1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

Fingerplays are an important part of learning. The students learn how to memorize. They learn cadence. Students improve fine motor skills as they work with their hands.

Holidays area a good time to introduce new fingerplays. Here are some Thanksgiving favorites.

Funny Bird:

Cradle on fist in a cupped hand. Extend the pointer finger to be the turkey head. Wiggle and wobble the the head.

"The turkey is a funny bird,
His head goes wobble wobble,
All he says is just one word ~ gobble, gobble, gobble."

Five Little Turkeys:

Five little turkeys by the barn door (hold up one hand five fingers spread wide)
One say some corn and then there were four (fold in the thumb)
Four little turkeys flew up in a tree (flutter the four fingers in the air)
One fell down and then there were three (let one finger clunk to the ground)
Three little turkeys gobbles as they do (hold up three fingers)
A dog chased one and then there were two (use other hand to go biting after one finger)
Two little turkeys strutting in the sun (hold up two fingers)
The wind blows up and then there was one ( blow on the fingers)
One little turkey and he began to run (one finger running)
For he saw the farmer and now there are none (other hand grabs the one finger)

*Pilgrim Children

Hold up the appropriate number of finger when counting through the rhyme. This one is longer and may need some pictures to help children understand.

Pilgrim children did not play, on that first Thanksgiving Day
The first chopped wood which he could take, to help his sister cook and bake
The second took a great big sack, and brought some nuts so they could crack
The third one got a turkey and she helped roast it in a pan
The fourth ground corn to make the bread,
The fifth made covers for the bed,
The sixth one brought a pumpkin by, she cut it up and made a pie
The seventh came and popped some corn
The eighth fed horses in the barn
The ninth watched the food or it might burn,
The tenth churned butter in a great big churn
Pilgrim children did not play on that first Thanksgiving Day

Five Fat Turkeys:

Five fat turkeys sitting on a fence (one and held up and spread out)
The first one said, "I am so immense." (pinch the thumb with the other hand)
The second one said, "I can gobble at you." (pinch the pointer finger with the other hand)
The third one said, "I can gobble, too." (pinch the middle finger with the other hand)
The fourth one said, "I can spread my tail." (pinch the ring finger with the other hand)
The fifth one said, "Don't catch it on a nail." (pinch the little finger with the other hand)
A farmer came along and stopped to say (throw both hands in the air)
"Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day.


source:
Miss Kalkaterra's file cards, 1st grade teacher, summit county

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Easy Thanksgiving fingerplays for kids?
We want to hear your view. Write now!