November includes many special days, including "Children’s Book Week". There are tons of different types of books you can make with your children. Creating a variety of books with your children makes writing much more interesting and motivational for them! The following are different types of "books" you can make with children: Pop-up books Google Video: Search results - How to make pop up books Scholastic: ABC Pop-Up Books Pop-up Books by Carter Wikipedia: Pop-up book TeacherWeb: Cathy Chavez - How to Make a Pop Up Book (PDF file) Shape books abcteach: Shapebooks Houghton Mifflin: Shape-Book Patterns Story It: Write-on Shapes Have Fun Teaching: Fun Activities and Games - Shape Books Lesson Plan Central: Shape Books Printables and Worksheets Accordion books Vicki Blackwell’s Internet Guide for Educators: Accordion Books San Diego Museum of Art: Accordion Book (PDF file) Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord’s Making Books with Children: Accordion Book Home & Garden Television: Crafts - Accordion Books TeacherVision: The Accordion-Folded Pop-Up Art Book Envelope books Instructables: Envelope Book Paper Source: A2 accordion Associated Content: Create an Envelope Book Peek-a-Boo books ThinkQuest: Make Your Own Peek A Boo Book education.com: Make Peek-a-Boo Books Mini books Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord’s Making Books with Children: Index Card Book ThinkQuest: Make Your Own Mini Book NAACE Primary: Classroom Activities Flip books Robert Truscio: Drawings that Move - Flip Books Big books I use an opaque projector and butcher paper to enlarge the shape I want. I color the shape and laminate it. Finally, I cut out the shape and use it to trace blank sheets for children to write and draw on. Examples of big books that I have made (photos to come!): Big Book of Planets Big Book of Body Parts (trace each child on butcher paper) Peek-over books Simply glue a picture or photo on top of a folded sheet of paper. Theme books These are great for nonfiction and unit studies such as the presidential election and countries. Journals Please see my blog, "Types of Journal Writing". Here is a list of useful resources for making books with children: TeacherWeb: Creative Publishing/Cathy Chavez Vicki Blackwell’s Internet Guide for Educators: Let’s Make Books About.com: Family Crafts - Book Projects BillyBear4Kids.com: Worksheet Templates (lined paper templates) TeachersFirst.com: 100 Best Books for Kids Related posts:Child-Made Pumpkin Fact Books The purpose of child-made pumpkin fact books is for your...Child-Made Pumpkin Fact Books The purpose of child-made pumpkin fact books is for your...Ideas for Silly Witch Books Here are some ideas for silly witch books (see sample...Writing About Bats Here are some ideas of writing activities about bats: Write...Writing About Bats Here's what you'll need: Paper Pencil Here's what you do:...Pilgrim Peek-Over Book My son is going to write a story about what...Columbus Day Unit Outline (October 13) I'm having my son write a book on Christopher Columbus...Top Ten ABC Books (ages 2-7) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Author: Bill Martin Jr. &...Halloween Theme Unit My son will be making a Halloween book for his...Spider Theme Unit My son is going to make a spider book using...

These are great Web sites about Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and the first Thanksgiving. I will definitely use these resource with my son!!!! I hope they are useful to you and your children as well. Scholastic: Kate Waters Interview Transcript The Homeschool Learning Network: The Mayflower - Journey to a New Life Holidays on the Network: The Pilgrims and America’s First Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hall Museum: The Pilgrims’ Landing in America Aurora (IL) University (Mrs. Garcia’s First Grade Class): What were kids like in 1620? (PDF file) Newton (KS) Public Schools: Fun Facts about Pilgrim Children History.com: The History of Thanksgiving - First Thanksgiving Hubbard’s Cupboard: The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving Little Giraffes Teaching Ideas: Pilgrims The Mayflower Society: The Pilgrim Kids Plimoth Plantation: The Mayflower Activity TV: Cartooning for Kids - Mayflower Ship Cartoon (Video) Related posts:Thanksgiving Crafts and Fun Ideas Here some Web sites with Thanksgiving crafts, coloring pages, games...Child-Made Turkey Book Here is a nonfiction book my child made about turkeys...Celebrate November! Here are some fun things we are going to study...Pilgrim Peek-Over Book My son is going to write a story about what...November Creative Writing Ideas Here are some creative writing ideas that have worked with...2008-11-06 (Thursday) Daily Warm-up: BrainPOP This is my son's favorite "movie" Web...Columbus Day Unit Outline (October 13) I'm having my son write a book on Christopher Columbus...2008-09-16 (Tuesday) Home school date #140 (My son, Will, is technically at...Turkey Time! A couple of years ago, we invited some friends and...Happy Pizza With the Works Day (Except Anchovies) 11/12/08 Fun and games: Littlecaesars kids activities Instructions for a great...

Here some Web sites with Thanksgiving crafts, coloring pages, games and fun ideas: Kaboose Funschool: Turkey and Pilgrim Crafts for Kids FamilyFun.com: Tranksgiving Craft Ideas AmazingMoms.com: Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids Kaboose: Thanksgiving Holiday crafts and recipes, kids’ activities, coloring pages and more kiddyhouse.com: Thanksgiving crafts for kids and teachers Kaboose: Thanksgiving Crafts - Pipe Cleaner Turkey First-School.ws: Thanksgiving Craft - Preschool Lesson Plan Printable Activities Danielle’s Place: Thanksgiving and Fall Crafts for Kids FamilyFun.com: Mayflower Toppers (Hats) Apples4theteacher.com: Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Kaboose: Online Thanksgiving Games and Activities for Kids BillyBear4Kids.com: Happy Thanksgiving for Kids, Family and Teachers Apples4theteacher.com: Thanksgiving Games - The Mayflower Kids’ Turn Central: United States Thanksgiving - For for Kids Annie’s Home Page: Annie’s Thanksgiving Just for Kids Page Kids Konnect: Thankgiving FamilyFun.com: Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas for Kids DLTK’s Crafts for Kids: Thanksgiving Activities Kennesaw State University: Thanksgiving and Pilgrims Rats2U.com: Thanksgiving Holiday Fun 4 Kids Activity Village: Thanksgiving for Kids Related posts:Halloween Theme Unit My son will be making a Halloween book for his...Columbus Day Unit Outline (October 13) I'm having my son write a book on Christopher Columbus...Science Web Sites with Fun Games A child asked me today to find some "really fun"...Pilgrims, The Mayflower, and the First Thanksgiving These are great Web sites about Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and...Autumn Theme Outline September 23 is the first day of autumn! Here is...Happy Labor Day! Hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day!  Here are a...2008-11-12 Happy Pizza With the Works Day (Except Anchovies) Little Caesars: Kids Games & Activities Fun and games Hands...Turkey Time! A couple of years ago, we invited some friends and...November Creative Writing Ideas Here are some creative writing ideas that have worked with...Veterans Day Newspaper On the 11th month, the 11th day, at the 11th...

A couple of years ago, we invited some friends and their relatives over for Thanksgiving dinner. We didn’t know our friends’ relatives well, so we asked ahead of time about the things each person loved to do. We wanted everyone to feel welcome and special, so before Thanksgiving, my son made a unique placemat for each person. Here’s what he did: He started with a placemat-sized piece of thick drawing paper. You can find this at most craft stores. For each person, he made the infamous handprint turkey on the placemat and neatly wrote the person’s name under the turkey. He used stickers, cut-out pictures from old magazines and his own artwork to decorate each placemat using what we knew about that person. For example, one person loved to work in her garden, so my son drew pictures of flowers, spades, seeds and other "gardening" things. During our Thanksgiving meal (we did have turkey!), everyone noticed their placemats. Never in my life have I seen grown adults work so hard to keep their placemats clean! When our guests left, they took their placemats with them. I was proud of my son for the hard work he put into each, and it was a fun way to make every single guest feel welcome. Hope all of you have a great Turkey Day!!! Here are some Web sites that my son and I will use this Thanksgiving. I hope they help you, too: University of Illinois Extension: Turkey Fun (Turkey for the Holidays) Everything you need to know about turkeys from cooking to carving them. Tons of great recipes for side dishes, a video of a real turkey farm, games, including a "game" that follows turkey eggs to your dinner table, and so much more. I’ll be going back to this Web site more than once! Kidzone: Animal Facts - Turkey This is one of my favorite "turkey" Web sites. Here you will find facts, crafts, games, great photos, and more! National Geographic: Wild Turkey Information on wild turkey. First-School: Turkey Craft - Maple Leaves Theme Scroll down to the bottom for links to more pages. Pratt’s Educational Resources: Turkey Theme Ideas for younger children (pre-K through kindergarten). Education World: Lesson Planning - It’s Turkey Time! More turkeys facts and crafts for different children. BioKIDS: Turkey Vulture Turkey vulture facts. KiteCD: Thanksgiving Lots of stuff here. I especially like the "interesting facts" section and the "book ideas". Related posts:Child-Made Turkey Book Here is a nonfiction book my child made about turkeys...Thanksgiving Crafts and Fun Ideas Here some Web sites with Thanksgiving crafts, coloring pages, games...November Creative Writing Ideas Here are some creative writing ideas that have worked with...Apple Theme Unit Here are a few ideas for an apple theme unit....Columbus Day Unit Outline (October 13) I'm having my son write a book on Christopher Columbus...Celebrate November! Here are some fun things we are going to study...Pilgrims, The Mayflower, and the First Thanksgiving These are great Web sites about Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and...Pumpkin Theme Unit My son is going to make a pumpkin-shaped book with...Autumn Giving Tree To celebrate the arrival of fall, my son is making...Writing About Bats Here are some ideas of writing activities about bats: Write...

November is National American Indian Heritage Month. I am going to help my son make an American Indian book as he works his way through this fifth-grade unit. I will use a three-ring binder, and each Indian tribe will be a separate chapter. I am going to use some of the pages for his book from Easy File Folder Reports (Evan-Moor Publishing). For each group of Indians, my son will research and note their language, religion, diet, dwelling, clothing, transportation, and areas they lived. He will also list the sources for his information. Below are the Indians and Indian-related facts that my son will be learning about (due to time limitations, we won’t cover every Indian tribe in the US): Indians of the Southwest Acoma TheWildWest.org: Acoma Dwelling: Multi-family adobe houses Clothing: Skins/cloth Transportation: Horses Apache Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Apache Dwelling: Wickiups/tipis Clothing: Skins/cloth Transportation: Horses Hopi Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Hopi Dwelling: Multi-family adobe houses Clothing: Skins/cloth Transportation: Unknown Navajo Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Navajo Dwelling: Wickiups Clothing: Cloth Transportation: Horses Zuni Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Zuni Dwelling: Multi-family adobe houses Clothing: Skins/cloth Transportation: Unknown Indians of the Southeast Cherokee Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Cherokee Dwelling: Mat-covered houses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Chickasaw Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Chickasaw Dwelling: Earth lodges Clothing: Skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Choctaw Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Choctaw Dwelling: Thatched houses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Creek Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Creek Dwelling: Thatched houses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Natchez Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Natchez Dwelling: Rectangular thatched houses Clothing: Cloth Transportation: Canoes Seminole Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Seminole Dwelling: Thatched-roof houses Clothing: Cloth Transportation: Dugout canoes Indians of the Northeast Cayuga Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Cayuga Dwelling: Longhouses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Bark canoes Chippewa Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Chippewa Dwelling: Bark/mat-covered wigwams Clothing: Skins Transportation: Snowshoes and bark canoes Lenape (Delaware) Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Lenape Dwelling: Barrel-shaped longhouses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Kickapoo Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Kickapoo Dwelling: Longhouses/brush shelters Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Micmac Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Micmac Dwelling: Wigwams Clothing: Skins Transportation: Snowshoes and bark canoes Mohawk Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Mohawk Dwelling: Longhouses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Bark canoes Oneida Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Oneida Dwelling: Longhouses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Bark canoes Seneca Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Seneca Dwelling: Longhouses Clothing: Skins Transportation: Snowshoes and bark canoes Wampanoag Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Wampanoag Dwelling: Wigwams Clothing: Skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Winnebago Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Winnebago Dwelling: Wigwams Clothing: Skins Transportation: Snowshoes and bark canoes Indians of the Pacific Northwest Kwakiutl Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Kwakiutl Dwelling: Plank houses Clothing: Bark and skins Transportation: Dugout canoes Quinault Quinault Indian Nation Plank houses Clothing: Skins/cloth Transportation: Dugout canoes Indians of the Plains Arapaho Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Arapaho Dwelling: Tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Blackfoot Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Blackfoot Dwelling: Tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Cheyenne Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Cheyenne Dwelling: Tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Comanche Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Comanche Dwelling: Tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Crow Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Crow Dwelling: Tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Skin boats and horses Kiowa Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Kiowa Dwelling: Tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Mandan Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Mandan Dwelling: Earth lodges and tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses and bullboats Omaha Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Omaha Dwelling: Earth lodges and tipis Clothing: Skins Transportation: Skin bullboats Pawnee Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Pawnee Dwelling: Earth lodges Clothing: Skins Transportation: Horses Indians of the Great Basin and the Plateau Nez Perce (Plateau) Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Nez Perce Dwelling: A-shaped houses/tipis Clothing: Fiber skins Transportation: Snowshoes and dugout canoes Ute (Great Basin) Orrin Lewis: Facts for Kids - Ute Dwelling: Round houses/tipis Clothing: Fiber, bark, and skins Transportation: Unknown I will be using the book What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know (edited by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. / Delta Education), which has the following topics (additional information is available at the listed Web sites): Natives and Settlers Indians of the Southwest Indians of the Pacific Northwest Indians of the Great Basin and the Plateau Indians of the Plains MrDonn.org: Plains Indians in Olden Times for Kids The Buffalo Disappear Texas Beyond History: How Many Ways Can You Use a Buffalo? This Web site shows kids how the Indians used every part of the buffalo. Cool site! Canadian Geographic: CG Kids Animal Facts - Bison (buffalo) Reservations Wikipedia: Indian Reservation The Sand Creek Massacre Wikipedia: Sand Creek Massacre Little Big Horn Wikipedia: Battle of the Little Bighorn "I Will fight no more forever." Mary Lou McCloskey: Chief Joseph The Ghost Dance Wikipedia: Ghost Dance Attempts to Assimilate the Indians American Indian Civic Project: An Introductory and Curricular Guide for Educators - Sovereignty or Dependency? Splitting Up Reservations Related posts:2008-11-03 (Monday) Daily Warm-up: BrainPOP This is my son's favorite "movie" Web...Columbus Day Unit Outline (October 13) I'm having my son write a book on Christopher Columbus...Apple Theme Unit Here are a few ideas for an apple theme unit....Pumpkin Theme Unit My son is going to make a pumpkin-shaped book with...Halloween Theme Unit My son will be making a Halloween book for his...2008-11-05 (Wednesday) Daily Warm-up: BrainPOP This is my son's favorite "movie" Web...Spider Theme Unit My son is going to make a spider book using...2008-11-06 (Thursday) Daily Warm-up: BrainPOP This is my son's favorite "movie" Web...Election Day Theme Unit I'm creating an Election Day theme unit for my fifth-grade...2008-11-04 (Tuesday) Daily Warm-up: BrainPOP This is my son's favorite "movie" Web...

November is National Peanut Butter Month. Here is a story idea that I came up with. Hope your kids enjoy it as much as the kids I used this with have! Decorate Peanut (I suggest using tactile materials such as goggly eyes, yarn for hair, puffy paint, scraps of fabric for clothing, etc. I found that decorating with tactile materials helps motivate children with writing activities): Prewriting for Peanut Story: Cloze Peanut Story: No related posts.

Here are some fun things we are going to study this month. Enjoy November! 11th: Veterans Day Veterans Day Newspaper 21st: World Hello Day Roslyn (Bryant) Public Library (Nassau County, NY): World Hello Day The Global Fund for Children: GOOD DAY! MAHOROI! SAY HELLO! from Australia to Zimbabwe! 22nd 1963: JFK Assassinated Surfing the Net with Kids: John F. Kennedy 27th: Thanksgiving: Pilgrims, The Mayflower, and the First Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Crafts and Fun Ideas Aviation History Month The Aviation History Online Museum Child Safety Protection Month DLTK’s Safety Kids International Drum Month KidsGamer.com: Online Drumset "Play" the drums with your mouse. This game is fun and very addicting!!! Wikipedia: Drum Native American Heritage Month American Indian Unit Peanut Butter Lovers Month The Peanut Family (Writing Activity) Peanut Butter Lovers.com: How It’s Made Google Video Search: How Peanut Butter is Made Love the video on how peanut butter is made! National Stamp Collecting Month American Philatelic Society: Just for Kids American Philatelic Society: Welcome to Stamp Collecting W.J. Bill Finch: Stamp Collecting for Kids wikiHow: How to Enjoy Stamp Collecting for Kids No TV Month "Things to do Instead of Watching TV" Book No related posts.

Here is a nonfiction book my child made about turkeys using the November Creative Writing Ideas. He used Web sites from Pilgrims, The Mayflower, and the First Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Crafts and Fun Ideas for his resources. No related posts.

My son and I are going to start celebrating every weekday. (Weekends get celebrated in our home just because they are weekends.) It’s more fun to celebrate history than "study" it.  I hope it is as fun for your children as it is for mine! Happy "Great Wall of China Day" Monday (Nov. 10) On November 10, in 1970, the Great Wall of China opened for world tourism. So what you may ask? Look at the Web sites below to find the incredible answer!! National Geographic: Great Wall of China Crumbling Video of the crumbling wall (after a brief advertisement) National Geographic: Diving to China’s Great Wall Video of divers looking at the wall underwater (after a brief advertisement) Metacafe: Great Wall of China, Badaling Pass, near Beijing Great video with no ads! The China Guide: Great Wall of China Lots of info. and pictures here. FYI: I had to turn down the volume on my computer on the home page; nice music, but too loud for my older ears! Activity Village: The Great Wall of China Love this site for kids! YouTube: Danny Way jumps the Great Wall This is kind of a silly site, but I think kids will love it! Wikipedia: Great Wall of China wiseGEEK: What is the Great Wall of China? Great site! This site will also lead you to other wonderful sites! No related posts.

Please see my blog on Veterans Day Newspaper. Related posts:Veterans Day Newspaper On the 11th month, the 11th day, at the 11th...Veterans Day Activities coming soon! ...Celebrate November! Here are some fun things we are going to study...Remembering Book (ages 5-adult) Here’s what you’ll need: Paper Pencil Stapler or other means...Mirror Blog on Minti.com I’ve created a mirror blog at creativeteacher.minti.com. ...2008-09-02 (Tuesday) Home school date #132 (My son, Will, is technically at...2008-09-16 (Tuesday) Home school date #140 (My son, Will, is technically at...2008-09-23 (Tuesday) "Home school date #145 (My son, Will, is technically at...2008-09-30 (Tuesday) Home school date #150 (My son, Will, is technically at...2008-10-07 (Tuesday) Home school date #155 (My son, Will, is technically at...