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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