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35 Fun Thanksgiving Ideas for the Classroom

If you’re looking for some Thanksgiving Ideas for the classroom then this post is for you. In this post I’ll show you some fun Thanksgiving classroom games, activities, crafts, snacks and even some classroom decoration ideas.

Thanksgiving Games

A great way to get ready for the holiday season is by playing some Thanksgiving themed games. Check out some ideas below.

1 | The Gratitude Game

Before Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to have students reflect on what they’re grateful for. Here is a fun game that’s perfect for that. Have students get into small groups and then close their eyes and choose a colorful popsicle stick. Then depending on what color they get they will do the following:

• Yellow: Name a person you are thankful for
• Purple: Name a thing you are thankful for
• Orange: Name a place you are thankful for.
• Blue: Name a food you are thankful for and
• Red: Name an activity that makes you happy.

2 | Roll a Turkey Game

This game is a printable that you can purchase and then download from Etsy. Students roll the dice and then they place their candy depending on their roll. This would be fun to play at a Thanksgiving holiday class party.

3 | Preschool Thanksgiving Game

This game is perfect for younger students to develop math skills as well as fine motor skills. For this game you’ll need a colander, a pack of feathers and dice.

You’ll want to add a picture of a turkey on the colander. Then have students roll the dice and then count the holes up and place the feather in the corresponding hole. For older students have them add two dice together.

4 | Thanksgiving Buzz Words Charades

To play this game, choose one student who cannot see your google slides. This student is the guesser. Then have students take turn giving hints to try to get the guesser to guess the work turkey but they cannot say eat, dinner, carve, bird or gobble.

You can continue the game with other Thanksgiving themed words like gather, gratitude, Thanksgiving, Feast and pumpkin pie.

Fun Thanksgiving Activities

Let’s check out some hands-on projects and some unique Thanksgiving classroom activities that your students will love.

5 | Build Your Own Turkey

This could be a fun activity to do in class or even a take home project for students. This build your own turkey kit comes with clay, googly eyes, pipe cleaners and a top hat. You can find the kits on Etsy here.

6 | Face Turkey

Would your students love to be turned into a turkey? All you have to do is take pictures of your students and then cut them out. Students can glue the pictures and then add feathers, a beak and a wattle. You can have them write what they are thankful for too.

Thanksgiving Classroom Movies

A fantastic way to celebrate the holiday is by watching a Thanksgiving classroom movie before the holiday break. Here are the best Thanksgiving movies that are perfect for Elementary School.

7 | A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

• Why it’s great: This classic animated TV special features our favorite Peanuts characters as Charlie Brown tries to throw together a Thanksgiving meal with the help of his friends. It teaches students about friendship, problem-solving, and the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
• Length: 25 minutes

8 | Free Birds (2013)

• Why it’s great: This animated adventure-comedy follows two turkeys who travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving in an attempt to change history and get turkeys off the Thanksgiving menu. It’s a playful take on the holiday and students get a kick out of it.
• Length: 91 minutes

9 | An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008)

• Why it’s great: Based on a story by Louisa May Alcott, this film takes place in the 1800s and follows a family facing hardships during the Thanksgiving season. The story promotes themes of family, forgiveness, and gratitude. It’s a bit more serious than the others and it works well for upper elementary students.
• Length: 88 minutes

Gratitude Activities

Focusing on gratitude encourages students to think beyond themselves and build empathy for others. It also can help you foster a positive classroom community and helps students to develop stronger relationships with each other. Check out some ideas for activities that will help your class focus on gratitude.

10 | Student Praise Cards

This fourth-grade teacher wrote each student an individual praise card letting them each know how much they are appreciated and why.

11 | Thankful for Your Students

Watch your students faces light up when you create a things I’m grateful for board. On the board list each student and their best quality like Logan’s optimism or Eli’s creativity.

12 | My Thankful Bracelet Activity

All you need is pipe cleaners and colorful beads for this gratitude activity. Tell students that each bead represents something that they are thankful for. Then have them color the beads on a sheet of paper and write what each one represents. They can then look at their bracelet and be reminded of their blessings.

Gratitude Activities for Older Students

These next few ideas can work for elementary students, but you can also use them for Middle school students or high school too!

13 | Gratitude Jar

Here’s a great activity to get your class feeling those good vibes. Add a gratitude jar to the front of your class and encourage students to write anonymous notes of why they are grateful for other students in the class. You can grab a handful and read them during the month of November.

14 | Thankful for My Classmate

For this whole class activity write students names on the back of sticky notes and stick them on the white board in the front of the class. Students will take turns picking up sticky notes and based on the name they choose they will fill in the blanks on the sticky note, I am thankful for_____ because___________. Then they stick it back on the board.

15 | Thanksgiving Writing Activity

If you’re looking for a creative writing idea for your class have them, write a diary from the perspective of a turkey. The turkey could be plotting it’s escape before Thanksgiving or could be going on adventure in the wild. They can let their creativity shine with this writing activity

16 | Thanksgiving Snacks

Here’s a fun snack idea that students can make themselves. Have students make pumpkin pie in a cup by following the directions that you outline for them.

1. Add graham crackers into a plastic cup
2. Add vanilla Pudding to the cup
3. Add pumpkin pie mix
4. Add whip cream
5. Sprinkle with cinnamon and the top

If you want some more Thanksgiving treat ideas, then check out this post… Cute Thanksgiving Classroom Treats Your Students Will Love

17 | Table Setting Lesson

If you’re serving some Thanksgiving treats during a class party this is a great opportunity to teach children about table setting. This is a great life skill for them to learn.

They can help family members set the table for the holiday with what they have learned. You can provide paper plates, cups and plastic utensils and show students how to set the table and have them follow your example.

Thanksgiving Books

There are so many wonderful Thanksgiving books. Read on to check out some holiday favorites and I have included some fun classroom activities to go along with some of the books as well. You can click on the title to find it on Amazon too!

Best Thanksgiving Books for Elementary Students

18 | Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

• This beautifully illustrated biography tells the story of Tony Sarg, the man behind the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. It’s an inspiring book about creativity and tradition.

19 | The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh

• This classic book provides a simple retelling of the Pilgrims’ journey to America and the first Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to teach your young students about the history of Thanksgiving.

20 | Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

• Bear wants to throw a big feast for his friends, but his cupboards are bare. The story emphasizes sharing and gratitude, with cute illustrations and a sweet, rhyming text.

21 | How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace

• A fun, playful story about trying to catch a turkey that has escaped, making for a lighthearted Thanksgiving adventure that your students will enjoy.

22 | Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland

• This simple picture book is perfect for young readers, teaching them about the true meaning of Thanksgiving—being grateful for what they have.

23 | Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by Kimberly & James Dean

• Pete the Cat stars in this interactive lift-the-flap book that tells the story of the first Thanksgiving. It’s a fun way to introduce younger elementary and preschool students to history while still keeping them engaged.

24 | Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown

• In this story, Arthur is in charge of the school Thanksgiving play, but he has trouble finding someone to play the turkey. This book helps teach responsibility and teamwork in a relatable way for kids.

25 | A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting

• This heartwarming story involves Mr. and Mrs. Moose, who want to invite a turkey to their Thanksgiving dinner. It has a funny surprise ending that your students will enjoy.

Thanksgiving Book and Related Activity

You could read your class a book and then have them do a related activity. Check out some ideas below.

26 | Thankful Book by Elaine Vickers

In this book a young girl writes everything she is thankful for on strips of paper and then links them together to create a chain.

27 | Thankful Chain Class Activity

You could have your class do this activity and link the chain together to create a long classroom gratitude chain.

28 | Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

• This is a funny book about a turkey who comes up with clever disguises to avoid being the Thanksgiving dinner. Kids love the turkey’s antics, and the story delivers laughs while promoting problem-solving.

Turkey Disguise Activity Idea- After reading this book find a simple turkey template and have students use craft supplies to create a costume for their turkey.

29 | Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf

• Based on a real tradition, this story is about a community gathering for Thanksgiving in the forest. It teaches students about thankfulness, nature, and community.

30 | Thankful Tree Activity

After reading this book have students draw a tree and add paper leaves where they write what they are thankful for.

Thanksgiving Classroom Decoration Ideas

If you want to add some décor to your classroom for the Thanksgiving season, then read on for some ideas to decorate your class door and for creating fun bulletin boards to help celebrate Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving Bulletin Boards

First let check out some great ideas for creative and fun bulletin boards that are perfect for this time of year.

31 | Thankful Little Turkeys

Involve your students in the holiday bulletin board by turning them into cute little turkeys. This is a printable bulletin board kit that you can find on Etsy here.

32 | Blessed and Thankful Bulletin Board

This is a simple and pretty bulletin board that you could leave up for the entire fall season.

Thanksgiving Classroom Door Ideas

Do you like to decorate your class door for the Thanksgiving Season? If so then read on to get a little inspiration that you can copy in your class this year.

33 | We are Thankful Turkey Door

Add some holiday spirit to your classroom door with a fun turkey made of colorful construction paper.

Thanksgiving Crafts

Another fun classroom activity would be to do Thanksgiving crafts check out some inspiration below

34 | Abstract Turkey Art

Here’s an easy craft idea that comes out looking amazing.  Have students make patterns using painters tape like shown above on a piece of cardboard then paint the cardboard.  When they remove the paint, it will look like abstract turkey feathers.

35 | More Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

I wrote a post that is packed with a ton of fun Thanksgiving craft ideas like these beaded corn on the cobs and of course tons of turkey crafts and you can check it out here.

I hope that you found some fun new Thanksgiving ideas for the classroom to try this year. Feel free to save your favorite ideas to your Pinterest boards. To do that just click on the picture and then the P and choose your board. If you loved this post, please give it a share!

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