Who doesn’t love Mo Willems’ books? I thought I’d share this fun twist on disguise a turkey that we did. It’s persuasive writing Pigeon fun, Thanksgiving-style!
The Pigeon is by far our favorite Mo Willems character. Our librarian and art teacher do all sorts of activities at the beginning of the year with Mo Willems books so my kiddos can practically retell this story word for word!
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We started out by setting the purpose for our writing.
Tom Turkey has disguised himself as a pigeon to keep from being eaten on Thanksgiving!
He needs everyone’s help to convince people to eat hot dogs instead of
turkey for their holiday meal!
turkey for their holiday meal!
Next, my kiddos brainstormed, from the turkey’s point of view, good reasons
to eat hot dogs on Thanksgiving. I projected the colored anchor chart
and had students share some of their favorite reasons.
to eat hot dogs on Thanksgiving. I projected the colored anchor chart
and had students share some of their favorite reasons.
Uh, oh somebody’s mom burned the turkey!
This little guy could not stop talking about how some people don’t like birds! (I think he is one of them!)
Students made the booklets listing three good reasons to eat hot dogs instead of turkey and then told why. I have to laugh whenever I hear the phrase “3 good reasons”! It always reminds me of my Mom raising me and 5 boys! I can still hear her saying…”Give me three good reasons why I shouldn’t….!) I don’t know how she did it!
These are some of my favorites!
“Turkey makes you fat when you eat the whole thing!”
I love this one! “Sleeping pills are made from turkey meat.”
“You won’t choke on a bone and have to go the hospital and miss all the fun!
My kiddos absolutely loved this project!
Anchor charts for prewriting and setting the purpose, all of the templates and directions,
as well as 3 different versions of handwriting lines are included.
If you’d like to do this in your classrooom you can find it in my TeachersPayTeachers
I LOVE this! Mo Willems and that crazy pigeon are my absolute FAVORITE! I was so excited to buy The Duckling Gets a Cookie? a few months ago that the monday after, we just HAD to read it! I'm putting this on my favorites list to bring up next year for thanksgiving! 🙂
Your newest follower,
Ashley
Primary Teacherhood
Thank you so much Greg! I taught Kindergarten for a long time and it still holds a special place in my heart! I'm so glad your kiddos enjoyed it! You gotta love that pigeon!
We did this today in our Kindergarten class! The kids LOVED it! I gave you a shout out on my blog! Thanks for the great idea!
Greg
Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten
These pigeons are so cute! Love the ideas here. 🙂
Hi Melissa! You are so sweet! Thank you so much!
Thanks Amanda! You know how much I love your Friday flashbacks!
Lisa, you are too sweet!! Thank you so much!
Hi Alison! How are you, my friend? Don't you just love Mo Willems books?!
Ha! Thanks, Miss Foote!
You may want to head back and check my newest post…had to give you some bloggy love via shout out. 🙂
Smiles – Lisa
That is the cutest pigeon ever!! I can tell from your kids' ideas that they had the best time with this activity. I enjoyed reading their writing. 😉 So glad you linked up again to share your fabulousness! 🙂
Amanda
Teaching Maddeness
What a wonderful idea!
I do something similar in my classroom to practice persuasive letter writing.
I think I'll use this as an introduction example to my unit.
Thanks! 🙂
I found you through the Friday Flashback linky – I'm your newest follower! Stop by sometime 🙂
~Jessica
Joy in the Journey
Hi Linda,
Thanks so much for finding me on TpT and on my blog! It is so fun to connect with new people. I LOVED your freebies and highlighted you first on my blog – check it out http://first-grade-smiles.blogspot.com/2012/11/fresh-new-freebies.html I also tried to follow you on here, but there was some sort of error so I will check back another time and try again. You have some really fun ideas on here so I am anxious to follow so I can keep coming back for more inspiration!
Melissa
First Grade Smiles
LOVE LOVE LOVE! These are adorable! We love that book in our classroom! Thanks for sharing!
Alison
Teaching Maths with Meaning
LOVE LOVE LOVE This! What a great idea! 🙂
Casey
Second Grade Math Maniac
Second Grade Freebies
This is ADORABLE! And so creative!
Hi Casey! Thank you so much for stopping by so I could find your blogs! I teach second grade, too and love finding new ones!
How cute!! My students love this story, they would love this project!
Hi Lisa! Thanks so much! My kids had a blast and we laughed the whole afternoon! I'm headed your way now to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Giveaway!
Thanks again!
Hi Greg! Thanks so much! Don't you just love the pigeon?
I'm so glad you stopped by and hope your kiddos enjoy it!
So fun! Love the Pigeon as a Turkey. Pigeon wants a Turkey!
Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee
Just bought it and I'm super excited! Thanks a bunch!!!
Oh My WORD!!! I'm buying NOW. Not waiting one more second! Thanks so much!!!!
Growing Firsties is having a Pete the Cat Giveaway that also donates to Hurricane Sandy Relief!
OMG! This is the cutest ing ever!! So using this with my class! Thank you for sharing and inspiring!
Greg
Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten