Looking for a creative way to teach poetry that will engage your students and keep them entertained? If you’ve read any number of our previous blogs, you already know our fondness for picture books in the elementary AND middle school classroom. Also, if you’re wondering what to do with your students those couple of days before Thanksgiving break, we have an awesome mini-unit for you. It involves an adorable Thanksgiving picture book, poem analysis, figurative language, and writing. Who says you can’t educate and entertain those kiddos before they go on a holiday break? So join us as we explore Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving lesson ideas.
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving, by Dav Pilkey, is such a wonderful adaptation of a classic and familiar poem, The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Moore. As students read Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving, they will find many similarities to the well-known Christmas poem.
1. Pre-Reading: Setting the Stage for Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
When teaching this picture book, I like to first start by reading, The Night Before Christmas, in case any students are not familiar with this poem. I normally say, “It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, but today we’re going to talk about Christmas first!” It definitely catches their attention at the beginning of the lesson.
Next, I teach students the concept that a picture book, especially a rhyming one, sometimes is one long poem spread out over many pages with illustrations.. We discuss how the Christmas poem and the Thanksgiving picture book we are about to read are considered narrative poems. We discuss how a narrative poem tells a story, with characters, a setting, and a plot with a problem and a solution. It is similar to a narrative story, yet it is written in poetic form.
I then tell my students how the picture book we’re about to read is considered an adaptation of the original The Night Before Christmas poem. An adaptation is a retelling of a story, using various literary elements to make it similar, yet different from the original.
Teacher Tip:
Discuss adaptations using familiar examples like The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka compared to the original fairy tale, The Three Little Pigs. This helps students understand how authors use literary elements to create new versions of beloved stories.
Key Discussion Points:
- How do authors use literary elements to create adaptations of beloved stories?
- Discuss how adaptations maintain core themes while introducing fresh ideas to make them unique.
- How does changing the setting of a familiar story, like shifting from Christmas to Thanksgiving, affect the tone, theme, and message of the adaptation?
2. During Reading: Analyzing the Text of Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
Next, I read Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving, by Dav Pilkey, aloud to students, pausing along the way to discuss any points of comparison between the Thanksgiving adaptation and the Christmas poem.
Key Discussion Points:
- How does the Thanksgiving story mirror the Christmas poem?
- What figurative language devices (e.g., similes, metaphors) stand out?
- How does the rhyme and rhythm add to the humor and storytelling?
Publisher’s Weekly summarizes the book best:
Patterned as a parody of the celebrated Clement Moore poem, this story of eight baby turkeys unfolds with joyous abandon and crackling vitality, as eight children embark on a Thanksgiving field trip that will change their lives forever. They are breathless as they catch sight of Farmer Mack Nuggett for the first time: “He was dressed all in denim, / From his head to his toe, / With a pinch of polyester / And a dash of Velcro.” The exuberant turkeys–Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, and Groucho–catch the children up in raucous barnyard antics until the merriment is quelled by the sight of the ax.
Deeply touched by the turkeys’ plight, the children–who have grown mysteriously fatter and have feathers sticking out from under their clothes–board the bus to go back to the city. The next night, family silhouettes can be seen–each with a grateful turkey guest–as “They feasted on veggies / With jelly and toast.” This humorous, lighthearted story is adorned with bold, bright illustrations that convey a sense of wacky high-spiritedness sometimes lacking in traditional holiday fare.
Upper Elementary and Middle School Love It Too!
If you think this book is too young for your older elementary to middle school students, fear not. Last year was my second year teaching this particular book to middle schoolers, and in both years, my students enjoyed the picture book immensely. They loved relaxing for a couple of minutes, and they loved the comical storyline along with the charming illustrations.
Plus, upper elementary and middle school students can easily recognize the figurative language of similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and alliterations disbursed throughout the story that they most likely missed when they were younger.
Pro Tip for Older Students:
Focus on advanced figurative language elements like tone, symbolism, and parody. This ensures the lesson remains engaging and age-appropriate.
3. After Reading: Dive Into Poetry Elements
After reading, we revisit how a picture book can serve as a fantastic example of a long poem, diving into the key elements of poetry for review. The various parts we review are lines, stanzas, form, rhyme, and meter. We then dive into the book and the poem, The Night Before Christmas, finding examples that represent each of those parts.
For example, we explore how, Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving and The Night Before Christmas have a rhythm of “Da Da DUM,” and “Da Da DUM.”
Stressed Syllables
Another instance of a poetry part we discussed is when certain syllables are stressed. This instance is called a meter. For instance, “As DRY leaves before the wild HURricane FLY. When they MEET with an OBStacle, mount to the SKY.” We touch base on how the meter affects rhyme as well.
Stanzas and Lines
We count the stanzas and lines. Lines make up the stanzas and the way the stanzas appear on paper is called form. The way the author, illustrator, and publisher work together to lay out the poem in a picture book is important in the way the poem is perceived by the readers.
Figurative Language
Next, we focus on the language of poetry: figurative language. We dive into examples of similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and alliteration from the two poems. Students find examples of all of the above from each of the two poems which helps reiterate the concept of what each figurative language term means.
Key Discussion Points
- How does the meter influence the rhythm and rhyme of a poem?
Discuss how stressing specific syllables, as in “As DRY leaves before the wild HURricane FLY,” creates a musical flow that enhances the reader’s experience. - What role do stanzas and lines play in shaping a poem’s structure?
Explore how the arrangement of stanzas and lines, along with the visual layout on a page, impacts the overall form and perception of a poem in a picture book. - Why is figurative language important in poetry?
Analyze examples of similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and alliteration from Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving and The Night Before Christmas to understand their role in adding depth and creativity to poetic narratives.
We’ve put together clear examples of poetry parts and figurative language from Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving and The Night Before Christmas in easy-to-use PowerPoint and PDF files for your convenience and to give you a little more of a stress-free holiday. Grab yours today to make your Thanksgiving Poetry Activities delightful!
Grab yours today in time for Thanksgiving
Extend the Lesson with Creative Writing
Once students are familiar with the way the authors of both, The Night Before Christmas and Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving utilized the elements of poetry and figurative language, they can then take their knowledge to write a sequel to The Night Before Christmas.
Free Resource:
Download our FREE Poetry Challenge to guide your students through this creative activity.
This Thanksgivng Poetry Activity not only reinforces your students’ understanding of poetry but also sparks creativity and ownership of their learning. This Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving lesson idea is perfect for over two or even three language arts blocks, depending on how long you require your student’s sequel to be.
Explore More Teaching Poetry with Picture Books
Love the idea of teaching poetry with picture books? Here are a few suggestions we have for you that would be perfect for the holiday season.
The Hundred-Year Barn by Patricia MacLachlan
A heartwarming story about family and traditions with a poetic touch.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan’s poignant text and award-winning artist Kenard Pak’s gentle and rustic illustrations paint the picture of a beautiful red barn and the people who call it home. One hundred years ago, a little boy watched his family and community come together to build a grand red barn. This barn become his refuge and home—a place to play with friends and farm animals alike.
As seasons passed, the barn weathered many storms. The boy left and returned a young man, to help on the farm and to care for the barn again. The barn has stood for one hundred years, and it will stand for a hundred more: a symbol of peace, stability, caring and community. In this joyful celebration generations of family and their tender connection to the barn, Newbery Medal–winning author Patricia MacLachlan and award-winning artist Kenard Pak spin a tender and timeless story about the simple moments that make up a lifetime.
Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter by Eugenie Doyle
A lyrical exploration of seasonal changes, perfect for winter poetry.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
A captivating exploration of how a family gets a farm ready for the snow of winter, Sleep Tight Farm lyrically connects each growing season to the preparations at the very end of the farm year. This beautiful and informative book paints a fascinating picture of what winter means to the farm year and to the family that shares its seasons, from spring’s new growth, summer’s heat, and fall’s bounty to winter’s well-earned rest. All year long the farm has worked to shelter us, feed us, keep us warm, and now it’s time to sleep.
Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler
A beautifully illustrated tale of resilience and finding joy in simple moments.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
This stunningly beautiful picture book from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Eliza Wheeler is based on her grandmother’s childhood and pays homage to a family’s fortitude as they discover the meaning of home. Eliza Wheeler’s gorgeously illustrated book tells the story of what happens when six-year-old Marvel, her seven siblings, and their mom must start all over again after their father has died.
Deep in the woods of Wisconsin they find a tar-paper shack. It doesn’t seem like much of a home, but they soon start seeing what it could be. During their first year it’s a struggle to maintain the shack and make sure they have enough to eat. But each season also brings its own delights and blessings–and the children always find a way to have fun. Most importantly, the family finds immense joy in being together, surrounded by nature. And slowly, their little shack starts feeling like a true home–warm, bright, and filled up with love.
Conclusion: Teaching Poetry With Picture Books
Using picture books like Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving makes teaching poetry an engaging experience for students of all ages. By exploring rhythm, figurative language, and narrative poetry, you’ll hit multiple learning standards while creating a memorable lesson just before Thanksgiving break. So grab your copy of Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving and our Thanksgiving Poetry Activities. Then inspire your students with the magic of poetry!
