Thanksgiving craft

These just turned out too cute!

{So sorry they aren't arranged all fancy! With me, we are just happy to have a couple pics!}

I was thinking I needed - ok, really, wanted - to do a Thanksgiving craft, but I couldn't find any that I liked - that didn't include painting hands or feet or something that just scares me to death! {and super kudos to anyone who undertakes those type of adventures!!!}. 

Then Pinterest to the rescue. I actually pinned this a while back. And I was at the grocery store and saw this bag of very colorful spiral pasta, and grabbed it. I think they turned out pretty cute, and still show the individualness {I'm so sure that's a word!} of my kiddos. 

I gave them a 6 inch square of orange paper. Then I gave them a 3 inch circle and a 2 inch circle in brown. I opened up my box of scraps and let them go to it. They made their own beak, waddle, eyes and feet. After they got those done, they glued on the pasta. Some appear to be more in love with pasta than others. 

And ya know, if you wanted to make it all educational - and if I'd been thinking ahead of time - we are doing "how to" writing. I could've had them write how to make a pasta turkey. 

Anyway, just loving the cuteness - and enjoying a chance to let my kiddos be creative! 

Gingerbread People Decorating

We did something fun in my class on Thursday that I'd like to share with you. We decorated Gingerbread People. It's a pretty simple craft and one the kids seem to really enjoy. I cut out a bunch of 12 inch tall body outlines - I used brown paper. I gave each kiddo a body, then told them I had scrapbook paper, construction paper, pieces of fabric, yarn, and some sequins for them to use. I also have 4 pairs of "fun" scissors - they cut zig zag or scalloped edges. To keep from getting run over by an excited mob of 2nd graders, I called up table groups to pick one thing to get started. Once everyone had gotten one thing, I told them if there were less than 5 people at the table, they could come up and get more. 

I have to tell you, I was extremely tired that day, having woken up at a very, VERY unreasonable hour. And when we started, I was just thinking, help me get through this. But after the first rush, it was fun to just sit in my chair and watch them work and visit and be creative. And the kids would come up and get a little more, a little more. 

I'll try to take a picture of everybody's - they are all on my bulletin board - but here are a couple work in progress ones -

I had a sub today, but she told me that when they came in this morning, they all had to ooh and aah over the Gingerbread People. Ah, that's nice to hear!

So easy-peasy craft idea and I'm sure you could connect it to some reading, like Jan Brett's Gingerbread books, if you wanted. 

Anyway, Happy Friday, Happy Weekend to you! Sara