JOJO'S CIRCUS: THE THANKSGIVING DAY HIP-HOORAY PARADE

JoJo’s Circus: The Thanksgiving Day
                 Hip-Hooray Parade
     An Original Series inside Playhouse Disney
                 on Disney Channel
             Study Guide/Grades Preschool – 1

Program Summary:
It’s one of JoJo’s favorite days of the year – Thanksgiving! A time for everyone to come
together and give thanks for what they have, each in their own way. A popular Circus
Town tradition is the Thanksgiving Day Hip-Hooray Parade for the people in Big Boo-
Boo Hospital. Normally, Mrs. Kersplatski organizes the parade, but this year, she is in
the hospital herself! JoJo and the others all pitch in to help put on the parade without
her. But despite their best efforts, things keep going wrong. When the centerpiece of
the parade, the turkey-clown balloon, flies off in the wind, a car full of helpers who go
after it get four flat tires. All seems lost! With very little time and very little help, JoJo
and her friends decide to do their best no matter what so they don’t let the hospital
patients down. They use their creativity and individual talents to put together a very
clever and entertaining parade. Everyone, especially Mrs. Kersplatski, has a wonderful
time and joins JoJo in the Silly Turkey Trot dance! JoJo learns that even when things
don’t go as planned, there is still a lot for which to be thankful.

Objectives:
By viewing the program and participating in the activities, students will:
   • Explore the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday.
   • Be aware of the role tradition plays in a holiday.
   • Understand the importance of working together to overcome difficulties.
   • Express themselves through movement and music.

Pre-Viewing Questions:
   1. What do you know about Thanksgiving? What hints about the meaning of this
      holiday are contained in its name?
   2. What is a tradition? What holiday traditions does your family follow?
   3. Did you ever have someone help you do something difficult? What was that
      like? How did it work out?
   4. What kind of music do you like? What dances do you know?

Post-Viewing Questions:
   1. Why was the traditional parade so important to the
      people of Circus Town?
   2. Why did JoJo have to take charge of putting on the
      parade?
   3. How did everyone feel when the turkey-clown
      balloon flew away and the car got four flat tires?

Activity #1:
We Can Do It!
Curriculum Connection: Social and Emotional Development

JoJo and her friends worked together to put on a Thanksgiving Day parade when it
seemed likely there would be no parade. Have students work together in a similar way
by following this scenario. Tell students to imagine that a symphony orchestra that was
to play at the school had to cancel at the last minute. It’s up to them to perform for the
event.

Organize students into four groups and explain that they are going to make music
using only their bodies. Have one group clap their hands, another stomp their feet,
another tap the floor, and the final group make the whoosh sound of a cymbal. Explain
that each group can play only when you point to them. Point to groups one at a time
giving them time to find a beat. Then, begin blending groups and work up to having all
four playing at the same time as a coordinated ensemble.

After the concert, ask students what made this activity fun and why it required
cooperation. What would have made it work better? If it didn't work, why not?

Activity #2:
Puzzle Time
Curriculum Connection: Language Arts

JoJo’s friend Tater covered himself with marshmallows to become a “sweet potato.”
Distribute the Puzzler Activity Sheet to students working together in pairs. Challenge
them to solve the puzzles. See the answer key below.

1-firehouse; 2-football; 3-catfish; 4-bedtime; 5-ladybug

Activity #3:
My Autumn Wreath
Curriculum Connection: Creative Arts, Science

Materials: Paper plates, poster paint, leaves, twigs, pine
needles and cones, etc.

Lead students on a walk to gather natural materials to make an autumn wreath. Have
students cut a large hole from the center of a paper plate. Use poster paints in fall
colors to paint the plate. When dry, have students glue the leaves, twigs, pinecones
and other items they have gathered, on to the paper plate to create a decorative
wreath.

Activity #4:
Show Your Thanks
Curriculum Connection Social Studies, Language Arts

Materials: Copies of the My Card Activity Sheet, scissors and crayons.

Pass the materials out to the students. Have them cut out and fold the card template
along the dotted line to make a card. Ask students to think about what they are thankful
for and to write a message or draw a picture about it inside the card. Have students
give the card to family or friends. Or, use the cards to create a “We Are Thankful”
bulletin board display.

Activity #5:
Handy Turkey Craft
Curriculum Connection: Creative Arts, Social Studies

Materials: Paper, scissors, construction paper, pencil, crayons and feathers.

Have students put one hand flat on a blank sheet of paper with their fingers spread
wide. Have them trace around their hand to create the outline of a turkey. The tracing
of the student’s thumb will be the head of the turkey. Use the pencil to connect the
lines at the bottom of the tracing and add legs, if desired. Color the turkey feathers and
draw or use construction paper cutouts for the turkey’s eye, beak and wattle. If feathers
are available, have students glue them to the paper to complete their turkey.

Activity #6:
Share Traditional Recipes
Curriculum Connection: Social Studies

Holidays are a time of family gatherings and traditional
family meals. Many families have favorite recipes for certain
holidays, especially Thanksgiving. Ask students to bring in
favorite traditional recipes. Copy the recipes and bind them
together to create a booklet of classroom recipes that each
student can take home. Encourage students to personalize
their booklet by coloring the cover.

Activity #7:
Dance, Dance, Dance!
Curriculum Connection: Physical Education, Creative Arts

JoJo likes to do the Silly Turkey Trot dance. Have students think of their favorite animal
and describe how the animal looks, moves and sounds. Have students make up a
dance for their animal using three or four repetitive movements and the sound the
animal makes. Give the dance a name, e.g., the Kangaroo Hop. Select students to
teach their dance to the class and then lead the class in the dance.

Activity #7A:
Extension Activity: It’s a Parade!
Curriculum Connection: Physical Education, Creative Arts

Have students line up and do their animal dances as they parade around the room.
Play marching music if possible. To extend further, have students create animal masks
or other costume elements and arrange for them to parade through the cafeteria or
playground.

Resources

Web sites:

Disney Channel’s Cable in the Classroom web page.
psc.disney.go.com/disneychannel/cableintheclassroom

JoJo’s Circus activities, games, music and stories.
disney.go.com/disneychannel/playhouse/jojoscircus/index.html

Holiday activities and crafts.
www.dltk-holidays.com

All about Thanksgiving.
www.holidays.net/thanksgiving

Preschool activities.
www.preschoolrainbow.org

Article for teachers on family traditions.
www.preschooleducation.com/art41.shtml

Books:

Bronson, Linda. The Circus Alphabet. Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, 2001.

Bunting, Eve. A Turkey for Thanksgiving. Publisher: Clarion Books, 1995.

Church, Ellen Booth. Learning Through Play: Problem Solving. Publisher: Scholastic
Professional Book Division, 1992.

Curtis, Regina. The Little Hands Playtime! Book: 50 Activities to Encourage
Cooperation & Sharing. Publisher: Williamson Publishing Company, 2000.

Falconer, Ian. Olivia Saves the Circus. Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002.

Sutherland, Margaret and Lamut, Sonja. Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks.
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, 2000.