Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that sneaks up on teachers – just when you’ve finally found your groove in the school year, boom! You’re planning turkey crafts and writing prompts. If you’re looking for activities that are more than “color a cornucopia,” I’ve got you covered. These ideas mix literacy, critical thinking, and a little seasonal fun. Whether you’re planning for centers, morning work, or party day, these Thanksgiving activities are designed to be flexible, engaging, and easy to implement. The best part? You can use them with no prep (other than maybe grabbing some cranberries).
Lesson Handout
All printables and links needed to complete the activities in this post are included in the handout. You’ll find it inside the Fall Vault, along with other seasonal resources your students will love.
For those coming directly from YouTube, the video handout is also linked below for easy access. Just click the “Get the Video Handout” button to download.
🦃 7 Thanksgiving Activities 🦃
Activity #1 – Beyond the Feast: Thanksgiving Video Activity
Kick things off with a short video lesson that goes way beyond “Pilgrims had a feast with the Wampanoag.” Students pause throughout to complete activities, including:
- building a timeline of events
- sorting myths vs. facts about Thanksgiving traditions
- matching definitions to terms, causes and effects
Activity #2 – Cranberry Chain Reaction (Science Meets Comics!)
Cranberries aren’t just for sauce; they’re the secret ingredient to a fun science + literacy mashup.
Try this experiment:
- Drop cranberries in water (do they sink or float?).
- Drop them on a desk (do they bounce?).
- Put them in baking soda + vinegar (spoiler: fizzing fun!).
Then, turn the results into cause-and-effect comics.
- Cause: I dropped a cranberry in vinegar.
- Effect: It fizzed like a volcano.
- Cause: The fizz spilled on my math homework.
- Effect: Now my teacher thinks I invented cranberry-powered ink!
Low-prep, high-creativity, and perfect for displaying as a “Cranberry Chain Reaction Gallery.”
Activity #3 – Thanksgiving Inference Riddles
Turn your morning warm-ups or literacy centers into a brain-teasing puzzle with Thanksgiving-themed riddles!
Give students a clue like:
I march above the streets without feet, a giant of cartoons and helium.
What am I?
(Macy’s Parade balloon)
Students use inference, context clues, and a dash of holiday knowledge to crack each riddle.
This activity is available in two formats:
- Printable riddle cards for hands-on centers or small group work
- A self-checking JavaScript version in the Fall Vault, perfect for independent digital practice
It’s easy to create your own riddles, too, and students love writing their own once they get the hang of it!
Activity #4 – Persuasive Writing with a Twist
Ready to shake up persuasive writing? This Thanksgiving activity asks students to argue from different perspectives, pleading either for or against celebrating Thanksgiving.
A sample modeling example has a turkey trying to convince its audience to celebrate Tofurkey Tuesday instead of Thanksgiving.
Other voices include:
- a Pilgrim trying to justify the feast
- a Wampanoag voice offering a different cultural lens
- a modern kid who loves football and pumpkin pie
Whether they’re challenging tradition or appealing to animal lovers, students learn how to write with voice, purpose, and a persuasive edge. Gobble up the engagement, no roasting required.
Activity #5 – Sequencing Stories with Transitions
Give students short seasonal stories presented out of order. Their job? Put the cards in logical order and add transition words like first, next, suddenly, meanwhile, as a result, and finally.
Want to extend it? Have students write their own 4-part Thanksgiving sequence, complete with transitional words.
Example:
- First, Grandma dropped the turkey.
- Next, the dog grabbed it and ran.
- Suddenly, everyone chased him around the living room.
- In the end, they ordered pizza.
It’s a fun way to build sequencing skills while sneaking in some humor.
Activity #6 – Edible Turkey Craft: Sweet, Silly, and Student-Made
Looking for a fun Thanksgiving activity that blends creativity with a little sugar rush? Try this edible turkey craft made from everyday treats! Students use Oreo cookies, candy corn, Hershey Kisses, Smarties, and icing to build their own turkey-shaped snack. It’s a playful way to celebrate the season and a great option for party day, centers, or just a lighthearted break from the usual routine.
The version shown here was created by a student, which means it’s perfectly imperfect and that’s part of the charm. Whether the candy corn feathers fan out just right or the icing eyes slide a little sideways, kids love seeing their creations come to life.
Activity #7 – The Story of Thanksgiving from Two Perspectives
Round out your Thanksgiving plans with a free, standards-aligned literacy resource that’s both unique and engaging. This turn-around upside-down book (also known as a flipbook or reversible book) features two distinct stories – one about the Pilgrims and one about Squanto. Students read the first story, then flip the book upside down to discover the second. It’s a clever format that keeps readers engaged and curious.
Check comprehension with the included board game, which includes questions such as cause/effect, problem/solution, and inference. It’s a great way to reinforce understanding while keeping the energy high.
Free Video Activity Handout
For teachers coming from YouTube, I’ve made the Beyond the Feast handout available without an opt-in. You can grab it right here:
If you’d like even more Thanksgiving activities for upper elementary – like sequencing cards, inference riddles, interactive games, and persuasive writing handouts – they’re waiting for you inside my Fall Vault. You’ll receive the username and password when you sign up for my newsletter.
