Thanksgiving Poems

We have been busy making these gorgeous thanksgiving poems in my elementary school class. I loved the finished product and had to share it with you. The idea for this project came from this great website: Let's Explore

I thought it would be too difficult for me to try to center and type all of the student's poems and so their poems are just handwritten. I think it is fun that their 10 year old script is preserved for the future along with the things that they are thankful for.

Here are the steps that we followed:
1. Use this template to create a thanksgiving poem of your own. Write it out first on a sheet of scrap paper.  Thankful Poem

2. Print out the leaf pattern and cut it out. Maple Leaf Pattern

3. Trace around the leaf with pencil on a piece of white card stock.

4. Copy your poem onto the white card stock, writing as neatly as possible with a black pen.

5. Erase the shape of the maple leaf around the poem.

6. Cut the maple leaf shape out of contact paper. (Make sure the leaf is facing the same direction as your poem on the paper!)

7. Cover the poem with the contact paper leaf.

8. Water color all over your paper. No need to try to stay within the lines. The contact paper will provide a nice sharp edge when you peal it off. It is like magic!!

9. Let dry.

10. Peel off your contact paper and see the masterpiece underneath. Pop it into a frame and display it on your thanksgiving mantel!

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Peacemakers in Training

By Deborah Rowley

After you have told the story of the contention monster, you might want to follow up with some peacemaker training. I created these signs to help my children think of some possible solutions to some common problems in our home.

Then I created some word strips and my kids had to match the situation with one of the solutions that they thought would work best. We just lined up the five solutions on the floor and then placed the word strips below the solution we thought would work best.

Here are some examples:
The baby knocks down your block tower and you feel so angry inside.
Mom is frustrated because the kitchen is such a mess.
Dad is grumpy because he has had a hard day at work.
Your brother keeps teasing you and calling you names.
Your sister is crying because some kids made fun of her at school.

In each of these scenarios, we would ask: What would a peacemaker do?
There are no right or wrong answers. More than one peacemaker solution would work for each scenario. I just wanted my kids to think about what a peacemaker would do.

After we had this lesson, I would watch each child for signs of peacemaker behavior. Then I had this chart on the fridge and I would give one child the honor of being the peacemaker of the day. Dad would make a big deal out of this when he came home. It was a great way to recognize kids for doing something right for a change!

Peacemaker Training Signs

Scenario Word Strips Pin It

The Contention Monster

By Deborah Rowley

I wrote this story about 10 years ago in an effort to decrease the contention in our home when my kids were small. I am happy to report that contention is rarely an issue in our house now. Take heart, young mothers! Things do get better. Now I am excited to share the contention monster with my nursery kids. One thing that makes this story so fun is that it is interactive. You just don't sit and tell the story in one room. At different points in the story, the kids get to run and hunt for the monsters and angels that you have hidden ahead of time.

You will need three pictures of contention monsters and three pictures of angels:

Here is the story:

My name is Luke and my sister's name is Sarah. Most of the time we get along. We hardly fight at all, actually. That is because  of this one really unusual day. On this particular day, Sarah and I thought that our Mom had flipped. It all started like this. I was playing with my new K'nex system in my room and Sarah was playing Barbies in her room. Things were pretty peaceful. Then I maneuvered this machine into Sarah's room and it started to pick up Barbie stuff with those cool pinchers that I had built on the front. This made Sarah mad and she kicked over the machine. This made me mad and we started to fight. Suddenly Mom called form the kitchen, "Who let the contention monster into this house. Didn't I tell you he isn't invited?" We looked at each other. The contention monster? What was Mom talking about? There wasn't a monster in the house. Sarah lifted up the ruffle on her comforter and looked under the bed just in case. NO monster. And anyway, we didn't believe in them.

(Pause in the story to let the children find the contention monster in a kid's bedroom.)

I didn't think too much more about this monster until it was time for my favorite show. I  ran into the living room and dove for the bean bar chair-- the most comfortable spot in the house. The only problem was that Sarah was already there. This resulted in a little fight over the chair and our voices got a little bit louder and then someone pushed someone else and Mom entered the room. "I knew I heard that contention monster!" she said and she grabbed the bean bag chair and looked underneath it. "I wish I could find that horrible beast," murmured Mom as she walked out of the room. Sarah's eyes got really big and she stared at me, but I just lifted my arms and shrugged. Sarah did look under the couch before the show started but there was nothing there.

(Pause the story to let the children find the contention monster hidden in the living room.)

After the show, we went outside. There was this great mud pile in the corner of the garden where Dad hadn't planted anything and we built this neat castle for worms and ladybugs. When we came to the back door Mom took one look at us and sent us straight to the bathroom to wash up.
The only problem was that there was one sink in the bathroom and two kids. My elbows kind of blocked Sarah and she got mad and said that she needed to go first because she was a girl and before we knew it there was a fight and Mom appeared, "Alright," she said, holding big spoon above her head. "Come out this minute Contention Monster or I will come in after you. I mean it. You are not welcome in this home anymore." Then Mom banged her spoon on the side of the shower door and rattled some cupboards before she left.

(Pause to let the family find the contention monster in the bathroom.)

We were speechless. What was up with Mom: She had told us there was no such thing as monsters when we were little and now she said that a contention monster was in our house? Was she crazy? Maybe we should tell Dad about it. In  the meantime, I figured we had better take care of Mom and not do anything to upset her anymore. I told Sarah my idea and she agreed. So while Mom was on the phone in her bedroom, Sarah set the table and I wiped up the mud that we had tracked on the floor. Mom was so surprised when she came in and found the clean floor and table that she almost fainted. She staggered back against the counter and said, "I can't believe it. Are there some angels in my kitchen now?" I just looked at Sarah and smiled. Mom was being really weird this time. 

(Pause to let the kids find the angels in the kitchen.) 

Sarah followed me into the laundry room so I could put the dirty towel away that I had used on the floor. A clean basket of clothes was piled high in the center of the room. I looked at Sarah and she nodded. She was thinking the same thing. We both sat down and started to fold the clothes that Mom had washed earlier that day. Before too long, we heard Mom calling from the kitchen. "Are there angels in my laundry room? I can hear you in there. I don't know who let you in but you are welcome to stay." Sarah had to put her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling out loud. Monster and angels, Mom was really going nuts. 

(Pause in the story to let the children find the angels in the laundry room.)

Dad came home right after that and he was impressed when Mom told him about the angels who helped in the kitchen and in the laundry room. I decided we should wait to talk to Dad about Mom's behavior until we could get him alone. But after dinner, Dad helped Mom clean up and then he went into his room and start to watch a basketball game. I knew that wouldn't be a good time to bother him so we just gave him a hug and a kiss goodnight.
Mom came in right then and said" Did you hear some angels in here, honey?"" Dad shook his head, 'Hum, I was sure I heard some love coming from this room." "You did," Sarah said excitedly, as she jumped on Mom and hugged her. "It was coming from Luke and me."
"Thank you for the hug sweetie," Mom responded. 'I love you too. But where could those angels be?" She lifted up her pillow and looked underneath. Then she started searching in her closet. That is when Sarah and I snuck out and went to bed without being asked. We never did get to talk to Dad, but Mom started acting normal the next day. Sarah and I still try to help and not fight and stuff just in case Mom starts seeing Monsters and Angels again.

(Pause and let the children hunt for the last angels in Mom and Dad's bedroom)

I made this huge contention monster to hang on the wall after the story. I would open a bag of jumbo marshmallows and let the kids throw marshmallows at the contention monster to drive him out of our house.

I hope this story helps you banish the contention monster from your house too!


Black and White Monsters and Angels

Color Monsters and Angels

Story about the Contention Monster- A Hide and Seek Tale

Note: This story appears in my book Before They Turn Twelve. 

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Grass Head Guys

By Deborah Rowley

In my elementary school class we have been learning about plants. Of course, we needed to experience growing things and I couldn't resist these grass head guys! Simply layer some potting soil in a cup. Then disperse a layer of grass seed and cover with some more potting soil. Water generously every day and within a week you will see your grass start to sprout! I was amazed at how quickly it grew.

Here is Bob! 

Here is Bob with his wild, jungle look. 

Here is Bob after his first hair cut. This is his school picture. 

Here is Bob in his Halloween Costume. He is a Mad Scientist. His costume matched the costume of his master-- Ethan! 

For Halloween I had my students give their grass heads some Halloween costumes. I couldn't believe the original things they came up with using just a few scraps of ribbon, some fabric and supplies from home. 

Taysom Hill (the BYU Cougar) Grass Head

The Little Red Devil wears Prada Grass Head

The Cute Clown Grass Head

Frankenstein the Grass Head Monster!

Try this project with your kids. You will be amazed at how much fun they will have cutting their Grass (i.e. Hair) and giving their friend lots of costumes and outfits for the season! 

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Sunday Sam

By Deborah Rowley

This is an original story that I wrote to help kids learn how to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Each faith tradition has its own rules about Sabbath Day worship. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). This means that we try not to shop on Sunday or do a lot of work around the house. It is a day for church and family and rest. Gotta love that rule! Feel free to adapt this story according to your faith tradition and change the copy of the Book of Mormon to the Bible if that is appropriate for you. I know my church nursery kids will love putting Sam the mouse in his little pocket! And they will love hiding him under different objects in the story. They will also love all the mischievous things this little mouse does to help his human family honor God's day.

Note: This story appears in my book Before They Turn Twelve. You can find the full color and black and white illustrations below.

Here is the story: My name is Sam, but everyone calls me Sunday Sam because ever since I was really little, I have love doing what is right on Sunday.

Mom says that I keep the Sabbath Day holy. But the human people we live with don't. they do go to church on Sunday morning. I usually hitch a ride with Steve. (Put mouse in pocket).

But when they get home, Steve and the rest of the family act like it is  regular day. Once Steve and his brother began to wrestle and fight on the kitchen floor. I stood on Steve's head and shouted, "It is Jesus' special day and he can hear you fighting," but no one even heard me.  (Take mouse out of pocket.)

One Sunday, Steve started to play basketball until I ended the game early. (Show the flattened basketball with a bite out of it.)

Another Sunday, Steve's mom started to do the laundry, so I hid in the dirty clothes. That ended that activity for a while. (Place the sock over Sam.)

One Sunday, Steve's dad wanted to work in the garden, but I got to the garden first and buried the tools. (Put the spade behind Sam.) 

Once Steve's brother was watching a bad show on T.V., until I stopped him.

(Show the cord that has been bitten in half.) 

Almost every Sunday, the family goes to the store or out to eat, but I know how to keep them from buying anything. You can't get very far without money. (Put the dollar bill behind Sam's back.) 

I even figured out a way to keep the family from going boating on Sundays. (Put the key behind Sam's back. I guess I forgot to take a picture of the key.) 

If only I could help them see how much happier they would be if they did the things Jesus wants them to do. On Sundays I like to read aboutthe mice in the Bible. (Put up Noah's ark.)

          I like to feast on the words in the Book of Mormon. (Show nibbled Book of Mormon.)

     I like to take cookie crumbs to the widow mouse in the house next door. (Put up the cookies.)

                                    I like to sing my favorite songs. (Put up musical words.)

I love to think about Jesus. If Steve would just keep the Sabbath Day holy, I could stay in his pocket all day and I would call him Sunday Steve. 

(Put the mouse in the pocket.) 

Sunday Sam Full Color Illustrations

Sunday Sam Black and White Illustrations

Sunday Sam Story

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Healthy Pumpkin Cookies

By Deborah Rowley

This is our favorite healthy cookie recipe. My kids gobble these up! They even know that they are made with honey and whole wheat! So you know that the recipe has to be good. I love making these during the fall season when anything pumpkin is so yummy. Here is the easy recipe:

1/2 cup butter
1 egg
3/4 cup honey
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips... (yes, they do have chocolate chips but they are still super healthy. I am a BIG believer in the health benefits of dark chocolate!)

First mix the butter, egg, and honey together. Before you pour the honey in your measuring cup, spray the cup with PAM spray. You will be amazed at how easily the honey slides out of your measuring cup!

Then mix in pumpkin and blend well. Add all the dry ingredients. Bake at 350@ for 10 minutes. That is it!

The cookies are really moist and soft and they don't flatten out on the pan so you can really load them close together. I can get 34 smallish cookies out of this batch. Which is great because I load them into ziplock bags and store them in my freezer. Then I can just pull out a baggie to send in my kid's lunches or the kids can pull out one or two for their after school snack. I promise you will love these! And you won't believe that they are actually good for you.


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Thanksgiving is Next!

By Deborah Rowley

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! We served brick oven pizza to all of our trick or treaters. I wish all our readers could have stopped by! It was so delicious. Can you believe that I made thirty-two 12 inch pizzas last night? We had pepperoni, Hawaiian, BBQ Chicken and Chicken Alfredo. We even had BBQ pizza with hot dogs. (Katie's favorite.) We also served dessert pizzas. I did an apple one and a fresh raspberry one. Delicious! I dressed in a chef's costume and assembled the pizzas and my husband manned the newly finished oven. We had carved a pumpkin to direct everyone to the back yard. It was so much fun!

(Our Pond in the Fall. My Favorite!) 

Now I am already looking forward to Thanksgiving. Here is my favorite Thanksgiving post from last year. I love this story about Tom Turkey and his Terrible Temper. Throughout the story you add different color feathers to the turkey's tail. It is the perfect story to kick off Thanksgiving season and help calm cranky kids who are hyped up on too much candy!

Read the whole post and find the complete story and the free printable at the link below.
The Turkey with the Terrible Temper

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