Preschool Storytime: Feeling Thankful (2020)

Around the time of American Thanksgiving, I think it’s great to reflect on gratefulness and feeling thankful. Because this holiday is so intertwined with false historical narratives and the legacy of violent colonialism, I have decided not to focus on the actual holiday, but on harvest or thankfulness.

In this storytime we did a good bit of American Sign Language – for “Where are Three Friends,” “The More We Get Together,” and learning the sign for “Thank You” in the poem “A Lesson from the Deaf” in the book Thanks a Million.

You can see the plans for every year I’ve done this theme here.

You can see the virtual program that does not include the full books read aloud here.

Early Literacy Tip: When we are warm, and fed, and snuggled with someone we love, our brains release a chemical called serotonin. This makes us feel good, but it also has the effect of helping us learn. When you snuggle with your child and sing and read together, their brains soak up the language they hear and the serotonin helps make that learning permanent. Snuggling, talking, and singing with your child helps get them ready to read.

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello

Practice a bit of ASL and avoid the pesky middle finger in this variation of Thumbkin.
Fingerplay: Where Are Three Friends?
(variation of Where Is Thumbkin)
Where is Thumbkin, where is Thumbkin?
Here I am! Here I am!
How are you today, Friend?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.
(repeat with pointer, pinky, then all three)

Where are three friends, Where are three friends?
Here we are! Here we are!
How are you today, Friends?
Very well, we thank you.
I love you, I love you.
Credit: adapted from the traditional, last verse by Ms. Emily

Lyrics to Where are Three Friends with silhouettes of two hands with thumbs up and two hands showing the ASL "I Love You" sign.

Read: Gracias / Thanks – Pat Mora & John Parra

One thing I am thankful for is that you’re here for storytime, and even though we aren’t together in person, we are together in spirit!
Song: The More We Get Together
See ASL movements here: https://youtu.be/YZLlZoD3gU8
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be
For your friends are my friends
and my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we’ll be

The more we read together, together, together
the more we read together
the happier we’ll be.
Read big books and small books
Read short books and tall books
The more we read together
the happier we’ll be.
Credit: traditional; verse 2: Story Time Secrets

Read: poem from the book Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes & Cozbi A. Cabrera: “A Lesson From the Deaf” Practice the ASL sign for “thank you.”

Cover image of the book Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes and Cozbi A Cabrera

The next book also talks about being thankful, and uses words in another language: Cherokee. New words seem hard at first, but the more we practice, the easier they get. Practice title a couple of times.
Read: We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga – Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac

This flannel was made from the template created by Mel at Mel’s Desk! I go over the lyrics first and add the flannel pieces, then play the song (recorded or ukulele). I encourage kiddos and parents to snuggle and hug, or kiddos can snuggle with a stuffed animal during this song. Afterwards is a good time to mention today’s early literacy tip.
Flannel/Ukulele Song: Thanks a Lot
Thanks a lot, Thanks for Sun in the sky
Thanks a lot, Thanks for clouds so high
Thanks a lot, Thanks for whispering wind
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the birds in the spring
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the moonlit night
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the stars so bright
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the wondering me
Thanks a lot, Thanks for the way I feel
Thanks for the animals, Thanks for the land,
Thanks for the people everywhere
Thanks a lot
Thanks for all I’ve got
Thanks for all I’ve got
Credit: From the Album “Baby Beluga” by Raffi

Flannel for "Thanks a Lot" by Raffi. Includes these pieces: sun, cloud, bird, wind, moon, star, person, heart, elephant, tree, and trio of three people of various skin tones.

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet for “Thanks a Lot” here!

See what happens when someone does something nice. Can you imagine how an animal would say thank you?
Read: Thank You! by Ethan Long

Song: If You’re Thankful and You Know It
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re thankful and you know it
and you really want to show it
If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands
(stomp your feet, shout “hooray”, do all three)
Credit: adapted from the traditional

Craft: Thankful Wreath
Die-cut leaves would make this easier, but my library doesn’t have one. I found templates for leaves at firstpalette.com and used the medium sized ones for heart-, oval-, and star-shaped leaves. I cut the middle out from a paper plate, hole punched the top and attached a loop of yarn. I encouraged families to write what they’re thankful for on the leaves, being sure to mention that not all leaves need to be filled out right away – this can be a craft “in progress” over time.

Photo of "thankful wreath" craft with orange, yellow, and red leaves with writing on them such as "books" "pizza" "family" "art" "storytime friends" etc.

I also suggested these alternative titles during the permanent YouTube video.
Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre
Thank You, Bees by Toni Yuly
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude by Marlena Myles & Miranda Paul & others
The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera