Objective:
The students will write a menu.

Materials

• The book, A Turkey for Thanksgiving, by Eve Bunting. (If this book is not available, choose another book about a turkey trying to escape being served for Thanksgiving dinner.)  

• Menu Worksheet or large pieces of paper to create a menu

• Examples of menus or use the following link http://www.bobs.net/bobsmenu/menu.html. 

Procedure

1. Read the chosen book or have a discussion on foods served at Thanksgiving dinner.  Pose the dilemma to the students that they are turkeys who want to create a new Thanksgiving Menu which does not feature turkey.   Allow them to be creative as possible, including some of their favorite foods.

2. Share the examples of menus.  Discuss the different categories of foods - starters/appetizers, entrees, desserts, etc.  

3. Have the students work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to create their own menu for their turkey-free Thanksgiving meal.   They may complete their menus on large pieces of construction paper folded in half.  The fronts can be decorated with the name of the restaurant and illustrations.  The inside should contain the written menu.  

4. As an option, have the students complete the Menu Worksheet.

Other Lesson Ideas

1. As a variation on the above lesson, have the students create a menu which features a wide variety of turkey dishes.  For example, turkey pizza, turkey soup, etc.

2. Have the students write a description of their best hiding place for a turkey in November!

3. Have the students complete a writing in which they persuade people to eat foods other than turkey on Thanksgiving.

4. Have a lesson on syllables, using tur-key as a starting point.

5. Have a phonics lesson on the -ur sound.

6. Have the students read animal sounds and match them to the correct animal.  Use the Animal Sounds Worksheet.

7. Read The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella by Penny Pollock and compare it to the classic story of Cinderella.