”Thanksgiving” has different meanings for everyone. For some it is to celebrate our blessings and good fortune, for others it is our worst travel nightmare. Allow your students to explore their own feelings towards the holiday, and make a short depiction of what Thanksgiving means to them. Students can write about a Thanksgiving experience they have had or what they would like to happen (or expect to happen) this Thanksgiving. You may have students brainstorm on their own, or have a classroom discussion about plans, favorite memories, or favorite foods.

For those who need a little inspiration:

• giving thanks
• family/friends
• food/feast/eating too much
• parade
• specific foods (cranberry sauce, turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, etc.)
• autumn/transition into winter
• football
• Black Friday shopping

This example focuses on telling a story with pictures and dialogue, rather than mostly with narration. Use a comic like this on its own, or to get main ideas for a longer composition.

Another great feature of Storyboard That is creating cards! Use the amazing scenes, characters, and items to make a card that celebrates Thanksgiving.

1. Create a three-cell storyboard for Thanksgiving. This could be a “thank you”, a short story (beginning, middle, and end), a joke, a message to a friend or family member, or whatever you want!

Cell 1 is the front of the card.

Cell 2 is the left inside page.

Cell 3 is the back of the card.

The right inside page is a pre-selected message from our gallery.

Storyboards of any layout can be converted into a folding card, but only the first three cells will appear. Titles and descriptions are not printed on the card. Use "Textables" inside the cell if you want to include text.

2. After you save your storyboard, click "Make a Folding Card". Choose the artwork and message that works best for you!

3. Print out pop-up image, and fold.

4. Hold the paper so the front of the card is right-side-up in the bottom right corner. Then, fold the paper in half, away from you (you should see the back of the card on the left and the front of the card on the right). Fold the paper again so you only see the front.

5. Don't forget to sign your card!

There you have it! A Storyboard That card perfect for celebrating food, family, and football!

Objects come to symbolize different things in various contexts and understanding symbolism is vital to a greater appreciation of literature. Many students can recognize that something is associated with Thanksgiving, but they may not understand why. This activity can give students a good foundation on symbols and symbolism, or it can be used as a focus on Thanksgiving itself.

I chose to use the spider map layout in my example. The symbol should be named in the title box, a visual representation should be made in the storyboard cell, and an explanation of what the symbol represents should be included in the description box.

Here are a few possible examples:

• Pilgrims and Native Americans

  Both the Pilgrims and the Native Americans contributed to the celebration feast of the successful harvest. Having a Pilgrim and Native American together shows friendship.

• Corn, Pumpkins, and Gourds

  Corn was a staple to the Native Americans and they taught the Pilgrims to grow it. Pumpkins, squash, and other gourds are vegetables harvested in the fall.

• Autumn Leaves

  Thanksgiving occurs during autumn. The colored leaves reminds us that the plentiful summer is over, and the cold winter, when little food is to be found, is coming.

• Wheat

  Wheat is usually harvested during the fall. Wheat is used to make flour for bread, which has been an important source of food for thousands of years.

• Turkey

  At Thanksgiving, we eat turkey: a bird that was available to people in the time of the first Thanksgivings. In England, they typically ate goose at the harvest time.

• Cornucopia

  The cornucopia is also known as the "horn of plenty." It represents the wealth and the bounty of the fall harvest.

• Cranberry Sauce

  Cranberries were one type of berry that the Pilgrims were able to forage. They used maple syrup to sweeten the juice.