Concurpia Thanksgiving Activities
Concurpia Thanksgiving Activities
Concurpia Thanksgiving Activities
of Thanksgiving Activities
Table of Contents
1
Edible, Personalized
Cornucopia of Appreciation
A cornucopia is a traditional symbol of plenty, often overflowing
with flowers, fruits, and husks of corn. Each of us, too, is also
overflowing with our own “cornucopia” of gifts, strengths, and
abilities.
In this extra-special Thanksgiving project, you will create
personalized cornucopia place settings for your guests. These are
just as delicious as they are heartwarming.
Note: these cornucopias use sugar cones, as well as fresh berries,
nuts, and chocolate — but feel free to adapt them to your own
preferences, or even personalize them for each guest. This project
What You Need: also adapts well to other holidays and celebrations.
Wrappers:
• List of guests What You Do:
• DIY Sugar Cone Wrapper Wrappers:
printable template (provided
1. Working from your guest list, think of a quality that each
on the next page) person has in abundance. Intelligence? Humor? Kindness?
• Printer and paper Cute cats? Jot down for each.
• Non-toxic pens 2. Cut out the DIY Sugar Cone Wrapper template provided on
• Non-toxic adhesive the next page.
Ingredients:
3. Using non-toxic pens, write the name of each guest on one
of the templates, surrounded by the “cornucopia” of traits
• Sugar cones (one per guest; unique to each guest. Feel free to embellish with stickers,
have extra on hand in case ribbons, or other non-toxic decorations.
some break during assembly)
4. Carefully glue or tape the wrapper shut. Make sure the
• Fruits, nuts (such as your adhesive is fully dry before undertaking the next step.
favorite trail mix!), and other
small food items for filling Assembly:
the cones. Note: Be sure to
1. Carefully place a sugar cone in each wrapper.
take into account any of your
guests’ allergies or dietary 2. Position the cone on each plate. Arrange your chosen fillings
restrictions.
(such as fruit and nuts) inside the cone, so that it looks like
it is overflowing with nature’s bounty.
• Small plates
3. Repeat until you have created a cornucopia for each guest.
4. Place one at each table setting.
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DIY Sugar Cone Wrapper Template
3
Tissue Box Thanksgiving Turkey
Make this turkey craft with your child to get into the
Thanksgiving spirit! Using a few household items, such as
an old tissue box, a toilet tissue tube, and construction
paper, your child will make an adorable turkey that can
serve as a special Thanksgiving decoration or a cute
centerpiece for the dinner table.
4
Family Tree Nametags
If Thanksgiving in your family involves lots of relatives your
kids may only see a few times a year, this fun and easy project
is a great way to help your child learn who’s who, practice their
handwriting and get a little Thanksgiving crafting done. Leafy
name tags are simple to make, and displaying them in a festive
family tree is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
5
Write a
Thanksgiving Proclamation
George Washington declared November 26, 1789 as a day of
public thanksgiving and prayer with his National Thanksgiving
Proclamation, but he was not the first to issue one. In fact,
Thanksgiving proclamations date all the way back to 1723!
Now it is your child’s turn to write a Thanksgiving Proclamation
of their own. It may be the newest in a long line of proclamation
—but with a little tea or coffee magic, it will look like just like one
of the early originals. Not only is this project a meaningful way to
embrace the spirit of the holiday, it’s also a chance to practice
gratitude and thankfulness for the things we experience through-
out the year.
What You Need:
• Regular white paper
• Weakly brewed tea or What You Do:
coffee “Age” the Paper: (1 to 2 days in advance)
• Shallow pan for soaking 1. Prepare for the process by putting on some old clothes and
the paper finding a workspace that can get messy. Remember that tea
• Calligraphy pen or and coffee stain fabric and other materials!
special marker
2. Pour your brewed tea or coffee into the shallow pan. Crumple
• Matches or a lighter the paper well, then carefully immerse it so that it is soaked
(optional) through. Keep in mind that the longer you soak it, the darker
• Candle (optional) it will be—but if you soak it too long it will fall apart!
3. Remove the paper from the liquid and lay it flat or hang it
with clothespins to dry. This may take a day or two, or longer
in more humid climates.
4. When the paper is dry, you can also create a “burned-edge”
look by carefully singeing the edges with the tip of a flame.
(Note: this should be done only by an adult in an area free
from flammables.) Continued on next page.
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Write a
Thanksgiving Proclamation
What You Do (Continued):
Write Your List:
1. Help your child make a detailed list of what they are thankful
for. Encourage them to consider things big and small, such as a
warm and cozy house to live in, parents, siblings, friends, books,
plenty to eat, snow (or rain, or sun) to play in, toys, and so on.
2. Review this list together.
3. Have your child write down what they are thankful for using a
calligraphy pen (in keeping with the historic theme) or any
marker they choose.
George Washington. 4. Have your child sign the proclamation to make it official, noting
Source: Library of Congress the location and date underneath.
5. You can also add an official seal to your child's proclamation
under the signature by melting a bit of candle wax and letting it
drip onto the paper, then etching your child's initials into it as it
cools and hardens. (Note: this should only be done by an adult,
away from flammable materials.)
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The Meaning of Thanksgiving:
A Hat Full of Thankful
The meaning of Thanksgiving can sometimes get lost among the
fun of food and family! Here's a fun way to include thanks in your
Thanksgiving. Even the youngest children can participate with
this easy project, which we've dubbed "A Hat Full of Thankful!"
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Corn Kernel Necklace
Looking for a fun seasonal activity to do with your child?
Make corn kernel necklaces and help build your child's
hand-eye coordination as well as her fine motor skills. This
easy-to-make fall craft is the perfect project to do indoors
with your child on any brisk autumn day, but it's especially
fitting on Thanksgiving!
9
Do Some Cranberry Sauce Science
It’s food. It’s tradition. And guess what: cranberry sauce is also
science! This year on Thanksgiving, we invite you and your child
to try the simple recipe below. You’ll explore the effects of pectin,
a complex carbohydrate that is found in the skins and cores of
many kinds of fruit. Take just a few cups of cranberries, add
sugar, water, and heat, and watch what happens. When you’re all
done, make sure you eat some, too. We think it’s truly delicious!
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