do!!!) when my own kids made writing pieces for me, so I think it makes a pretty meaningful gift.  It's free on my Facebook page, and it's free for you by clicking below:

Next up, I have something very dear to my heart. It's a Thanksgiving Play that I wrote with my beloved Teaching Assistant.  It can also be used for Reader's Theater.  Check it Out:

After using the play during Reader's Workshop with your little Pilgrims, you can follow up with this Key Details Packet.  It helps the students to closely examine the story of Thanksgiving and helps them to identify Key Details.  Take a look:

...and now a word from Freebie #2.  Oh the woes of the turkey this time of year!  He has an opinion, too!  Introduce your students to writing an opinion paragraph with this graphic organizer and paragraph paper template.  Free for you over at my TPT!

That's all for today, folks!  I'm so THANKFUL for all of the friends I've made this past year through this blog!  Are you new to the Teacher's Chair today?  I'd love to get to know you, too...and would be thankful if you follow me on any of my social media so I can keep you updated with my latest goodies!

Have a great day everyone!

Classrooms Full of Thanks!

KEY DETAILS ABOUT THANKSGIVING
RL.1.1 & RI.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
RL.2.1 & RI.2.1  Ask and answer such questions as who, what, when, where, why and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Thanksgiving is a great time to examine KEY Details.
Key Details are important bits of information that help readers comprehend a topic.
I like to follow our read-alouds and video presentations with these response sheets.
They are available for you, too!  Just click on the picture link below:

Mr. Turkey's Opinion...
Yesterday we read "A Turkey for Thanksgiving" by Eve Bunting.  If you haven't read this to your class, please do...it always has my students on the edge of their little seats.  Yesterday, one of them called out, "It's a nail-biter!"   It is an adorable Thanksgiving story with a very happy ending for Mr. Turkey - and we all loved that!

Here is a FREEBIE that you can use to go along with it:
There are two copies for differentiated responses.  My first graders are just beginning to learn how to write a paragraph, so they used the top sheet.  My second graders used the bottom sheet.
Find them both for FREE in my TPT Store.

As you already know, I am a new blogger.  I am excited to be hosting my first Linky Party!  

The question is how do YOU celebrate Thanksgiving in your classroom?  A feast?  A play?  Craftivities?  

In order to show MY thanks, I am celebrating all of my new followers with a Thanksgiving giveaway.

I will be giving a copy of my Thanksgiving Play (a musical).  

In the past, I have used this play with a single classroom of up to 23 students.  I have also used it as a shared experience with my grade level colleagues, with each class participating in one section of the play.  Either way, the end result is always meaningful - and adorable :)

So, THANK YOU in advance for linking up and following my new blog!  I look forward to following you back and emailing you a copy of my Thanksgiving Musical!

(see a little bit below...)

You will have to scroll all the way down to find the linky button to link :)

I am looking forward to discovering new blogs out there!