Thanksgiving Sharks Activities for Kindergarten ELLs

 This resource is included in the Sea unit for Kindergarten English Language Learners at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sea-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-29-8348964

Students learn Thanksgiving words to expand foundational English vocabulary in a fun way. Activities are designed with simple visuals, large images, and clear vocabulary, making it easier for beginners to understand without needing long explanations.

Vocabulary Introduction with the flashcards. Show them one by one and teach the vocabulary (cornucopia, turkey, pie, hat, etc.). Students repeat.

Teacher: What is this?

Students: It’s a shark!

Teacher: The shark has a cornucopia!

Touch and Show” Game.Place the flashcards on the the floor. Call out: “Find the shark with the pie!” Students run, touch, or point to the correct card.

Small cards for Sentence Practice: “The shark has…” Students make simple sentences: “The shark has a turkey.”  Add actions or gestures for extra fun.

Feed the Turkey Game. Students choose a small card, name the Thanksgiving vocabulary, and “feed” it to the turkey by placing it in the turkey’s mouth. For this game prepare the box using the template provided.

In this creative worksheet, students color and decorate the shark to turn it into a Thanksgiving character. They can add Pilgrim clothes, Thanksgiving foods, or festive items to complete the picture. Then they finish the sentence “My shark is a ______.” This activity builds vocabulary, encourages creativity, and helps students practice simple descriptions in English.

In these worksheets, students read the color word on each shark and color the picture correctly. This activity helps young learners connect written color words with their meanings. It’s perfect for building confidence in early literacy and color vocabulary.

Class Printable Shark Book. This printable book features a shark holding different Thanksgiving items. Each student colors one page, following the simple vocabulary on the picture. When the class finishes, all pages are assembled into a group book that students can read together. This activity promotes teamwork, reading fluency, vocabulary review, and pride in creating a shared class book.

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You’ll find practical classroom ideas, engaging worksheets, and freebies to make your lessons even more fun and effective. See you there!

Thanksgiving Counting Hats 1–10 Activities for Kindergarten ESL

 This resource is included in the Clothes Unit. CLICK here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Clothes-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-12-6483533

The Thanksgiving Counting Hat 1 to 10 resource develops number recognition, counting, and basic vocabulary in English. The Thanksgiving hats and images make learning relevant to the season. The resource is print-and-go, simple to use in small groups, centers, or whole-class activities.

Students practice counting objects from 1 to 10, matching numerals and quantities using the flashcards.

By associating numbers with pictures, students strengthen their understanding of number words in English and improve pronunciation through repetition.

Order the Number small Cards. Mix all the number cards and spread them on the floor or your desk. Students will look carefully at each card — count the hats on the pilgrim and read the number word. Start with number one and place the cards in order up to ten. Then, say each number out loud: one, two, three, four…

Write the Number Word and Numeral. Slip the Thanksgiving flashcards into clear plastic sleeves and give students dry-erase markers to practice writing! Students look at the picture, then write the number word and the numeral on the card. This activity allows for hands-on writing practice and easy cleanup — just erase and reuse!

Students can also use the Thanksgiving flashcards to trace the numeral and the number word directly on the plastic sleeve using a dry-erase marker.

Feed the Pilgrim! – Counting Activity. Place the Pilgrim box or cutout in the center of the table or carpet area. Spread the small number cards face up in random order. Call out a number word (e.g., nine), or show a quantity card. Have students find the matching number card and “feed” it to the pilgrim by placing it into the pilgrim’s mouth. Continue until all numbers 1–10 have been fed to the pilgrim.

Read and Color the Pilgrim’s Hats. These worksheet helps students review colors and numbers 1 to 10.

A Worksheet for students to cut and paste the Thanksgiving-themed quantity pictures next to the matching numeral and number word. Then, they will trace the numeral and word to practice writing and color the pictures as dictated by the teacher.

Thanksgiving Counting Board Game. In this interactive board game, students move along a path numbered 1–10 using Thanksgiving-themed player pieces. When they land on a number, they say it out loud and collect the matching Pilgrim card with hats showing that quantity.

Thanksgiving Numbers Pocket Chart. This fun pocket chart activity helps students match number words, numerals, and quantities with a Thanksgiving theme! Students take turns placing the cards with Pilgrim boys, numbers, and words in the correct order. 

It’s a hands-on way to encourage teamwork and oral practice as students say each number aloud while matching. Perfect for small groups, centers, or whole-class review!

Build the Number Words. Students use the letter tiles to spell the number words shown on the flashcards. They look at the Pilgrim number card, say the word, and then arrange the tiles to spell it correctly.

Make and Describe Your Pilgrim Hat. Give each student the Pilgrim hat template to color, cut, and assemble. Encourage them to choose their favorite colors. Once finished, have students present their hats to the class using simple sentences such as: This is my Pilgrim hat. It’s black and green. This Encourages speaking confidence through short oral presentations.

Thanksgiving Counting Booklet. Each page features a large numeral, the number word, and a cute pilgrim with the matching number of hats to color.

Students can color, read, and assemble their own mini book to review counting and number words. It’s an engaging way to reinforce number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, and color vocabulary — all with a festive Thanksgiving theme!

Find engaging Thanksgiving activities for your English language learners. I've gathered interactive games, worksheets, and creative ideas to make this holiday both educational and exciting! Follow my Pinterest board for Thanksgiving resources here:

Thanksgiving ESL/EFL Resources

Save time and bring festive learning into your classroom!

Halloween Buckets and Candies Activities for Kindergarten ELL

 This resource is part of the Beach Unit for Kindergarten-Holistic English Series #30.

Click here:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Beach-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-30-8461749

Combining the excitement of Halloween with a familiar summer theme like the beach captures children’s curiosity and keeps lessons engaging. Students will review and practice a beach-related words such as bucket in a playful and meaningful Halloween context. Perfect for English Preschool Teachers.

Children can describe the Halloween buckets on the flashcards, naming the Halloween characters and items: What is this?
Students: It’s a bucket.
Teacher: Yes! It’s a cat bucket. What color is it?
Students: It’s black.

Match and sort the buckets to the candies.

The flashcards prompt students to use simple sentences such as The Vampire candy is in the Vampire bucket.

Small cards. 

Bucket and Candy Match. Spread out the bucket flashcards on the floor. Hand out the candy flashcards to students. Students take turns matching their candy to the correct Halloween bucket (e.g., Candy corn candy goes in the candy corn bucket!).

Like this!

Promote active speaking practice using the skull with an open space to encourage students to read aloud and say the name of the Halloween character clearly.

Take a look!

Glue the witch finger pointer on a craft stick. Students can take turns being the “witch” and using the pointer to show any card and naming the character on the bucket.

Play Find and Point.  Spread the small bucket and candy cards on a table. Call out a word: Show me the cat bucket!  The student with the witch finger pointer touches the correct card and says: This is the cat bucket!

Play like this!

Students love “feeding” the skull — it transforms repetition and review into a fun, hands-on game. Play Feed the Skull! Place the cards face up on the table. Call out a word: Feed the candy corn bucket! Students find the correct card, say the word, and “feed” it through the skull’s mouth.

Memory Game. Place the cards face down. Students flip two cards at a time to find a matching pair. When they find one, they must say the words aloud: A vampire bucket and vampire candy!

A cut and paste worksheet for the students connect the Halloween character words (like witch, mummy, vampire, ghost) through picture association.

Worksheet. Students draw and decorate their own Halloween bucket and show their bucket to the class.

Coloring Worksheets will reinforces color vocabulary. Students review and apply color words like orange, black, purple, green, etc. through fun Halloween images.

Halloween Buckets Pocket Game encourages active learning. Students physically match and “feed” the buckets with candies and word cards, turning learning into a fun interactive experience.

Halloween Buckets Cup Game. Use the same printables from the game above. Use real cups to glue the bucket onto each. Students match the candy and word cards to each Halloween bucket (now on cups) to strengthen both picture–word and word–object associations.

Find fun, creative, and engaging resources to teach English to elementary learners.

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Counting Fingers 1–10 | Body Unit Activities for Kindergarten ELLs

 This resource is also included here: Body Unit for Kindergarten-Holistic English Series #11, prepare for your lesson plan to teach Kindergarten ELLs at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Body-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-11-6416731

Students will review the words of body parts (“finger” / “hand”) while practicing numbers 1–10, reinforcing both math and language. Help your students learn numbers 1–10 while exploring body parts with this engaging, hands-on resource perfect for kindergarten and early elementary English language learners! This comprehensive Body Unit set includes flashcards, worksheets, games, and interactive activities that combine math, language, and body awareness.

 Since children have their fingers with them, they can physically count along, which builds comprehension. They see the flashcard, move their fingers, and write the numeral and word, which strengthens memory through multiple channels.

 Placing stickers directly on each finger turns abstract numbers into something concrete that children can see and touch. It also strengthens one-to-one correspondence as each sticker represents one finger, helping students clearly connect the numeral to the exact quantity.

Students will physically stack cups as they say the number helping kinesthetic learners.  Strengthen number recognition by using the numeral small card, number word, and showing the number with their fingers ties together all three forms of number practice.

Having to swat the correct numeral and finger card builds speed in identifying numbers and quantities.

By matching the small cards, it supports ELL vocabulary growth. Seeing the hand image ties numbers directly to the body, reinforcing “finger(s)” vocabulary alongside numeracy.

Students see the correct spelling on the small card and practice copying it using fun foam letters, building confidence with English number words.

Students review both body parts (head, hand, arm, fingers, etc.) and numbers in the same worksheet. Tracing the labels gives practice with spelling and correct word placement.

Students who are not yet confident with spelling can still successfully match body part words to the correct place in this worksheet.

Using scissors and glue strengthens hand coordination, which supports both writing and self-care skills.

Learners can complete the activity on their own, giving teachers space to support others.

The file folder combines multiple skills. Students practice colors, numbers, and body vocabulary (hands, fingers) all at once. File folder games are perfect for literacy/math centers, letting students work at their own pace.

Students practice counting and speaking, number words, numerals, and body parts while playing with the printable board game.

Students can complete puzzles alone or collaboratively.

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