This book is a sweet lesson in judging others and community. We timed this right before Thanksgiving so we were well in the mindset of gratitude and inclusion and extending kindness to others. The kids loved the character of Mr. Whiskers – isn’t that just the way with kids? They often gravitate to those who adults might write-off and can see a bit of goodness in them when others just see bristle.
I found a great video on YouTube, showing how cranberries are grown and harvested these days. We talk a lot about how different foods we eat grow – things that grow in the dirt, on top the grown (leaves and stems), from shrubs or bushes, and from trees. But cranberries defy all these! The plants need to be waterlogged and that definitely makes it easier to harvest because these plants naturally grow by boggy waterways where the berries can fall off the plant and float downstream to find new places to take root and grow. The way seeds spread is so fascinating!
Social Studies
This book was handy to learn more about the state of Massachusetts. When we get into the United States part of our historical studies, I plan to go through each state in order of admission. Years ago, I invested in a series of activity books Highlights published of each US state and I’ve managed to keep them pristine up to this point. I’m just as surprised as you are.
There are many options for picture books on Thanksgiving and some day I will create a list of books I recommend for children. This one seemed to match up well with the main picture book. I include some others in the full list below.
Math
Baking is an excellent way to learn about volume and measurements. My kiddos were still too young to be much help, but as an introductory lesson, this book was enough.
Science
We see their shells and have collected our share when at the beach, but the creatures that build and live inside them are fascinating! I also found some YouTube videos of clamdiggers. One by Saltyhead right at 19 minutes. And another by The Fisherman Magazine, just over 7 minutes long. It’s neat to see the specialized tools made for certain tasks and jobs.
Other Books
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- “Cranberry Thanksgiving” by Wende and Harry Devlin
- “Massachusetts” by Pamela McDowell
- “Sharing the Bread” by Pat Zietlow Miller
- “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” by Louisa May Alcott
- “Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks!” by Margaret Sutherland
- “Molly’s Pilgrim” by Barbara Cohen
- “Brady Bakes a Cake: A Measuring Adventure” by Megan Atwood
- “Let’s Bake Thanksgiving Treats!” by Ruth Owen
- “Kate the Chemist: The Awesome Book of Edible Experiments for Kids” by Kate Biberdorf
- “Cranberries” by Golriz Golkar
- “Clams in the Sand” by Kirsten Lake
Xapa to the World 
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