Friday, November 13, 2015

Thankful for Thanksgiving Blog Hop and Follower FREEBIES!

Thankful for Thanksgiving Holiday Tips and Freebies

Being Thankful

I am thankful that I have been able to pursue all my childhood dreams, which included becoming a teacher and writer. I never thought I was going to be able to pursue both dreams but here I am blogging away and sharing curriculum resources I've written with you. I also wanted to share one easy way I practice daily gratitude. I have set an alarm on my smartphone that goes off before bedtime, that I have edited to say in place of the words alarm, today I am grateful for... This way no matter how bad my day goes I can always end with a positive and count my blessings. I hope this tip helps you in some way too.

Fun Traditions

Since my first year of teaching in 2000, I've been using this exact turkey that you see pictured below. I drew it on tag board then cut it out and added scrunched up tissue paper to decorate it.  Each year it is displayed and finished with student decorated thankful feathers! It's a yearly classroom tradition that I love sharing with my students. They also like hearing that they are part of this longtime tradition that all my past students have got a chance to do as well. Best of all they love that his name is Turkey Lurkey.  I laminated it a few years ago to make it last.  If you want to make one for your class you can check out my TpT product here. It includes the four-page poster template to make the large turkey, feathers, and newly added this year, display signs that say I am thankful for... with cute graphics added.  This year Turkey Lurkey got a major makeover! Check out the before and after photos below. I got the felt thankful letters from the Target dollar section and added a turkey border along with new graphics I created. 

Thanksgiving Class Craftivity  

Thanksgiving Class Craftivity


Thanksgiving Recipe

Pumpkin Pecan Squares

Here is my favorite Thanksgiving Recipe.  I first came across this recipe in Williams-Sonoma where they were giving away yummy samples. Of course, I just had to buy their Pecan Pumpkin Butter they used in it, but there is a cheaper alternative without nuts at Traders Joe's.

Ingredient List ~ Serves 12

1 (18 oz) box yellow cake, use Duncan Hines
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 jar of pumpkin butter from Trader's Joe's one jar pumpkin pecan butter from Williams-Sonoma
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened 
3 tablespoons
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
1 -12 x 9 Cake Pan



Pumpkin Coffee Cake Squares Ingredients


Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. Reserve one cup of the cake mix flour to be used later.
3. Mix remaining cake flour mix with 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 egg. Press mixture lightly into the bottom of a 12" x 9" baking pan. (I like using the disposable baking pans for this)
4. Mix one jar of pumpkin pecan butter with remaining two eggs and milk, 
and pour over cake mixture in pan.
5. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until golden.
6. Mix remaining 1 cup cake mix flour, sugar, remaining 1/4 cup butter, cinnamon, and crumble over the top of the pumpkin layer. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top.
7. Cool to room temp before cutting into squares.


I also found this awesome free printable to use for our place settings via Craft Aholics Annoymous last year. Follow the underlined link above to get this FREE printable. 

 Thanksgiving Free Printable Utensil Holder

Also, if you subscribe to my newsletter at the top of the blog, you will be sent this month's exclusive FREEBIE for newsletter subscribers only and not available in my TpT store. It's a passage on the History of Thanksgiving with comprehension questions included. This book also compliments this activity too.


Finally, I have a quick giveaway to say, thank you for your readership and support. I hope that you also visit the other wonderful bloggers in this hop for more recipes and FREEBIES.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


35 comments:

  1. We express why we are thankful for one another prior to break.
    Emily
    scheinbere@hotmail.com

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  2. We do a writing project where the students write to an everyday object and tell why they are thankful for it. Some are pretty clever!

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  3. We just do a writing activity about what we are thankful for.

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  4. We do a writing activity about what we are thankful for and any other "turkey" activities I think they need practice on.
    chief9937@Yahoo.com

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  5. I am glad I cam across your blog. Love the turkey!

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  6. We usually read versions of Stone Soup, and then have a feast right before the Thanksgiving holiday. I love your idea of using your iphone to remind you to think of what you are thankful for each day!

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    1. Nice! We used to do a huge grade level feast with four classes where parents donated so much food. I miss those days.

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  7. That recipe looks great. I'll have to try it sometime!

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  8. Traditions are so important to make us feel as though we are a part of something--and give us a sense of belonging. You have a great tradition going with Turkey Lurkey. It's great that you tell the kids every class you ever had has given thanks with this very turkey. It's a great message--and I'm sure it's good for you too.

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    1. I think your interpretation on why traditions are so important is spot on! It's always sweet when students also express their thankfulness for me being their teacher.

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  10. Your turkey is super cute & I am going to have to try that recipe! YUM! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  11. One of my favorite traditions is having students write "Thankful Notes" to members of our school staff. We brainstorm the staff members and why we want to thank them. It's a great activity to get the kids thinking about all of the people that help them every day.

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  12. We always write about funny things - "How to Catch a Turkey" "How to Make a Turkey Your Pet" and "How to Help a Turkey Escape" ~ the kiddos come up with the funniest and really clever ideas. eaglepride1984@gmail.com

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    1. These are great Thanksgiving writing prompts. Thanks for sharing them here!

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  13. I love your bulletin board turkey! He's adorable! What a fun classroom tradition. :-)

    Nichole
    The Craft of Teaching

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  14. We learn and write all about turkeys and then create one! :)
    marylove.houston@gmail.com

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  15. No special traditions. It has always depended on my class that year.

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  16. We write what we are thankful for & send them home to my students' parents.

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  17. We usually make pumpkin pudding in a cup as a class activity/snack. This year we also made and gave thank you cards to some school staff members.

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    1. Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your tradition!

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  18. Our school has the kids dress up as Pilgrims or Native Americans and the parents serve the kids their lunch. I have several art projects that I like to do with the kids.

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  19. I always watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with the kids and serve them Charlie Brown's meal- popcorn, pretzel sticks, jelly beans, and toast. It's so fun!

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    2. I enjoy showing Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving to my student too. I never thought of serving the snacks before. What a fun idea and classroom tradition!

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  20. We do a simple writing activity about the things we are thankful for!

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  23. Enjoy the next thanksgiving day by committing simple actions on the upcoming holiday. Let yourself be totally known about what day is thanksgiving to be fulfilled with all information about thanksgiving day.

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  25. How might we appreciate this holiday without getting trapped in every one of these issues?
    Thanksgiving Images & Wallpapers

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