Thanksgiving Games
1. "Thankerchief"
Arrange the children/players in a circle. Pass around a "thankerchief" (handkerchief)
around as everyone recites this poem:
Thankerchief, thankerchief, around you go --
Where you'll stop, nobody knows.
But when you do, someone must say,
What they are thankful for this day.
The player holding the "thankerchief" when the poem ends, must
say aloud, one thing for which they are thankful. This continues until everyone has
had a turn.
2. Where is Mr. Turkey?
Instead of saying "warmer...cooler" you gobble?
One player is the hunter and the others are helpers. The hunter leaves the room. The
helpers hide a small toy turkey. The hunter returns with a mission to find the turkey.
Helpers give clues by "gobbling" like turkeys. If the hunter is not close, the helpers
gobble very quietly. As the hunter gets closer, the helpers gobble more and more loudly
until Mr. Turkey is found! Don't forget the video camera!
3. Cornucopia
Players sit on chairs forming a circle. There should be one more player than
there are chairs. The player without a chair is the leader. The leader points to each
of the other players to give them a name, such as "Cranberry, Corn, Apple, Turkey,"
anything related to Thanksgiving.
After names are chosen, the leader calls out two names,
"Turkey and potato." Those two players must quickly switch places. The leader keeps
calling at a quick pace, until suddenly she says "The cornucopia has tipped over!"
Everyone, including the leader, then scrambles for a new place. The player with out
a seat is the new leader. The leader may give the same name to more than one person.
This game can be confusing at first, but it is also very fun!
THANKSGIVING CRAFTS
4. Thanksgiving Craft - Harvest Necklace
Celebrate the Thanksgiving harvest the old fashioned way using popcorn and seasonal
dried fruit.
You'll need:
Large needle
string or fishing line
popped corn
dried fruit; raisins, cranberries, apple and apricot
pieces of orange peel (optional )
How to Make It:
Measure the length of line that you need to fit the necklace over a child's head.
Don't forget to leave enough for tying off. Thread the needle and string the popcorn
and other items alternately. Children can wear their necklace for a while and then
hang the necklace onto a tree or shrub for the local wildlife.
Tip: The orange peel adds a very pleasant scent. Put a bit of
all natural peanut butter on the necklace before placing it outside. The oils and
protein are great for the birds!
5. Turkey Place Card Holders
Your children can help decorate your Thanksgiving table and make a gift for relatives,
with these easy to make pinecone turkeys. For an extra touch add place cards for your
family members and then they can take the handmade turkeys home.
You'll Need:
A dry pinecone for each guest
chenille stems (pipe cleaners) in brown or tan
Craft feathers
Craft glue
Cardstock paper
How to Make It:
Lightly dip the ends of the feathers into the glue and then insert into the back of
the pinecone turkey body. Repeat until you have all of your tail feathers. Allow the
glue to dry. Fold the chenille stem in half and then bend the tip a bit to make the
head. Twist the chenille stem around the tip of the pine cone to create the head and
neck and then twist to secure. You may want to fashion some feet with the tips of
the stem to help hold the turkey in place. Using cardstock paper, cut, fold and write
the name on your place card when it's time to set the table, place it in front of
the turkey
6. Gear Up for the Game
Attention football fans: Reserve the best seat in the house with this homemade
pad, or bring it to the stadium for a more comfy spot in the bleachers.
You'll Need:
Scissors
1/2 yard of brown vinyl
12- by 20-inch piece of 1-inch-thick high-density foam (available at fabric stores)
Hot glue
Clothespins
2 yards of 1/2-inch-thick white twill tape
How to Make It:
1. Cut two 22- by 14-inch football shapes from the vinyl. Then cut out a foam football
that's an inch smaller all around and sandwich it between the vinyl pieces.
Step 2 - Gear Up for the Game 2. Hot-glue the vinyl edges together,
using clothespins to hold them in place while the glue dries.
Step 3 - Gear Up for the Game 3. Glue on pieces of twill tape
for laces, as shown.
