Thanksgiving is a special time of enjoying family, friends and giving thanks for many blessings. In keeping with the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving, here are some easy and fun Thanksgiving activities for children using things probably already around the house. These creative ideas will keep the celebration simple and meaningful.
Cranberries in a Jar
Fill a canning jar or other glass container with fresh cranberries. Guess how many cranberries are in there. When it is time to count, take the opportunity to practice estimation. Take out a half a cup of cranberries and use that information to determine if the first guess was a good one or if it is possible to make a more accurate prediction. Then count to find out who came closest.
Graph Paper Indian Corn Craft
Using graph paper, cut out corn shapes. Use crayons or colored pencils to color in the squares and make Indian corn. Use light brown paper to make shucks and connect them together into a cluster and hang.
Thanksgiving Dinner ABC
Make a list of what to eat for Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, etc.). Then put the words in ABC order and draw a little picture of each item.
Thanksgiving Fun Fact Cards
Learn new and fascinating facts about the traditions and people of Thanksgiving with these Thanksgiving Fun Fact Cards.
Thank You Note Project
Write a thank you note to someone who has blessed you in some way this year. Illustrate the card with either a Thanksgiving theme or a picture to match the reason for the thank you.
Thanksgiving Bingo Game
Make a list of Thanksgiving words such as turkey, cranberry, Pilgrims, Mayflower, pumpkin, etc. Have each child fill in a bingo sheet drawn on a plain piece of paper, putting the words wherever they choose. Then play bingo using candy corn or candy pumpkins for the cover pieces.
Turkey Feather Thanks
Cut out a turkey body from construction paper and hang on the wall or door. Each day write something for which you are thankful on a feather cut out of construction paper and add it to the turkey.
Thankful Art Collage
Make a collage of things for which you are thankful. Use magazines, newspapers, catalogs, stickers or your own drawings in the collage.
Creative Sticker Story Writing
Use Thanksgiving stickers for some of the words in a Thanksgiving story you write. For example, if you use the word “pilgrim” instead of writing the word, put a pilgrim sticker there.
November and Thanksgiving Writing Prompts
If you would like to add some writing to your Thanksgiving activities, this collection of November Writing Prompts includes something that will interest every child!
Thanksgiving Story Sequence Chart
Read a favorite Thanksgiving story or select a new one. After reading the story, take a large sheet of paper and divide it into four sections by drawing a vertical line and a horizontal line. In the four sections, retell the highlights of the story by writing a sentence and drawing a picture. This is also a great way to practice sequence (first, next, next, last).
November and Thanksgiving Literacy and Math Activity Pack
Add some fun to your learning activities with this November and Thanksgiving Literacy and Math Activity Pack. It is full of printables and activities to last for weeks!
You can see all of my Thanksgiving-themed products here!