Chelsea Bashore

19th November, 2012

Kindergarten Language Arts

Thanksgiving Tree lesson

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Standards
a. R.NT.00.05 respond to individual and multiple texts by finding evidence,
discussing, illustrating, and/or writing to reflect, make meaning, and make
connections.
Objective
a. TLW create an illustration, on a leaf cut out, depicting what theyre thankful for.
Anticipatory Set
a. TTW have already hung up the bear limbed tree onto the board, not right away
explaining what it is for. TTW explain that it has to do with our thanksgiving
activities and to keep brainstorming what the tree might be for.
b. TTW begin by introducing the story Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by
David Pilkey asking students what they think could happen in the story based on
the cover.
i. TTW will ask further questions with a variety of prompts depending on
student driven answers.
c. TTW read the story a loud to the classroom, stopping to point out items in the
story and asking for student thoughts.
d. TTW ask students what they think the students were thankful for? The turkey?
Why is it important to remember what were thankful for on Thanksgiving?
Input
a. TTW guide the class in making a list of things theyre thankful for, looking back
to the mentor text thinking about items our characters were thankful for as a
reference. TLW create their own illustration of that theyre thankful for and add it
to our tree of thanksgiving as a collection of thanks.
b. Procedure
i. TTW create a circle map of things were thankful for and ask for
students ideas of what theyre thankful for, family pets etc. TTW draw
these into the circle in the shapes of leaves and write the objects name
underneath

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ii. TTW prompt students asking why TT is drawing them in leaves and take
suggestions.
iii. TTW explain that today students will draw what theyre thankful for in the
shape of leaves and the leaf will be taped onto the tree creating a full tree
of thankfulness/a whole collection of thanks.
1. Center
a. TTW first model how to create the leaf for the tree.
i. First students will draw their picture and write their
word by sounding it out or by use of the circle map.
ii. TLW then cut out their leaf and show that it is
completed to the teacher, who will then place it up
on the tree.
c. Blooms Taxonomy
1. Apply- TLW illustrate a picture of what theyre thankful for.
d. Accommodations
i. Depending on each center group, students will have additional help in
writing their thankful word on their leaf.
1. Students working on letters will be able to trace their word over a
high lighter
2. Students may sound out the word/write down sounds with teacher
modeling
3. Students who are ready for more of a challenge may be encouraged
to write a complete sentence
e. Differentiation
i. Centers will be laid out/organized so a larger amount of help will be
available to groups who are working on writing growths.
ii. Centers will allow for challenges and exploration for those who are ready
to move forward in their writing.
f. Multiple Intelligences
i. Visual- through our read aloud/creating our circle map
ii. Hands On- creating our thankful leaf.
g. Methods and Materials
i. Methods
1. Visual
2. Modeling
3. Direct Help
ii. Materials
1. Tree cut out
2. Leave print out for drawing
3. Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
4. Students tool boxes for illustrating the tree
5. Tape
Modeling
a. TTW model ideas of what you could be thankful to get ideas started.
b. TTW model how to create the thankfulness leaf

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VIII.

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i. TTW model how to illustrate an idea

ii. TTW model how to write the word/sentence that describes it
Check for Understanding
a. TTW see if students understand how to come up with an idea of what they could
be thankful for through class creation of the circle map.
b. TTW know if students understand how to create the leaf through interaction
during centers.
Closure
a. At the end of the day students will take turns sharing what they wrote on their
thankful leaf/what theyre thankful for.
Assessment
a. Informal- TTW see understanding of the idea of thanks through the completion of
the thankful leaf and class discussion.
Reflection
a. What could I have done differently?
b. What other thankful examples could I have shared?
c. Is the idea of a thankful tree appropriate/creative for Kindergarten?