"The Night Before Thanksgiving" Comprehension Game

​The Night Before Thanksgiving

​By Natasha Wing

Illustrated by Tammie Lyon​

​Read aloud with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEM25OakzoM

​'Twas the night before Thanksgiving,

and all through the nation

families got ready

for the big celebration.

​

At our house my mom baked

three kinds of pies:

pecan and pumpkin, and apple surprise. ​

​

That night we were nestled

all snug in our beds,

while visions of turkey legs

danced in our heads. ​

​The very next morning --

Thanksgiving - yippee!

We got up and watched the parade on TV!

​

Relatives arrived

from near and far,

by taxi and airplane,

by train and by car.

​

​

My brother came up

the basement stairs

lugging the kids' table

and folding chairs.

​We counted and polished

our best silverware,

then set the two tables

with patience and care. ​

​

​

​The turkey went in.

And as more cousins came,

I laughed and I shouted

and called them by name.

​"Hi Danny! Hi Donny! Hi Paula and Vickie!

Hi Casey! Hi Cathy! Hi Brenda and Ricky!

Come in from the porch.

Step into the hall.

Now come and play, come and play, come and play all."​

​

​So up to my room

my cousins they flew.

We played with my toys,

and computer games, too.

​

We made pilgrim hats

and funny shoe buckles,

then put on a skit

for aunts and for uncles. ​

​

We were all assembled

except Uncle Norm,

who called us to say

he was stuck in a storm​

​Meanwhile my mother

was getting out yams,

cranberry jelly,

and honey-baked hams.

​

When Mom wasn't looking

we stuck olives on fingers,

and they were puppets

and grand opera singers.

​

While dinner was cooking

we played dodgeball outside.

Our tummies were growling,

"Can we eat yet?" we cried. ​

​The timer then sounded!

The turkey was cooked!

Mom opened the oven,

she sniffed, and she looked.

When what to our

watering mouths should appear,

but a marvelous bird

which caused us to cheer. ​

​

It's skin - oh so golden!

The drumsticks - so juicy!

The stuffing was fluffy

thanks to my Aunt Lucy.

Dad slid out the bird.

(It weighed 30 pounds.)

He turned, then he tripped

over one of our hounds. ​

​Up in the air

the turkey did fly!

Over the string beans

and straight for a pie!

My brother and I

made such a clatter,

As we leapt and caught

the bird on a platter. ​

​

"All right!" said Grandpa,

"Get on with the carving.

Can't you see that

these people are starving?"​

Dad spoke not a word

but went straight to his work.

He sliced up the turkey,

then turned with a jerk. ​

​In front of our house

we heard beeps of a horn,

a trucker delivered

none other than Norm!

With a wink of his eye,

and a twist of his head,

"The party can start!

I made it!" Norm said.

​

We all took our places

the food smelled so great,

We started to dig in,

but Dad said to wait.

"We're thankful that everyone

is together this year,

In our homes, and our hearts,

where we hold you so dear."​

​And we ate and we ate,

yet last but not least...

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​the very next day

was a leftovers feast!

Multiple Choice

The main idea of the story is...

(Main Idea)

• To entertain us with a story of a family on Thanksgiving

• To teach us about Thanksgiving traditions

• To convince us that Thanksgiving is the best holiday

• To inform us about the history of Thanksgiving

Multiple Choice

Another good title for this book would be...

(Main Idea)

• The Trouble with Thanksgiving

• All About Traditions of Thanksgiving

• A Thanksgiving to Remember

• Thanksgiving Customs

Multiple Choice

In the book it says, "That night we were nestled all snug in our bed, while visions of turkey legs danced in our heads." This shows that the main character is feeling...

(Inference)

• A dislike of turkey

• Excited for Thanksgiving

• Worried turkey legs may start dancing

• Tired and needs rest

Multiple Choice

In the text it says, "When what to our watering mouths should appear, but a marvelous bird which caused us to cheer." This is showing that...

(Inference)

• The family was getting worried the dinner may never finish

• The family needs a napkin to wipe their mouth

• The family is feeling "hangry."

• The family is hungry and happy the food is ready

Multiple Choice

When Grandpa said to Dad, "Get on with the carving. Can't you see that these people are starving?" What did Dad do next?

(Cause and Effect)

• Spoke not a word and sliced up the turkey.

• Got distracted that Uncle Norm had arrived

• Gave the family a thankful speech

• Told Grandpa to be patient

Multiple Choice

What caused Uncle Norm to be late?

(Cause and Effect)

• He was traveling from far away

• He was having car trouble

• He was stuck in a storm

• He was running behind that morning

Open Ended

Compare the Thanksgiving in the story to your own Thanksgiving holiday. Is their Thanksgiving similar or different to yours?

Type an S for similar

Type a D for different

(Compare and Contrast)

Multiple Choice

How did the characters change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story?

(Compare and Contrast)

• Beginning they were hungry and happy at the end they were starving and "hangry"

• Beginning they were excited for Thanksgiving, at the end they were happy it was over

• Beginning they were getting ready, at the end they were cleaning up

• Beginning they were happy it was Thanksgiving, in the end they are happy it was a good Thanksgiving

Multiple Choice

When it said, "The very next day was a leftovers feast," the word feast means...

(Context clues)

• a treat for lunch

• a banquet to be enjoyed

• they were forced to eat all the leftovers

• they were having another fancy meal

Multiple Choice

What two words have the opposite meaning...

(Synonym and Antonyms)

• marvelous/

  amazing

• marvelous/

  remarkable

• marvelous/

  ordinary

• marvelous/

  turkey

Multiple Choice

What two word are similar in meaning?

(Synonyms and Antonyms)

• platter/plate

• platter/table

• platter/bowl

• platter/pie plate

Multiple Choice

When it said, "All were assembled except Uncle Norm," the word assembled meant...

(Word Analysis)

• construct

• build

• gathered together

• coming to visit

Multiple Choice

Place the events in order:

1. The family was gathered together at the table

2. Thanksgiving preperations

3. Dad gave a Thanksgiving speech

4. The family waited for the food to be ready

(Chronological Order)

• 3,2,4,1

• 4,2,1,3

• 1,2,4,3

• 2,4,1,3

Multiple Choice

What word best describes the overall tone of the book?

(Author's Purpose)

• Entertaining

• Informational

• Nostalgic

• Tense

Open Ended

What is your favorite kind of Thanksgiving food?

(For Fun!)