Quirky Turkey's Quest: A Gratitude Thanksgiving Escape Room Lesson

 

Gratitude Gobbler: 

Gobble up some excitement, my feathered friends! As we approach the holiday season, I'm beyond thrilled to share an escape room lesson that'll make your tail feathers wag with joy. As a school counselor, I'm always on the lookout for clever ways to engage our students, especially when their energy starts soaring higher than a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

Now, let's talk turkey! The initial back-to-school buzz slowly fades away, and it becomes quite the challenge to keep our little gobblers focused. But fret not, because November is here, and it's the perfect time to dig into the true meaning of gratitude and how we can spread it like cranberry sauce throughout the year. So I cooked up something special - an escape room lesson called "Quirky Turkey's Thanksgiving Quest." Trust me, it’s as sweet as pumpkin pie!! 

Thankful Turkey Tales: 

Picture this: our adventure begins with Quirky Turkey, who stumbles upon the truth about turkeys and the grand feast known as Thanksgiving. Seeking a way out of this Thanksgiving predicament, Quirky Turkey seeks guidance from the Wise Old Owl. And let me tell you, this wise old bird knows a thing or two about gratitude! The Wise Old Owl sends Quirky Turkey on a quest filled with puzzles centered around gratitude and kindness.

 

Now, here's the fun part. I divide my students into Gobble Groups! Each group will tackle five tantalizing puzzles. Quirky Turkey's quest takes us on a gobble-worthy farm adventure, where he seeks advice from various farm animals—our gratitude gurus, if you will!

First up, Mr. Pig dishes out a hearty serving of gratitude knowledge. He teaches us the true meaning of gratitude. Using the secret Pumpkin Pie Puzzle Solver, students solve puzzles and unravel the secrets of gratitude with this gobble-tastic tool. And then we have Mrs. Cow, who's all about expressing gratitude. She presents scenarios for Quirky Turkey, challenging him to decide if those fellow turkeys were truly grateful or just plain grouchy.

But hold onto your tail feathers, because there's more! Mr. Rooster leads Quirky Turkey through a corn maze of epic proportions, helping him appreciate the little joys in life. And finally, Mr. Horse will share a turkey-sized nugget of wisdom—gratitude goes beyond words! Kindness towards others plays a crucial role too, my friends.

 

But here's the twist, my gobble-enthusiasts! As Quirky Turkey conquers each puzzle, he'll receive a piece of disguise to escape his Thanksgiving fate. And to add to the fun, each Gobble Group will be able to design Quirky Turkey’s unique disguise. Can you imagine the excitement and friendly competition?

Now, let's talk turkey about the grand finale! When Quirky Turkey completes his quest, the Wise Old Owl reveals a turkey-tastic surprise. Our feathered friend resides on a rescue farm, safe and sound—no worries about Thanksgiving dinner for him! This heartwarming resolution really drives home the power of gratitude, leaving us all feeling as stuffed as a Thanksgiving turkey with thankfulness.

Cultivating Daily Acts of Kindness

To wrap up our lesson, get those creative feathers fluffing by coloring Gratitude Grams, Kindness Coupons, or Kindness Quotes to share with others. And for those extra ambitious gobblers, why not create your very own Acts of Kindness Calendar? Let's keep the gobble-goodness flowing all year long!

A Bountiful Feast of Benefits:

An Abundance of Engagement: Students enjoy an exciting and interactive learning experience that helps them think and participate actively.

Grateful Gratitude Platters: Students understand the meaning and importance of being thankful and kind.

Collaboration Cornucopia: Students collaborate, communicate, and feel a sense of togetherness as they solve challenges as a group.

Harvesting Empathy: Students reflect on their own experiences and develop empathy for others.

Problem-Solving Pie: Students sharpen their thinking and decision-making abilities by solving puzzles.

Real-Life Recipes: Students apply what they learn about gratitude and kindness beyond the classroom.

Emotional Satisfaction: Engaging in gratitude and kindness activities boosts their mood and well-being.

Kindness Keepsake: Students form a regular practice of being kind through various activities.

My fabulous feathered friends, this Thanksgiving Escape Room Lesson isn't just any old lesson—it's an unforgettable adventure that'll make your students’ hearts gobble with gratitude. So spread those wings, wiggle those tail feathers, and get ready for a grateful journey filled with laughter, learning, and more gobble-goodness than you can shake a wishbone at!

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Setting the Stage & Building Connections: The Importance of a 'Meet the School Counselor' Lesson

Today, I want to chat with you about an essential part of our job: introducing ourselves to students each year. It's like setting the stage for a fantastic school year! Having a  "Meet the School Counselor" lesson is crucial for building connections and establishing a positive relationship with our students. Even if your students have known you for all of their elementary years, it’s important to remind them each year how you can support them!

First things first, why do we need to conduct a meet the counselor lesson? Well, it's all about building trust and rapport with our students. By introducing ourselves early on, we create a welcoming and approachable atmosphere. When students feel comfortable around us, they're more likely to seek our support when they need it. Plus, by clarifying our role as school counselors, we help students understand how we can assist them in their academic, social, emotional, and career development.

So, what should be included in this lesson? Let's break it down:

Personal Connection: Start by sharing a bit about yourself. Let students know who you are, how long you've been a school counselor, your interests, and maybe even a fun fact or two. This personal touch helps students see you as a relatable and trustworthy person.

Explaining Our Role: It's vital to clearly articulate what we do as school counselors. Talk about how we support students' academic success and well-being. Share examples of how we help with schoolwork, friendships, family issues, and urgent situations. Students need to understand that we're here to support them through any challenges they may face.

Location and Accessibility: Make sure students know where to find you when they need help. Explain the process of self-referral, teacher referrals, parent referrals, and follow-up appointments. This empowers students to seek assistance whenever they need it.

Confidentiality and Trust: Discuss the importance of confidentiality in our counseling relationship. Let students know that their conversations with us are private, unless their safety or the safety of others is at risk. By emphasizing confidentiality, we build trust and ensure students feel comfortable sharing their concerns with us.

Engaging Activities: Incorporate fun and interactive activities to help students share information about themselves and foster a sense of connection and community within the classroom. By designing activities that encourage active participation and self-expression, you can create an inclusive and engaging environment. 

Lights, Camera, Action!

I love having a theme for each of my lessons. One of my favorite introduction lessons is called Setting the Stage. It is Hollywood themed and I explain that we school counselors are like the "Best Supporting Actors" in the school. I tell them how we're there to support their learning and help them tackle any issues that may come their way, so they can focus on being awesome students!

To make a point about self-worth, I bring out a $20 bill. We talk about how valuable money is and then I crumple it up, throw it on the ground, stomp on it, and yell insults at it. You should see my students’ faces! But when I ask if anyone still wants that crumpled bill, they all raise their hands. That's when I explain that just like the $20 bill, our value as individuals remains the same no matter what challenges we face. It’s always a powerful moment!

After discussing all the important info about my role as the school counselor, to make things even more exciting, we play a game called "Surprising Facts of the Stars." Each student writes down something about themselves that others might not know. It could be anything from a surprising fact to an interesting job, unusual favorite food, or a special interest. Then, I collect the cards and read them out loud for the class to guess who it is. It’s a blast and we all learn some fascinating things about each other!

To wrap it all up, students participate in a "Mad-Lib Movie" activity which creates hilarious stories! Some students like to keep their stories, while others contribute their sheets to make a book or display.

Overall, it’s important to get to know each other at the beginning of the year, understand my role as a counselor, and build a sense of trust and community in the classroom. Having an engaging Meet the Counselor lesson provides numerous benefits to our students. They become more aware of the support available to them, feel empowered to seek guidance, and develop a sense of belonging within the school community. Ultimately, this sets the stage for building a bond of support throughout the school year.

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