Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On PinterestVisit Us On InstagramVisit Us On Linkedin
  • Homeschool
    • Book Lists
    • How Do We Do That?
    • Notebooking
    • Subjects and Styles
    • Unit Studies
  • Travel
    • Europe
      • Benelux
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • London
      • Porto
      • Prague
    • USA
      • Chicago
      • Georgia
      • Hawaii
      • Ohio
      • Utah
      • Yellowstone and Teton
  • Family
    • Celebrations
    • Frugal
  • Military Life
    • Deployment
    • PCS
  • Health
    • Recipes
    • Essential Oils
    • Fitness
    • Mental Health
    • Natural Living
    • Natural Beauty
  • Faith
  • About Me
    • Favorite Resources
    • Advertising and Sponsorship
    • Policies
  • Reviews

© 2023Jennifer Lambert · Copyright · Disclosure · Privacy · Ad

Easy Dressing Recipe

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

November 23, 2021 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

I have a shortcut to make an easy and delicious dressing for Thanksgiving.

The shortcut is to use storebought cornbread and stuffing mix. I have often made my breads from scratch, but we really can’t much tell the difference and it always made way too much and I hate waste.

My mom didn’t add cornbread, but I like the mix of textures and flavors. My mom also didn’t use the sausage in her dressing recipe, but I find it adds a nice texture and flavor. Some people like oysters and chestnuts. You can make this your own, with whatever flavors you like. There are different flavors and brands of stuffing mix and I often add in some fresh herbs like sage.

I start with sausage and veggies. I saute those in butter. It smells wonderful!

I like to crumble the sausage really fine so it all melds together well.

I add in crumbled cornbread and the stuffing mix. For this recipe, I used half the square of the storebought cornbread and about half the bag of stuffing mix. Probably 2 cups of each.

I pour just enough chicken stock (you could use turkey stock, vegetable stock, or homemade stock) until it’s wet and well-mixed.

It should be cool enough to add in the eggs. We don’t want those to scramble!

I spray my 8×8 pan with olive oil. I actually like to cover my pan in the fridge for overnight.

Ready for the oven!

This was always my favorite dish on Thanksgiving. It’s actually simple and so flavorful and makes great leftovers.

Print

Easy Dressing

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1/2 tube breakfast sausage
  • 1 carrot peeled and chopped
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 5 celery stalks chopped
  • 2 T butter
  • 2 cups cornbread
  • 2 cups herb stuffing mix
  • 1-1.5 cups chicken stock
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Sauté sausage and vegetables in butter until cooked through.

  2. Crumble in cornbread and add bread mix.

  3. Pour in chicken stock and mix. This should be cool enough to add in eggs so they don't scramble! If not, wait until cooled.

  4. Mix in eggs. It should be quite wet.

  5. Pour into greased 8×8 pan. Cover in fridge for overnight.

  6. Bake 350* for about an hour or until firm and browned on top. Serve warm or room temperature.

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Linking up: Ginger Snap, Ducks in a Row, Ridge Haven, LouLou Girls, Suburbia, Stroll Thru Life, OMHG, Try it Like it, Miz Helen, Slices of Life, Jenerally Informed,

Share
Pin27
Share
27 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: holiday, recipe, thanksgiving

Teaching Gratitude

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

November 11, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 31 Comments

Feeling grateful boosts happiness and fosters both physical and psychological health, even among those already struggling with mental health problems. Studies show that practicing gratitude curbs the use of words expressing negative emotions and shifts inner attention away from such negative emotions as resentment and envy, minimizing the possibility of ruminating over them (a hallmark of depression).

Our materialistic culture encourages constant wanting and sees possessions as the source of happiness. This is not the most fertile ground for gratitude, but it is not an insurmountable barrier to developing it. Envy and especially cynicism and narcissism are “thieves of gratitude.”

I periodically take breaks from social media to help me detox from our culture of covetousness.

A study of couples found that individuals who took time to express gratitude for their partner not only felt more positive toward the other person but also felt more comfortable expressing concerns about their relationship.

Teachers or managers who remember to say “thank you” to people may find that they feel motivated to work harder.

We know that gratitude is healthy and people who are grateful are happier. There’s lots of research out there telling us this.

But sometimes, it’s still really hard.

The root of joy is gratefulness…It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.

― Brother David Steindl-Rast, Music of Silence: A Sacred Journey Through the Hours of the Day

We all want our children to be grateful. It’s just good manners, right?

Can gratitude be taught?

I’m a firm believer that children lead the way and teach us adults how to be more grateful.

If you leave kids alone, they surprise us in so many ways with their empathy and gratitude.

Adults seem to have lost our way and look for ulterior motives, second guess someone’s tone, or just generally assume the worst.

There’s so much more to gratitude than having a Bless This Mess sign in your kitchen.

But have you ever thought about gratitude not as a response but as a force in its own right; an initiating and healing energy that is not dependent on external circumstances but is rather an innate power of the human soul?

Cynthia Bourgeault

During the holidays, I try to focus on being content and grateful more than shopping for more things we don’t really need.

We once attended a church that bragged they didn’t express gratitude for several reasons:

  • We should do things in service to God and not to man.
  • If we are thanked for our service, it would make us prideful.
  • If we thank others, it’s not honoring God nor is it expressing humility.

I think they missed the mark a bit. Of course, we should honor God. Hearing gratitude or expressing thanks is just polite and courteous. We are the hands and feet of God. If a person isn’t humble and is instead prideful, seeking recognition, that’s between them and God.

Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else. Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 CEB

Gratitude should be an ongoing lifestyle, not just one day a year, often eclipsed by heavy food and sports.

Develop an Attitude of Gratitude:

Practicing gratitude helps us build a brain primed to see the positive. 

The human brain has a strong negativity bias. It helps us survive but not thrive.

Gratitude counters that bias so we can enjoy life to the fullest. It’s a little more than just always focusing on the positive. It’s an active mindfulness of being grateful.

Cultivating a natural sense of gratitude in kids starts with modeling from their most important grown-ups. 

When we pause and appreciate the good around us (explicitly exploring what we feel, think and sense in our body) we show them that appreciation is important and worth taking the time for.

It’s not just about saying Thank You!

It’s things like “This ice cream is delicious. I’m so glad I have a tongue to taste it with, and you to share it with. I’m going to take a super slow bite and let it melt in my mouth. Want to try that with me?” 

Pray or Meditate. 

We can use prayer to cultivate gratitude.

I’ve encountered a lot of blogs and articles and books centering on a gospel of gratitude, and while I think being grateful and practicing gratitude is a key to a successful life, I don’t think that’s the sole purpose of any religion. It’s just another tool to help us.

Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. You can focus on a word or phrase or focus on what you’re grateful for.

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.

Meister Eckhart

Forced thank you’s can backfire. 

Feeling gratitude and saying thank you aren’t the same thing, and pressure to say specific words can lead to resistance and resentment.

We can support our kids by helping them figure out what they are actually feeling, and finding the words to match.

As they get a bit older, we can start exploring how what we say to others may make them feel, and how expressing gratitude makes us feel. Emotional health is important.

We can help kids develop an attitude of gratitude through regular rituals and activities that build mental habits. 

If the whole family participates it will also lead to increased feelings of connection with each other.

Some examples of gratitude rituals include:

Practicing a one-word gratitude circle at meals or another time that works for your family.

Naming aspects of our own body, mind, and heart that supported us that day at bedtime.

Keeping a gratitude journal (these can be individual, but you can also create a family journal that everyone can contribute to). Journaling is very helpful!

Writing a thank you note once a week.

When fun or fulfilling things happen, make a habit of “taking in the good” by remembering and talking about the sensory and emotional experience of the positive situation.

Creating gratitude art projects for things children enjoy or appreciate.

A gratitude web, for example, may have a bubble of ice cream in the middle, and then around it would be the grown up who worked to buy it, the people at the shop or store who sold it to us, the person who made it, the farmer who milked the cow, the cow itself, etc.

Letting our kids know we are grateful for them (in specific ways that validate who they are) gives them an embodied experience of what it feels like to be appreciated. 

It builds up their sense of self, and strengthens your relationship while supporting their capacity to feel gratitude. When we feel appreciated, it’s much easier to appreciate others and the world around us!

Make sure you apply your child’s love language so they feel appreciated and loved.

There are studies that show being mindful of gratitude for more than 21 days improves contentedness and our happiness quotient.

Think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 CEB

What are you most grateful for today?

You might also like:

  • Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass
  • Gratitude by Oliver Sacks
  • The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan
  • Our favorite Thanksgiving book list
  • Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii
  • Thanksgiving Unit Study
  • How to Apologize
  • How to Be Happier
  • Teaching Kindness
  • Teaching Self-Control
  • Eliminating Entitlement
Share
Pin105
Share
105 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: gratitude, thanksgiving

Favorite Thanksgiving Books

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

November 2, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

Halloween candy still lingers in the orange bowl on the counter.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!

We’ve never had a Thanksgiving with extended family. We’ve always lived too far away. We traveled over the long holiday weekend the past three years. One of our kids doesn’t even like turkey! We have to make our own traditions.

What is Thanksgiving really all about?

Gratitude is a great study for all of us, but it isn’t the Gospel, nor should it replace actual Bible study or discipleship. Practicing gratefulness isn’t a quick fix for depression or debt. It shouldn’t just be a trendy topic for November.

I like to think of this time as an easing into the Advent season, training our hearts and minds to focus on being grateful for our blessings rather than craving more stuff. I want us to look for ways to help others, to show Christ’s love, to be His hands and feet. Of course it’s a festive season with delicious food, perhaps visits with friends or family, holiday activities, or whatever traditions we try to create. We choose to focus on relationships over stuff.

This Thanksgiving book list teaches lessons on history and thankfulness to guide our hearts.

Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor
It’s almost Halloween and little Sylvie Ann has found the biggest, fattest pumpkin. But before she can carve it into a giant, crooked-toothed pumpkin moonshine (or jack-o’Iantern), she has to get it home.

In November by Cynthia Rylant

In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.
Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical language and Jill Kastner’s rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month–the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.

A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O’Neill Grace

Countering the prevailing, traditional story of the first Thanksgiving, with its black-hatted, silver-buckled Pilgrims; blanket-clad, be-feathered Indians; cranberry sauce; pumpkin pie; and turkey, this lushly illustrated photo-essay presents a more measured, balanced, and historically accurate version of the three-day harvest celebration in 1621.

Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac

In 1620 an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shores inhabited by the Pokanoket, and it was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive. When a good harvest was gathered, the people feasted together–a tradition that continues almost four hundred years later.

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp

Giving Thanks is a special children’s version of the Thanksgiving Address, a message of gratitude that originated with the Native people of upstate New York and Canada and that is still spoken at ceremonial gatherings held by the Iroquois, or Six Nations.

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh

Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are all passengers aboard the crowded Mayflower, journeying to the New World to start a new life. Things get a little more cramped when their baby brother Oceanus is born during the passage. However, when they arrive, there are even worse challenges to face as the Pilgrims are subjected to hunger, cold, and sickness that put their small colony in great danger. With the help of the Native Americans though, they might just be able to survive their first year in this strange land—and have a November harvest to celebrate for generations!

The Pilgrims of Plimoth by Marcia Sewall

After an abundance of prayers and tears we made farewells at dockside and boarded our small ship. Our voyage across the Atlantic Ocean “began with a prosperous wind,” but the sea soon became “sharp and violent” and storms howled about us.

When the pilgrims set out for America, they brought with them a dream for the future. Sickness, hardship, and heartache stood in the way of that dream. But the pilgrims worked hard, keeping their dream close to their hearts, until they were finally able to make it come true.

The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross

From the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic to the first harsh winter to the delicious Thanksgiving feast, all the excitement and wonder of the Pilgrims’ first year in America is captured in this vivid retelling that is perfect for the youngest historians.

The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

The Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving lasted three whole days. Ann McGovern’s simple text introduces children to the struggles of the Pilgrims during their first year at Plymouth Colony and the events leading to the historic occasion we celebrate today – THANKSGIVING.

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness/p>

When Bartholemew, Remember, and Mary Allerton and their parents first step down from the Mayflowerafter sixty days at sea, they never dream that life in the New World will be so hard. Many in their Plymouth colony won’t make it through the winter, and the colony’s first harvest is possible only with the help of two friends, Samoset and Squanto.

Richly detailed paintings show how the pilgrims lived after landing at Plymouth, through the dark winter and into the busy days of spring, summer, and fall. Culminating with the excitement of the original Thanksgiving feast, Three Young Pilgrims makes history come alive.

Thanksgiving Day at Our House: Thanksgiving Poems for the Very Young by Nancy White Carlstrom

A house full of relatives can mean only one thing — it must be Thanksgiving! Starting with a school pageant the day before Thanksgiving and ending with after-dinner snoozing, this book offers a peek at one family’s holiday celebration. Whether for rhyming or singing or simply saying grace, these warm, cozy poems show that there are lots of ways to give thanks — and so many things to be thankful for!

Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zietlow Miller

Celebrate food and family with this heartwarming Thanksgiving picture book. In this spirited ode to the holiday, set at the turn of the twentieth century, a large family works together to make their special meal. Mama prepares the turkey, Daddy tends the fire, Sister kneads, and Brother bastes. Everyone—from Grandma and Grandpa to the littlest baby—has a special job to do.

Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson

Thanksgiving might have started with a jubilant feast on Plymouth’s shore. But by the 1800s America’s observance was waning. None of the presidents nor Congress sought to revive the holiday. And so one invincible “lady editor” name Sarah Hale took it upon herself to rewrite the recipe for Thanksgiving as we know it today. This is an inspirational, historical, all-out boisterous tale about perseverance and belief: In 1863 Hale’s thirty-five years of petitioning and orations got Abraham Lincoln thinking. He signed the Thanksgiving Proclamation that very year, declaring it a national holiday. This story is a tribute to Hale, her fellow campaigners, and to the amendable government that affords citizens the power to make the world a better place!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles M. Schulz

When Peppermint Patty invites herself (and most of her friends) to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, Charlie Brown reluctantly agrees to make a holiday feast even though he can barely make toast and cold cereal! Can he pull together a memorable meal, or will he and his friends just be grateful when it’s over?

How Many Days to America?: A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting

After the police come, a family is forced to flee their Caribbean island and set sail for America in a small fishing boat.

The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell

When Ed and Ann’s turkey dinner burns, they think their Thanksgiving is ruined. But what appears to be a disaster becomes a blessing in disguise when Ed and Ann unknowingly intrude on an immigrant family’s own Thanksgiving celebration at their new restaurant, The New World Café. Once Grandmother silences her despairing family and invites the unexpected customers to join them, they all share an evening of friendship, good food, and lots of dancing—reminding everyone that Thanksgiving is about opening one’s heart in welcome to the strangers who become friends and the disappointments that bring unexpected joys.

Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and Tuyet is excited about the holiday and the vacation from school. There’s just one problem: her Vietnamese American family is having duck for Thanksgiving dinner – not turkey! Nobody has duck for Thanksgiving – what will her teacher and the other kids think? To her surprise, Tuyet enjoys her yummy thanksgiving dinner anyhow – and an even bigger surprise is waiting for her at school on Monday. Dinners from roast beef to lamb to enchiladas adorned the Thanksgiving tables of her classmates, but they all had something in common – family!

Gracias The Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley

When Papa sends a turkey to be fattened up for Thanksgiving, Miguel takes a liking to the friendly bird. Soon, Miguel and Gracias are going everywhere together. But Gracias isn’t a pet-he’s supposed to be a meal! With a little help from Abuelito, Abuelita, and Tia Rosa ((implement accents)), will Miguel be able to keep Gracias off the Thanksgiving table?

Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen

As Molly nears her first Thanksgiving in the New World, she doesn’t find much to be thankful for. Her classmates giggle at her Yiddish accent and make fun of her unfamiliarity with American ways.

Molly’s embarassed when her mother helps with a class Thanksgiving project by making a little doll that looks more like a Russian refugee than a New England Pilgrim. But the tiny modern-day pilgrim just might help Molly to find a place for herself in America.

Rivka’s First Thanksgiving by Elsa Okon Rael

More than anything, Rivka wants to celebrate Thanksgiving. She has learned all about the holiday in school and knows her family has a lot to be thankful for in America. But Rivka’s parents are Jewish immigrants from Poland, and they wonder what Pilgrims and Indians have to do with them. Is Thanksgiving really a holiday for Jews?

Rivka’s grandmother, Bubbeh, decides to take over: She will bring Rivka to see the Rabbi Yoshe Preminger — and whatever the Rabbi concludes, Rivka will have to live with. Rivka knows that Thanksgiving is a holiday for all Americans, from all backgrounds and religions. But how can she convince the esteemed Rabbi Preminger?

 The Firefighter’s Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts

Station 1 is always a busy place. When there aren’t fires to put out there are plenty of chores to do. And on Thanksgiving Day there’s a big feast to prepare. Lou is in charge of dinner this year, but just as they finish shopping, a call comes in. They drop everything to get to the fire. Other calls interrupt Lou’s cooking throughout the day, and it looks like there may not be a Thanksgiving dinner for these firefighters.

Luckily, the grateful families in their neighborhood show their thanks in a thoughtful, perfect way.

Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! In brilliant collage illustrations, Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade.

Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood

Perhaps you’d like to know a secret, one of the happiest ones of all.
You will surely find it for yourself one day.
You’ll discover it all on your own, maybe when you least expect it. If you’ve not yet discovered the secret of saying thanks, it’s waiting for you. The secret can be found in the sunrise that offers promises full for the day ahead, or in the gentle shade of a tree sheltering you from the hot rays of the sun, or on the rock that offers rest from a long walk.

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

Like the gardener thankful for every green sprout, and the fireman, for putting the fire out, readers are encouraged to be thankful for the many blessings they find in their lives. Spinelli exhibits her endearing storytelling with this engaging poem, reminding children how blessed and special they are. Meant to be read aloud, this heartwarming picture book will be a treasured keepsake for parents and children alike.

Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and Praise Songs of Thanksgiving by Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson’s meditations on what it means to be truly grateful and Pamela Dalton’s exquisite cut-paper illustrations are paired with a collection of over 50 graces, poems, and praise songs from a wide range of cultures, religions, and voices. The unique collaboration between these two extraordinary artists flowers in this important and stunningly beautiful reflection on the act of giving thanks.

I’m Thankful by Terri-Sue Hill

Sometimes the people, places, and things we take for granted are the things for which we need to show gratitude. I’m Thankful was written to remind children of some of the many things we have to be thankful for.

Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn: The Story of the Thanksgiving Symbols by Edna Barth

The story of the most truly American holiday and the development of its symbols and legends.

In Every Tiny Grain of Sand: A Child’s Book of Prayers and Praise by Reeve Lindbergh

Around the world and throughout time, people have cherished and spoken simple words that make them feel better when they are sad, brave when they are afraid, and befriended when they are alone—or just pleased to be alive on God’s earth.

I also really like the books by Kate Waters. Such great pictures and history lessons.

What are your favorite books for November?

Share
Pin52
Share
52 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: book list, thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Unit Study

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

November 8, 2016 By Jennifer Lambert 17 Comments

We’re focusing on American history this year in our homeschool.

I don’t waste my kids’ time forcing them to write gratitude journals or notebooking through thankfulness lists. If they desire to do those things, great. It kind of defeats the purpose when we make gratitude a chore.

We try to practice being thankful all the time. I copy Scripture each month with the handy calendars from Sweet Blessings. We read the Bible together every evening and my kids do morning devotions and Bible workbooks together every day as part of their homeschool work.

We live far from family, so we don’t really look forward to a huge meal and football with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. We’re quite alone during holidays and the rest of the year.

We used to spend Thanksgiving at church – a huge potluck dinner. We often have turkey and fixings during Rosh Hashanah. Several family members don’t really like turkey. (gasp!)

We enjoyed traveling over the long Thanksgiving weekends when we lived in Germany. We’ve traveled to Prague and Porto and Venice. I miss traveling.

When Aaron was deployed, we ate just eat ham and played games together during the quiet long weekend.

We like to learn about the reasons Europeans colonized the Americas.

Most Americans celebrate our national day of Thanksgiving with turkey and football, but millions of people were and are being treated so poorly around the world. I want my kids to understand real history and not some whitewashed version written by people who consider themselves the winners. It’s sometimes hard not to get overwhelmed.

It wasn’t all a pleasant experience during that time of American history. We also learn about the tensions between colonists and natives with lots of books and documentaries. Native Americans are still around! Don’t let our public school educations fool us into thinking they’re just a stereotype from TV or all gone and assimilated into White culture.

November is also Native American month, so we learn about the tribes who inhabited the land and area we now call home. Here is a great list of books about and by Indigenous People.

We love the scene in Addams Family Values when Wednesday changes the script for their pageant.

We can change the script too – for our families. We can learn about and teach Truth about American history.

We can still celebrate gratitude, decorate with pumpkins, eat turkey and pie – and even watch football if that’s a thing that’s important. We can volunteer or give of our abundance.

We can make new traditions with our kids rather than highlighting Pilgrims and colonization. We can honor all ancestors and the land we live on with charity, love, and peace.

Thanksgiving Unit Study

How we celebrate Thanksgiving

We snuggle up on the sofa and read together in the mornings and evenings. Hygge. With candles and kitties. We love our new basement gas firelogs.

We get through these cold, dreary days when it gets dark at 4 PM with warm tea and cider, baking delicious cinnamon-scented goodies – like pumpkin scones, trying new soup concoctions, diffusing essential oils, and wearing fuzzy slippers.

We take our cod liver oil and have on our happy light at least 20 minutes every day to keep the depression at bay.

We try to get outside for walks unless it is very, very cold or icy.

We used to do fun crafts and activities when the kids were younger, but now that they’re older and no longer interested, we often just read and discuss and bake and watch movies together.

Resources:

  • FREE Thanksgiving Notebooking Pages
  • Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii
  • Favorite Thanksgiving Books
  • Redhead Mom Thanksgiving and Pilgrims Unit
  • Early Elementary Unit from Ed Snapshots
  • Countdown to Thanksgiving by Amy Puetz
  • The Homeschool Mom Thanksgiving Resources
  • Amanda Bennett Unit Study
  • Thanksgiving Lessons from Meet Penny
  • Thanksgiving Activities from Joy-Filled Life
  • Real Life at Home PreK and K Thanksgiving Unit
  • The History of Thanksgiving for Little Ones from The Modest Mom
  • Pilgrim Unit Study from In All You Do
  • First Thanksgiving Unit Plans from Scholastic
  • Harrington Harmonies Colonial Unit Study
  • Blessed Beyond a Doubt Cultivating Thankful Hearts Unit Study
  • Thanksgiving Build-a-Unit from Homeschooling in Detroit
  • Oklahoma Homeschool Pilgrim/Thanksgiving Unit
  • Hubbard’s Cupboard The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving
  • Moms with a Blog The Night Before Thanksgiving
  • Just Mommies Pilgrims Unit Study
  • Thanksgiving Turkey Unit Study by The Homeschool Scientist
  • Give Thanks! A Unit Study About Gratefulness from Crosswalk
  • Fields of Daisies Old Fashioned Thanksgiving
  • Draw Write Now Book 3: Native Americans, North America, Pilgrims

Books we Love:

I go to the library often and request all the books I can on our topics of study. Here is a list of our favorite Thanksgiving books!

Thanksgiving Day Notebooking Pages (FREE)

We practice being grateful and content in all circumstances.

Share
Pin144
Share
144 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: homeschool, thanksgiving, unit study

Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

November 21, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

The Makahiki season is the ancient Hawaiian Thanksgiving festival, in honor of the Hawaiian god, Lono.

It begins when the Pleiades constellation is first observed rising above the horizon at sunset.

During the four lunar months (approximately from October/November through February/March) of the Makahiki, warfare and deep-sea fishing are kapu, or prohibited.

Makahiki is a time to gather together, pay tithes to chiefs who then redistributed the gifts of the land, a cease of farming labors, and a feast to enjoy competitive games. Hawaiians give ritualized thanks for the abundance of the earth and call upon the gods to provide rain and prosperity in the future.

The Makahiki festival is celebrated in three phases:

  • The first phase was a time of spiritual cleansing and making ho’okupu, offerings to the gods.
  • The second phase was a time of celebration with dancing, sports, and games.
  • In the third phase, the wa’a ‘auhau (tax canoe) was loaded with ho’okupu and set adrift as a gift to Lono.

My daughter and I watched a Makahiki ceremony at Hickam Air Force Base.

The symbolic retinue arrived from outrigger canoes on the beach and were joined by base and wing commanders for the start of the ceremony.

Symbolic Retinue

Akua Loa: The wooden staff with crosspiece draped in white kapa and feather lei represents the Hawaiian god, Lono.

It was carried around the island perimeter in a clockwise direction. Traditionally, the retinue stopped at the boundary of each ahupua’a where a stone altar, or ahu, included the carved wooden pig – the pua’a – and where gifts of the district had been collected. The original slow circuit of the islands took several days.

Offerings to Lono

The chief collected gifts and offerings – food, animals, kapa, cordage, feathers, and other items.

Banner of Lono

Makahiki rituals were the most festive of the Hawaiian religion and included dramatic pageants.

The pageant of Maoloha, or the net of Makali’i, featured a net of food symbolizing the Pleiades and a future period of prosperity.

Hula chants and dances were composed specifically for Makahiki.

Hula

Sports and games were part of the celebration.

Some of the games that were enjoyed: heihei kūkini (racing), mokomoko (boxing), hākōkō (a wrestling style similar to sumo), pūhenehene (a skilled-game of deception), and kōnane (a board game resembling chess).

We watched a javelin dance to symbolize their sporting events.

Javelin Dance

My daughter liked the hula and drums most.

Ceremony

Red and yellow are the colors of Hawaiian royalty.

Makahiki

Once the proper rituals and ceremonies were performed, the chief lifted the kapu on fishing, farming and war and a basket of food was ritually set adrift on the sea, lashed to the outrigger of a wooden canoe. Normal life resumed and the farming cycle began again.

This time served as a period of reflection, recognition, and pride.

Did you know?

The sails and masts of Captain James Cook’s ship resembled Lono’s Akua Loa. Captain Cook arrived at Kealakekua Bay, near a large heiau to Lono, during the Makahiki season in 1778.

I am so glad we got to witness a part of Hawaiian culture and history during our traditional Thanksgiving season.

A Prayer for Abundance

Pule Hoʻūluulu ʻAi

from Hawaiian Antiquities by David Malo

E Kāne auloli ka honua!
Honu ne’epū ka ‘āina.
Ulu nakaka, kāwahawaha ka honua,
Ulu ka ‘ai hāpu’u, e Lono,
‘Ohi malo’o, kupukupu,
‘Ohi ‘a’ā nā ‘uala o nā pali,
Pali kū kāwahawaha ka ua,
Ka ua hā’ule lani,
He hā’ule lani ka ‘uala.
He ‘āweu ke kalo,
He lauloa pili kanawao
O wao akua ka ‘ai, e Kāne!
E Kāne! E Lono! Nā akua mahi ‘ai,
Ho’ōla i ka ‘āina!
A pohō ka ‘ai,
A ulu kupukupu,
A ulu lau po’o ‘ole;
A ‘o ka nui ia o ka ʻai
Āu, e Kāne a me Lono.
‘Āmama. Ua noa.

O Kāne, transform the earth,
Let the earth move as one piece,
The land is cracked and fissured,
The edible fern yet grows, oh Lono,
Let kupukupu cover the dry land,
Gather potatoes as stones on the side-hills
The rain comes like the side of a pali,
The rain falling from heaven.
The potato also falls from heaven.
The wild taro is the only taro now,
The taro of the mountain patches.
The only food is that of the wilds, oh Kāne!
Oh Kāne and Lono! Gods of the husbandmen,
Give life to the land!
Until the food goes to waste.
Until it sprouts in the ground;
Until the leaves cover the land;
And such be the plenty
Of you, O Kāne and Lono.
The burden is lifted. We are free.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hau’oli La Ho’omakika’i! 

Learn more about Hawaii:

  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
  • Hawaii Unit Study
  • Maui with Kids
  • Our Kaua’i Weekend
  • Our Ni’ihau Day Trip
  • Big Island Hawaii with Kids
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  • Oahu with Kids
  • Honolulu with Kids
  • North Shore with Kids
  • Kaneohe with Kids
  • Hawaii by James A. Michener
  • The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka’iulani of Hawai’i by Fay Stanley
  • Kaiulani: The People’s Princess, Hawaii, 1889 by Ellen Emerson White
  • The Mystery in Hawaii: Our 50th State by Carole Marsh
  • Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis
  • A is for Aloha: A Hawai’i Alphabet by U’ilani Goldberry
  • Ancient History of the Hawaiian People by Abraham Fornander
  • Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii by James L. Haley
  • Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Venture by Julia Flynn Siler
  • Honolulu: A Novel and Moloka’i and Daughter of Moloka’i: A Novel by Alan Brennert
  • Hawaii Activities
  • Non-profit Sustainable Tours
  • Reef Safe Advocacy
Share
Pin23
Share
23 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Hawaii Tagged With: Hawaii, thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Tot Packs

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

December 9, 2012 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Yes, I know this is old news, but I just want to share it with you. I forgot to post it! Perhaps you can use it next year or something…better late than never.

Alex loved this Mash the Monster ABC game.

The sisters or I would call out a letter and Alex whacked it with the fly swatter. He was a whole lot gentler than I expected!

Monster Mash Letters

Turkey Printables

He cut out cards and “fed” them to a paper turkey. He does love cutting paper.

Cutting Turkey Food

He cut out turkeys and matched them and glued them. All favorite activities!

Matching Turkeys

He’s starting to like the bottle cap letters activities.

Bottle Cap Spelling

He loves tracing the lines. And these lines were orange (his favorite color!). How much better could it get?

He just wanted to start at the bottom of the page and work up for some reason.

Turkey Tracing

He tried cutting this practice page, but gave up when he thought it was too hard.

Cutting is Hard

Thanksgiving Tot Packs:

  • 1+1+1=1
  • Thanksgiving Pack
  • Turkey Pack
  • 3 Dinosaurs
  • Homeschool Creations
  • Mama’s Monkeys
  • A Little Pinch of Perfect
  • Royal Baloo
  • Gift of Curiosity
Share
Pin1
Share
1 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: fall, preschool, thanksgiving, tot school

Thanksgiving Turkey Fractions Math

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

November 15, 2012 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Tori is rather obsessed with turkeys, as it is.

She cannot wait until hunting season. We have a friend who is willing to take her to hunt turkeys. I don’t know where she got this idea, but it has persisted for more than a couple years now.

So, when I saw these, I just knew. She loves it!

3 part matching fractions cards. with turkeys!
Turkey Fractions

Tori is reading the number words to make sure they match up with her fraction numbers and pie picture.

Here’s the set-up.

I did help by sorting the cards into three piles. She already completed the match for 1/3. She’s reading the cards for 2 1/2. The orange cards are challenge cards. She did those first, of course. Tori completed all the card matches and then copied the number words and fraction numbers onto her page.

3 Part Fraction Cards

Tori is transferring the words and fraction numbers onto her paper.

The pie pictures already match – to help. She matched the cards all up with very little trouble. I was impressed!

Turkey Fractions Notebooking

I found the Turkey fractions game here.

Here’s a freebie – fun turkey fraction craft . I have it all printed out. I hope to do it later this week.

We’re working on lots of fun Thanksgiving books and activities this month.

ProSchool Membership - Productive Homeschooling
Share
Pin2
Share
2 Shares
You might also like:

Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: homeschool, math, notebooking, thanksgiving

Suggested Resources

Archives

Popular Posts

10 DIY Gifts with Essential Oils10 DIY Gifts with Essential Oils
Natural Remedies for HeadacheNatural Remedies for Headache
10 Natural Remedies to Keep on Hand10 Natural Remedies to Keep on Hand
Homemade SunscreenHomemade Sunscreen
Henna Hands CraftHenna Hands Craft
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT