• An example of a Pilgrim costumethanksgiving image by michael langley from Fotolia.com
  
  Celebrate Thanksgiving in ways that engage and educate preschool children through creative play. Preschool is a place children are taught to share; early associations of sharing through fun activities can reinforce the positive aspects of giving and being part of a group. The more children enjoy the spirit of giving thanks and sharing at an early age, the more likely they will incorporate it into their lives.
  
  

Dress up and Exchange

• Have youngsters dress up as either Indians or Pilgrims by placing over their clothes simple garments or accessories such as feathered headdresses and belts or Pilgrim hats and aprons, which they have made during arts and crafts time. Ask them to hold hands, walk in a circle and sing children’s Thanksgiving songs, such as "I’m a Little Indian" and "Little Pilgrim." At different times during the songs, the teacher should yell, “Indians!”–and have all the Indians gather in the middle of the circle and dance. When the teacher yells, “Indians!” again, the Indians place their costume pieces in the center of the circle. The teacher repeats this for the Pilgrims. When the teacher yells “gobble, gobble, gobble!” all the kids run to the center and put on the opposite costume. They rejoin the circle to finish singing. When all the songs are done, everyone gathers for a group hug.
  
  

Corn, Beans and Squash

• Make sure you have some festive music for this game. Divide the children into groups of three. The teacher describes the importance of how corn, squash and beans help each other to grow (i.e., as the corn grows tall and the beans grow up their stalks; meanwhile the squash stays low, keeping the ground moist for the corn and beans and getting nutrients from them) In each group, designate one student as the corn, one as the squash and one as the beach. Have them dance together playing out their roles and helping each other “grow”.
  
  

Add-on Stories of Giving

• The teacher starts with a story that captures the spirit of giving. At certain points in the story, encourage the children to interject their own expressions of gratitude and giving. The teacher also can ask the children to act out their expression instead of verbalizing it; this will keep the children fully engaged in the exercise.