Thanksgiving is a great time to let others know how thankful you are to have them. Maybe you are enjoying the company of family and friends this Thanksgiving or you have some quiet time after your feast to have some fun.
Here are some ideas to make the time together memorable from make it grateful.com
https://www.makeitgrateful.com/living/celebrate/thanksgiving/family-activities-thanksgiving-day/
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Websites like Teachers Pay Teachers have great ideas that even parents and families can use to encourage reading.
One thing you could do as a family is to have a reading challenge while the children are home over the winter holiday break. Below is an example of a reading challenge for elementary age children.
[All credit for the above image belongs to 1stGradeintheMountains who created this challenge for her students. The challenge can be found as a free PDF download on TPT at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Break-Reading-Challenge-3247453]
Don’t forget that adults can join in a challenge too! Set aside a quiet time to read as a family, especially on a cozy, snowy night. Read with your children or let them see you reading a book while they read their own books.
Are you struggling to find things to do with your family this winter? Are the costs of admission to local museums or parks keeping you from enjoying all the wonderful things Michigan has to offer?
If you have a library card in many cities in Michigan, you can take advantage of a program called the Michigan Activity Pass.
The Michigan Activity Pass allows you to get free or discounted admission to a variety of places in the state. Some local examples include:
Information about the pass, instructions on how to get the pass, and a searchable list of place at which you may use the pass are available on the Michigan Activity Pass website.
This December holiday season means different things to different people. Our community is made up of families with different religious faith practices, ethnic traditions, and even family rituals. Parents and grandparents pass along these beliefs and practices in lots of ways – participation in religious services, storytelling and reading books together, sharing special meals, and activities as a family.
Think back to your childhood. What are your favorite holiday memories? How can you share some of these traditions with your children? Do you think more about the presents you received or the times you spent with loved ones? Keep in mind that our most important gifts to our children may not cost any money at all.
Also, children can often be overwhelmed by the holiday season because of extra school events and activities, because they sense the stress of adults around them, or because their routines are disrupted with time off of school, travel, and visits with extended family and friends.
For all these reasons and many more, consider what your priorities are as a family during the holiday season and choose to enjoy some activities that are fun and relaxing with your children. Although Christmas dominates the month of December, many activities below can be enjoyed by those of all faiths or modified to respect beliefs and traditions.
Child Honoring Holiday Activities [by Kristin Wiens]
Kwanzaa Activities by Family Fun Crafts [visit link for information]
Families often spend extra time together when the kids are out of school for Thanksgiving. You can use this time to both enjoy the holiday season and also help improve literacy in the family by playing games, writing about things for which you are thankful, reading the directions for a craft, and talking about favorite Thanksgiving foods.
Your family can use special Thanksgiving words and phrases to play Pictionary or Charades. Games can be a fun way to practice vocabulary without even realizing that you are learning.
Print out this link from Scholastic for instructions on Pictionary and Charades along with Thanksgiving words for your game: Thanksgiving Games.
Younger children can make their own booklet of things for which they are thankful. The adults can also use the booklet to practice writing sentences in English. If the whole family joins in this activity, you can share your booklets with one another.
Download and print this “I’m Thankful” booklet from Scholastic: I’m Thankful.
Have the family make turkey bookmarks for their favorite books. Let younger kids practice reading by reading the instructions to the family. If you don’t have special scissors or stickers, just use your imagination and personalize your turkey your way!
Instructions for the bookmark: Turkey Corner Bookmarks.
With family members of all ages, try some unique versions of Thanksgiving desserts. Pumpkin Pie in a Jar is a great way to enjoy this treat with less mess.
Get directions for mini pie recipes from Scholastic: Mini Thanksgiving Pie Recipes
With older kids, talk about the differences between your favorite Thanksgiving meal and the foods most likely served at the first Thanksgiving meal. How do these foods differ from what people in the United States traditionally serve on Thanksgiving? Would you consider adding some of these foods into your Thanksgiving celebration?
Article from Smithsonian on first Thanksgiving foods: What Was on the Menu at the First Thanksgiving?
One of the most iconic annual parades takes place right here in Detroit!
Every year, The Parade Company hosts America’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving Day. The parade has floats, marching bands, giant balloons, dance teams, and lots more! You can watch it in person along Woodward Avenue in Detroit or on TV as you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast.
You can get more information on America’s Thanksgiving Parade at the Parade Company website: Parade Company Information.
If you cannot watch America’s Thanksgiving Parade, there are many other holiday parades around the metro Detroit area in November and December. You can find a list of parades at: Metro Parent Magazine 2018 Parades.
Make sure you bundle up for the cold! Wear warm jackets, hats, and gloves or mittens if you will be standing outside watching the parade. A cup of hot cocoa will also help you stay warm and get you in a festive mood.
Photo of America’s Thanksgiving Parade in 2017. All rights belong to Pointe Photography.
There are so many ways families can enjoy fall in Southeast Michigan!
There are 9 apple orchards just in Macomb County alone. You can pick apples, watch how apple cider is made, and try some yummy donuts. Some orchards also offer hayrides, corn mazes, or petting farms.
Apple Orchard Guide from Detroit Free Press
Whether you carve your pumpkin into a jack o’lantern or keep it simple, you can pick your favorite pumpkin. Many pumpkin patches are located at apple orchards, so you can try lots of fall activities in one place!
Pumpkin Patches in Southeast Michigan
Some families enjoy a night at a haunted house. Be sure to find one that is appropriate for the ages of your children.
Haunted Houses, Hayrides, and Events in Southeast Michigan
Fall is a beautiful season in Michigan as the air grows colder and the leaves change color. Take a walk in a park as a family to breathe in fresh air and get moving outdoors before the snow arrives.
Metro Parent Guide to Best Fall Michigan Color Tour Spots
FYI: Area newspapers such as the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and Macomb Daily publish information on activities such as these. Also, check out some free resources such as Metro Parent magazine or websites like Curbed for ideas on fun family activities.
Since 1950, children all over the United States have raised money for UNICEF on Halloween. In the beginning, children decorated containers to collect money for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund [UNICEF]. Today, children get boxes specially designed by UNICEF in order to collect money when they trick-or-treat. It’s a great way to have fun and help others at the same time!
If you would like to learn more or order a box for yourself or your child, please visit Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
You can also print out a wrapper to put on your own container when you collect donations by going to Trick-or-Treat 2018 Canister Wrapper.
If you or your children do not trick-or-treat due to cultural or religious beliefs, you can still participate by setting up a fundraiser. Ask family, friends, or community members to contribute directly or online through Crowdrise.
Lots more information can be found on the UNICEF website linked above including ways to get your donation to UNICEF through Coinstar.
Start this fun tradition with your family this year!
Warren Woods ESL Blog 