November Reads for the Classroom

November Reads for the Classroom
This is the month to reflect on what we are grateful for, especially as the year is coming to a close, I love to reflect on everything positive that has happened this year. In addition, since we are getting closer to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, I love to incorporate the following books into my lesson plans. I hope that you find these helpful to you as well.

How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace 

A fun way to capture the spirit of Thanksgiving, by following the turkey as he tries not to get caught! The rhyming text is perfect for young children to keep the steady beat as you read aloud all of the turkeys adventures as he goes from school stage to becoming a mascot! Great for practicing steady beat with your younger learners as well as going along on a turkey chase. The author also has How to Catch an Elf, How to Catch a Snowman, How to Catch a Toothfairy, How to Catch an Easter Bunny, How to Catch a Mermaid, How to Catch a Dinosaur, etc.

Run Turkey Run by Diane Mayr 

I love this book so much that it is not Thanksgiving without this book in my classroom. Between the turkey running away from the farmer, which keeps students engaged in the story, to the song, this book is a gem for the month of November. What I love about this book is the repetitive saying “Run, Turkey, Run” which opens the door for a song or chant to replace this simple saying. There are various versions, although you can also compose your own song/chant. Here is a link to a sample lesson with this book which uses the song below. 

I have used another version of this song, though I don’t have music off hand and accompanied myself with ukulele. If you do not have Orff instruments, simply have your students grab rhythm sticks and keep a steady beat while they chant/sing!
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12 Days of Thanksgiving by Jenna Lettice 

I love the 12 Days series, and this one is no exception! There are several books that use the 12 Days of Christmas melody for other occasions throughout the school year, and this happens to be another one in the series. I use this as we are getting ready for the holiday and sing through it with my PreK, Kindergarten and grade 1 students. I love the colorful pictures as well as the familiar melody, which makes it easy for my students to pick up the song and sing along! I also use this to ask my students what Thanksgiving traditions they have with their families, before launching into the song. Highly recommend this book as a circle time activity, beginning of class activity, etc. 

Joseph Had an Overcoat by Simms Taback

I love this book for so many reasons. It is a book about gratitude, giving, recycling, and has a wonderful song to go with it! I have used this book on numerous occasions and always come back to this wonderful lesson. 

I start off this lesson by talking to the students about what gratitude means and how we can practice that. I explain that one of the ways that gratitude can be practiced is through being thankful for and taking care of your stuff. As we go through the book, I love to ask the students what Joseph made next from the clothing/item he currently has. Then, we sing the song at the end.

As an added extension, I have also composed a chant that students can say everytime that you read the phrase “It got old and worn”. This chant can be used to teach about quarter rests as well as reviewing ta and ti-ti rhythm syllables. For the chant and the extension lesson click here.

In addition, if you would like a free lesson plan idea that incorporates this book and uses another popular book “Something from Nothing” to teach 6/8 meter, click here to read my lesson that I wrote for Musicconstructed.com. 

Here’s to a productive and gratitude-filled November :)

Polina