Thanksgiving Word Wall Cards for Preschoolers
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One of the most important things you have to do in your preschool classroom is to create a literacy-rich environment, and one way to do this is by displaying words throughout. When you label cubbies, toys, baskets, objects, etc., you are helping your preschoolers understand that words have meaning and make the connection between the object being labeled and the written word. This FREEThanksgiving Word Wall Card set is an excellent tool for teaching Thanksgiving-related vocabulary words and the beginning sounds of each of those words.
This Thanksgiving Word Wall Cards set includes eight pages with the words acorn, turkey, apple, pie, hat, lemon, pumpkin, leaf, blueberries, cornucopia, corn, sunflower, Indian, pilgrim, wagon, and Mayflower, both in English and Spanish. Choose the version you want and line the cards up under the beginning letter of each word. You can get it at the end of this post.
What is the Word Wall
A word wall is nothing more than placing cards with pictures and words under the letter of the alphabet that the word starts with.
In the classrooms, besides labeling everything, I always had a Word Wall that changed with the theme or the season to keep it exciting and not overwhelming.
In my opinion, every preschool classroom should have an alphabet displayed linearly. It is recommended to leave space under each letter to place your Word Wall Cards.
How to Prepare the Cards
This printable is practically ready for you to use. You need:
- The FREE Thanksgiving Word Wall cards set (found at the end of this post).
- Printer.
- White cardstock.
- Laminator machine.
- Laminator pouches.
- Scissors.
To prepare them, print out the cards on white cardstock, cut them out, and laminate them. That’s it.
How to Use Your Word Wall Cards
I recommend placing these cards not only in your Word Wall but also in your writing center, literacy center, housekeeping area, and quiet area and even sending them home. That way, the children will have easy access to these words throughout their entire month.
During circle time or large group activity, you can use the word wall cards to introduce the new vocabulary words related to Thanksgiving. As you introduce each word, you can also introduce or review the beginning letter and its sound.
Other Activities
You don’t have to limit yourself and your preschoolers to learning the words. You can extend the use of these cards in other centers to offer different activities to your preschoolers. That way, you can help them develop different skills in different domains. Some ideas I can give you are:
Writing Center
In this center, the children can:
- Practice letter formation.
- Trace the words using dry-erase markers.
- Copy the words with pencils, crayons, or markers.
- Match the words with magnetic, foam, or wooden letters.
- Organize the words in alphabetical order.
- Choose a word and build a phrase with it (silly phrases are okay).
Literacy/Library Center
You can have your children:
- Find the words in storybooks, magazines, newspapers, etc.
- Choose one word and find other words that start with the same letter.
- Spell the words.
- Say the beginning sound of each word.
Housekeeping Area
To take advantage of the props that this center has typically, the children can:
- Match the picture with props previously placed, such as acorns, toy turkey, plastic mini apples, toy pie, pilgrim hats, artificial lemons, artificial mini pumpkins, silk fall leaves, artificial blueberries, artificial corn, artificial sunflowers, toy Indian figures, toy pilgrims, mini wagon, Mayflower toy boat, and any other prop that you can think off.
- Serve apples, blueberries, and corn as snacks. You can also add a bit of pie (if you don’t mind the sugar rush).
Reading Area
This area is beneficial for helping children develop their language, pre-reading, and pre-writing skills. Aside from offering different books to look at, one way you can use these words is:
- Print out a set and divide the pictures and the words. Place the separated sections in a basket and have the children assemble the pictures with the matching words.
Expand Your Library
Having multiple storybooks is another important literacy resource you should have. Good books will keep your children engaged and eager to use them; therefore, keep your library interesting and changing with your theme.
Below are some fun Thanksgiving books you could use. If you don’t have books related to the theme or don’t have enough, you can always check out some at your local library or hit the used bookstores. But if you want to expand your collection, just click on my affiliate links on the titles, and they will take you directly to Amazon, where you can purchase them.
- The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross. This exciting book retells the story of the pilgrims’ voyage across the Atlantic to the first Thanksgiving feast, using colorful and beautiful illustrations that will delight your young historians.
- Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks! by Sutherland. This book used simple text and colorful illustrations to introduce preschoolers to the joy of celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends and to be thankful for everything and every day.
- Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving by Mercer Mayer. This lovely character brings to life the Thanksgiving celebration with his family as they give thanks during this holiday.
- Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson. This book offers beautiful illustrations and playful text to tell the story of a Bear who has come up with a big dinner to celebrate family and friendship.
- The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing is a fun book that tells the story of families getting together to prepare and enjoy a feast during Thanksgiving.
- Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes. This book uses simple text and striking illustrations to remind kids and adults alike about the little details that make each day enjoyable and a warm and genuine way to share the true Thanksgiving spirit.
Pin It For Later
If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable but want to save it for later, pin this to your Literacy, Fall, or Thanksgiving board on Pinterest.
Then check out other FREE counting printables available only to my readers and get them too to expand your activities collection for Fall, and help your preschoolers have fun while learning.
- Thanksgiving Math Puzzles.
- Turkey Letter Match.
- Acorn Counting Mats.
- Pumpkin Patch Counting Mats.
- Apple Shapes Match.
- Johnny Appleseed Visual Discrimination Game
Don’t forget to grab your FREE printable Thanksgiving Word Wall Cards by clicking the link below!
I hope you and your children enjoy this activity, regardless of where you live. Even when you’re not American and don’t have the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving, you can still use this activity during the entire Fall season.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.S. Please let me know if this activity works for you, and if you would like to see an article or a printable about how to make something specific, please let me know and I will try my best to create it for you. My goal is to help you in any way I can and I don’t like anything better than to post something that you might find useful.
