THANKSGIVING Short Films Writing Activities and Prompts ELA Middle School

NOVEMBER IS COVERED with this bundle: Thanksgiving Pixar Short Workshop, Friendsgiving Virtual Party, and November Writing Prompts! This digital bundle provides practice for informational writing with engaging, real-life activities while students plan a virtual friendsgiving dinner party; practice literary elements, and constructed response writing with RACE strategy.

Perfect for light learning just before Thanksgiving break when students are typically difficult to engage.

3 RESOURCES

1. SHORT FILM WORKSHOP: SALT
2. VIRTUAL FRIENDSGIVING DINNER PARTY
3. NOVEMBER WRITING PROMPTS

❤ 1- SHORT FILM WORKSHOP- SALT:

Short Film Synopsis: A young boy makes a lovely pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner, but accidentally uses salt instead of sugar.

THEME: A beautiful theme of kindness emerges as his family and dinner guests spare his feelings and eat the pie, pretending to enjoy every bite.

Included:

Literary Devices:

Making Inferences

Setting

Theme

Dialogue

Conflict

Text Structures

Culminating Writing Activity:

Students learn 5 text structures and an easy plot summary. Each text structure has a writing prompt. Students can choose which the prompt for which they would like to respond. Or, you can choose the prompt(s) you would like to assign.

Prompts are highly engaging and relate to Thanksgiving.

Text Structure and Prompt Topics:

Problem and solution: Pardoning A Turkey?

Sequence: Make a Thanksgiving Recipe

Description: Describe a favorite holiday memory or tell a story

Compare/Contrast: Favorite and least favorite Thanksgiving dish

Cause and effect: Relate something you are grateful for and describe the effect it has had on you

Plot Summary: Students use the 5 easy questions to create a plot summary

Activities:

• Interactive questions and activities for inference, theme, conflict, and
• Video link to watch directly on slides
• Sample answers for everything
• Moveable pieces to reveal some answers
• Inspiring vocabulary activity

❤ 2- VIRTUAL FRIENDSGIVING DINNER PARTY INCLUDES:

• WRITING FORMAL INVITATIONS
• PLANNING A MENU
• CREATING OR SHARING A RECIPE 
• WRITING A TOAST OF GRATITUDE
• SETTING THE TABLE (with moveable clipart)
• WRITING A POEM
• DECORATING WITH ADORABLE THANKSGIVING CLIPART
• SHARING WITH CLASSMATES

Tried and True! My students LOVE this activity!

❤ 3- NOVEMBER DIGITAL WRITING PROMPT SET INCLUDES:

• 4 Writing Prompts- (one that is Thanksgiving themed)
• Sample Response Answers
• Links To Articles and Videos
• Response Slides
• RACE Anchor Chart
• RACE Rubric
• Collaboration Tools

Each virtual chalkboard includes a writing prompt and a link to an article or video for students to read/watch before responding to the prompt.

❤Articles Include:

1. The Balloons of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade by Tween Tribune
2. The Story Behind Toy Story's Characters by Tween Tribune
3. 10 Tips To Study Smarter, Not Harder by Science and News For Teens
4. How To Be More Likeable by Psychology Today