Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pumpkin pie—it’s an opportunity to spark creativity, build gratitude, and sneak in some academic fun! Whether you’re looking to add a touch of holiday magic to your math lesson or a creative spin to your writing activities, Thanksgiving offers endless ways to make learning festive. Below are five engaging and educational Thanksgiving activities that will leave your students feeling thankful for the time spent in your classroom this season.
How do you celebrate Thanksgiving in the classroom?
1. Thankful Writing Prompts | Thanksgiving Activities
Get your students thinking about gratitude with Thanksgiving-themed writing prompts. Writing helps students express themselves and develop important language skills, but it can also be a chance for them to reflect on what matters most.
The Thanksgiving Writing Craftivity resource from my TpT store is an engaging way to help your students determine what they are thankful for.
2. Pilgrim STEM Hat Craft
Who said history can’t be hands-on? This Thanksgiving, your students can step into the shoes (or hats) of the Pilgrims with the Pilgrim Hat Craft. They’ll build their own Pilgrim hats while also practicing their writing skills.
3. Candy Corn Math Activiites
Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you have to skip over math! Add a bit of holiday flair to your math centers with the Candy Corn Fall Math Activities . Teach math, opinion writing, letter id, STEM and so more with this activity pack made around a candy corn theme! Learning made fun for fall time!
4. Classroom Gratitude Tree
Encourage your students to reflect on what they’re thankful for by creating a classroom Gratitude Tree. Cut out a large tree shape from butcher paper, and have students add paper leaves with notes about what they are grateful for This activity can be done daily, with students adding a new leaf each morning, fostering a sense of appreciation all week long.
5. Thanksgiving Story Time | Thanksgiving Activities
To add a little calm to the Thanksgiving chaos, set aside time for a special Thanksgiving story. Reading aloud books like There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey or Turkey Trouble offers a chance for students to relax and enjoy some quiet time while learning about the history or fun aspects of the holiday. Afterward, students can discuss the moral of the story or even act out their favorite scenes.
Extend this activity by having students create their own Thanksgiving-themed story as a class! You could assign characters, plotlines, and let each student contribute a part, practicing collaboration and storytelling.
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to mix fun and learning. By incorporating these activities into your lessons, you’ll keep your students engaged while teaching valuable skills across writing, STEM, math, and social-emotional learning. I hope these ideas and activities bring lots of joy and thankfulness to your classroom!
Looking for more Thanksgiving activities? Check out these 7 fun and engaging Thanksgiving activities for kids!
