Author – Allison Wienhold
The original idea for the Thankful Turkey and post published 11.24.14 by Allison Wienhold – most recently updated by Mis Clases Locas 4.15.24
Inside: An easy Thanksgiving bulletin board for Spanish class. Thankful Turkey is the perfect way to talk about what you are thankful for in Spanish class. Plus a new #LangChatGratitudeChallenge to extend gratitude in Spanish class. Thanksgiving activity in Spanish Class.
Thanksgiving in Spanish Class – Thankful Turkey Bulletin Board
In 2014, I posted the original idea to make a Thankful Turkey in Spanish class (see the photo below). I figured it was time for an update. Here is a quick, fun, and easy way to decorate for Thanksgiving in any classroom. No, I do not teach elementary students, but yes, my students enjoyed tracing their hands.
How to Prepare to Make a Thankful Turkey Bulletin Board
- First post “We give thanks for..” in your language of choice on a board or wall.
- Then make a bare turkey. (I cut this peanut-looking turkey from a cardboard box and just added construction paper eyes, mouth & gobbler).
- Also, gather half sheets of colored paper, markers, and scissors.
In-Class Activity for Thanksgiving in Spanish class
- NEW – This Free projectable slideshow has vocabulary, instructions, and ideas of what to write.
- First, introduce the high-frequency words: I give thanks for, s/he gives thinks for, do you give thanks for?
- In Spanish I choose to use the commonly used word dar, to give: doy gracias por, da gracias por. (But feel free to use whatever phrase works best for you to give thanks)
- Circle and practice the questions Do you give thanks for…, I give thanks for… She gives thanks for, etc by discussing these questions with the class.
- Next, brainstorm with students about things they are thankful for in your target language. List these on the board as a reference. (My family, my friends, etc).
Have students create the thankful turkey hand
- Then let students choose a half sheet of colored paper, markers, and scissors.
- Have students trace their hands and cut them out.
- Next, students write something they are thankful for on each finger of the hand “feather.”
- Finally, add the thankful hands on the board.
Quick Video – How-To Make a Thankful Turkey
Additional variations of Thankful Turkey
- Make for a collaborative hallway board in all of the languages your school offers or speaks.
- You could also have students create their own turkey, or find a template to print, where they write what they are thankful for on each feather.
- Then, as an extension students could do a free write on what they are thankful for, what they did last Thanksgiving, or what their plans are for this year.
- For making your bulletin board, here are 5 bulletin board hacks from my friend
#LangchatGratitudeChallenge for Thanksgiving in Spanish class
Samara Spielberg is the real MVP & shared this amazing Free resource to practice Gratitude all month. It includes a slideshow for teachers to present the challenge in Spanish, as well as an editable student slideshow that you can post digitally in your LMS of choice. She has been doing this for a while now and also has resources for other languages as well. Follow @SamaraSpielberg for tons of great ideas and resources!
Personally, in the fall of 2020, my upper-level Spanish classes participated in the gratitude challenge during each class in November. Due to our block schedule each day that month class started with the free reading, 2 songs and vote, our daily chat in Spanish & then their daily gratitude journal writing. This means each class started with reading, listening, speaking, and writing, even before the set “lesson: of the day. tricky tricky 😉
More Ideas for How To Teach Gratitude in Spanish Class
If you are interested here are other turkeys through the years…
A couple of years ago a student decided my raggedy old cardboard Turkey needed a facelift. She made a new one, complete with a tuxedo. You can see him below waiting for his feathers. One day in early November, I started each class with the 15-20 minute activity above to make our thankful feathers.
Our 2019 Turkey
If you are looking for other activities to do before Thanksgiving break, you could use this Este descanso find someone who. It talks about plans for the holidays.
& Lista lunes Thanksgiving in Spanish class + How To Teach Gratitude in Spanish Class have lots more ideas!
If you make a Thankful Turkey, please post it on social media and tag @misclaseslocas. I love to see them all!
What are you thankful for this year?
