Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is upon us! However, just because school is out doesn't mean that learning has to take a vacation too. Family get-togethers provide enough intellectual stimulation to keep children busy all day. The best part is that they don't even realize it!

Given a little thought, it's easy to incorporate academic support throughout the day. Not only will it help children learn and adults get all of the prep work done, but it also provides opportunities for shared experiences and memories that will last more than a lifetime.

Try some of these great Thanksgiving tips out this year. You can also adapt these ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, family reunions, birthdays, or any other special occasion that is celebrated in your household.

• Have younger children count guests and ensure there are enough place-settings, silverware, cups, napkins, etc.


• Children can have a lot of fun actually setting the table, counting aloud as they set places for family. Of course, it might be best to limit this activity to the "kid's table" if buttery fingers and Grandma's fine china don't seem like a good match.


• Younger children can also count the number of spoon stirs, egg beats, and rolling pin rolls. Adjusting the speed keeps it interesting and fun for little chefs.


• Have children help with recipes. Younger children can help count eggs, while older siblings work on fractions by measuring out cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, cutting pies, and other fun activities.


• Even something as simple as waiting for a timer to ring will help students by allowing them to gain a concrete sense of time: how long is one minute, fifteen minutes, one hour?
  
• You can also practice principles of addition and subtraction by combining pans of cookies or muffins and finding out how many are left after you taste test a few!


• Children can also work on reading skills by telling mom and dad what the recipe says--be sure to work on any difficult words or ingredients beforehand so frustration doesn't become an issue.


• Depending on the age of the children, you can have the younger generation write down the family stories told by Great Aunt Sally over the course of the meal (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, she's just crazy about Thanksgiving!).


• Thanksgiving even allows for science lessons as children can think of ways to explain why food expands in the oven, boiling food moves around in the pan, and hot water gives off steam.
  
• Finally, allowing students to actually do the measuring, slicing (with a butter knife), and pouring allows them to practice and develop the hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills necessary for successful reading and writing.

As you can see, there's no reason to let kids off the proverbial (learning) hook this year--there are far too many lessons to be learned and far too much time to spend together!