by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: October 20, 2009   Last Updated: December 10, 2011

First a little about the holiday and what we are celebrating. It commemorates the survival of the first year in the New World with the arrival of the pilgrims on Plymouth Rock. A feast was held with the Native Americans. There is no true record of what was eaten on that first Thanksgiving, but the Queen celebrates with goose, so the assumption is made the pilgrims made do with a turkey. So there is the reason we are all making turkeys.

Preschool crafts are more about assembly that making much. Their little hand have not mastered a lot of skills, so it is practice.

• Pine Cone Turkeys

These are easy and work well into the lesson plan. Pine-nuts may have very well been involved in that first Thanksgiving dinner. Print out the feathers on colored construction paper and have the children cut them out. Have the glue or stick the feathers in thepine cone and attach an acorn turkey head. It probably won't be pretty, but it will be fun.

• Native American Vest

So the Native Americas probably didn't wear vests, but this is a change to understand some of their artwork and design. Take a large brown paper garbage bag. Cutout the center of one side. Cut out neck and arm holes.

Show the children some Native American kachinas. They can choose their artwork based on the meaning. For example in the Navajo nation they may want to draw the colorful rainbowkachina that symbolizes peace and harmony between tribes. Or perhaps a butterfly is more to the liking it is the kachina that brings the medicine man to the correct flowers. Eagle kachinas show power and strength. They are the rulers of the sky and the messengers to heaven. Those are just a few options for the children.

• Turkey Headdress

Most pre-schooler like to have hats at one time or another. So a simple construction paper head band with a turkey face and feathers can be a real treat. Use some craft feathers and let the children glue them. The key is to have them glue the feather on the outside. It may not look the best, but the hair will not get stuck with the glue.

• The Famous Hand-print Turkey

Every child has to make one of these. Trace the hand and the fingers are the feathers and the thumb becomes the turkey's head. Lots of crayons and color and there is another item to hang on the fridge.

What would Thanksgiving be with out the pilgrims? Make pilgrim hats and outfits. They are fun and easy.

Place mats are a good idea for any meal. Corncob place mats are made by taking corn cobs and rolling them in paint and then across paper. This is a messy project and that means that preschool children will love it. Let the painted papers dry. Then laminate them and use them for snack time, then send them home for the dinner table.

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