Thanksgiving is a special time when we say thank you for all the good things in our lives, like our family, friends, food, and home. It's a time to be kind, share, and spend time together. We show our thanks with hugs, smiles, and yummy food, just like this Turkey making art moment that the toddlers had so much fun doing this month. As we dove into talking about things we are thankful for, we discussed different aspects of what thanksgiving brings to the table, literally and metaphorically. Turkey is a popular food at Thanksgiving because it's believed that wild turkeys were plentiful when the Pilgrims and Native Americans had their harvest feast. Now today, turkey is a symbol of the holiday and a tasty way to bring people together!
Due to this reason, we decided to create a Thanksgiving turkey craft. We set out colorful paper feathers, googly eyes and plenty of glue. The toddlers buzzed with curiosity and little bursts of excitement as they saw all the supplies being laid out. Some of the toddlers dove right in, spreading glue with great enthusiasm, while others took their time, carefully choosing which coloured paper they wanted to use for their turkeys’ feathers. A few were fascinated by the googly eyes, holding them up to their own eyes and giggling before adding them to their creations. As they worked, we noticed different problem-solving approaches. Some toddlers used all their glue in one spot and then tried to pat their paper feathers on top, watching them slowly slide down, giggling as they touched the slimy glue. Once the paper fell off, they tried again and spread the glue around more, giving more space for their paper. This showed great problem solving. Other children carefully lined up the feathers in a line or together, showing a sense of order and design to their creativeness.There was lots of communication, some verbal, some through gestures. One child pointed at an-other's turkey and said, “gobble!” while another asked, “More eyes?” when they wanted to add a third googly eye.
This open-ended activity allowed for expression, experimentation, and sensory exploration. Each turkey looked different, reflecting each child’s unique perspective and choices. The process, not the product, was the most valuable part, offering opportunities for language development, fine motor skill growth, and social interaction. The oddlers can bring them home to share with their families during their holidays.
