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 Booklet

 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.

This resource is also sold individually  here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Sharks-Activities-for-Kindergarten-ELLs-14883231

I’d love to have you visit my other blog, where I share freebies, activities, tips, and resources designed especially for elementary English teachers!

Explore it here: https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/

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

This resource is also included in a bundle:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sea-Unit-BUNDLE-for-Kindergarten-and-Elementary-ESL-7078368

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!

This resource is also sold individually here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Counting-Hats-110-Activities-for-Kindergarten-ESL-14749372

Take a look at the Clothes Worksheets for Preschool ESL, where students can review and reinforce what they’ve learned through simple, engaging activities. 👉 Go to the worksheets post here: https://eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com/2021/01/clothes-unit-worksheets-for-esl-student.html

There is a clothes BUNDLE for teaching Kindergarten and Elementary Learners, here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Clothes-Unit-for-ESL-BUNDLE-6456962

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!

Thanksgiving and the Body Unit

This resource for Kindergarten English teachers is included in the Body Unit-Holistic English Series # 11. Link to the resource:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Body-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-11-6416731

                                                      

The turkey theme aligns with Thanksgiving. This resource offers a multi-faceted approach to language learning. It encourages active participation through spinners, flashcards, and interactive activities, ideal for keeping kindergarteners focused.

The turkey flashcards introduce and reinforces vocabulary in a meaningful, playful way.

Describe the turkey’s body parts: This is the turkey’s head!

Call out a body part, and have students point or touch it on the board.

Students match the body unit flashcards from the resource with the turkey flashcard to reinforce vocabulary and visual recognition. Provide the turkey flashcard on the board. Have students match flashcards on the correct body part (e.g., "wing," "beak"). This is a way to build word-to-concept association and fine motor skills. Introduce the new body parts: beak, waddle, wings, feathers.

Use the pointer to name all the parts of the body of a turkey.

Review the concepts of up, and down with physical actions using the flashcards to reinforce understanding.

Show a flashcard and have the stduents do the action like the turkey: hands up!

Point out the difference between left and right. Use the flashcards and then have the students raise their left leg and right leg as you show the turkey’s flashcard.

Turkey Body Puzzle. It encourages problem-solving and sequencing. Just print the worksheet and dictate the color of the body parts on the turkey: Color the wings green!

Then, when the turkey is colored, have the stduents cut along the lines and assemble the turkey.

Another worksheet to label the parts of the body on the turkey.

Print and create the spinner, using a butterfly pin and a clip. Spin the spinner, name the body part it lands on, and give a direction: "Point to the wing" on the turkey flashcard. Or call out a command, like "Touch the beak the turkey."

Video!

There is more to this body unit resource. Check the blog post to see what else is included: 

https://eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com/2021/01/link-to-complete-resource-httpswww.html

 

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Turkey and Color Crayons for Thanksgiving teaching ELLs

 This resource for any Early Childhood Educator is included in the School Theme for Kindergarten-Holistic English Resources #3. You can find it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-3-5977653

The turkeys are festive linking to Thanksgiving, making the activity memorable and enjoyable. The color-focused activities help young learners expand their color vocabulary.

Flashcards appeal to visual learners by associating each color word with a turkey holding a crayon.

Hide flashcards around the room and let students find them. When they find a turkey, they call out the color of its crayon, reinforcing color recognition and making the activity a fun treasure hunt.

Show a turkey small card, and have students call out the color of the crayon the turkey is holding. Then, have them look in their pencil case for a crayon in the same color.

Turkey Colors Worksheets reinforces the understanding through hands-on engagement. Give your students repeated exposure to color words.

Pocket charts matching cards. The turkeys holding crayons provide a fun visual connection to each color, making it easier for ELL students to identify and remember words through association.

The Board game provides a fun, low-pressure environment where students can practice color vocabulary, helping them learn through enjoyable interactions. Students will name the color on the crayon that each turkey holds in order to move along the path.

A domino!

Print and create a group book. After students color each page, practice reading together as a class, emphasizing the sentence structure “I can see a ___ crayon.” This reinforces sight words and sentence patterns while associating colors with the vocabulary.

Pair students up and have them read their completed books to each other, practicing fluency and helping each other recognize color words.

More on what else is included in this resource, check the blog post:   https://eflpreschoolteachers.blogspot.com/2024/07/school-objects-and-colors-phrases-for.html

Check the colors unit BUNDLE at the TPT store:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Colors-Unit-BUNDLE-for-ESL-6825443

🍁 Discover Fun Thanksgiving Resources for ESL/EFL Learners! 🍁

Teachers, looking for engaging and educational Thanksgiving activities? Follow my Pinterest board for creative resources tailored for English language learners. From crafts to games, there's plenty to make Thanksgiving learning memorable!

👉 Follow here: https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl/thanksgiving/eslefl-thanksgiving-resources/

Happy teaching and celebrating! 🍂