Thanksgiving Activities for the Classroom
📝 This post, Thanksgiving Activities for the Classroom, has been updated with new information and resources
If you’re anything like me, the days leading up to Thanksgiving break bring a special mix of excitement and chaos! Students are counting down the days, and keeping everyone focused can be a challenge.
These Thanksgiving classroom activities are easy to prepare and give students plenty of opportunities to practice math, writing, and other skills while celebrating the season. Whether you’re planning centers, morning work, small groups, or need something for those unexpected extra minutes, I’ve got a few ideas to share!
Thanksgiving Addition and Subtraction Coloring Pages
You can’t get much more low-prep than this! Simply choose the pages you want to use, print them, and you’re ready to go! My students always loved these coloring pages!
💚 Grab the Thanksgiving Addition and Subtraction Coloring Pages here!
How Do You Fill Your Thanksgiving Plate?
Craft and Writing
Ok, I have to be honest — I am really proud of this one! I originally created it with the traditional Thanksgiving plate in mind, but something unexpected happened that completely changed my perspective.
I had several students from other countries in my class, and when I looked at the plates they created — wow! I had to stop and think bigger. One student had designed a plate filled with a complete traditional Indian meal — not a single piece of turkey or stuffing in sight! And honestly? It was absolutely beautiful.
That moment reminded me of one of my favorite things about teaching — sometimes your students are the ones who do the teaching! It was such a powerful reminder that Thanksgiving looks different for everyone, and that our classrooms are richer because of it. I hope this activity creates those same beautiful moments of discovery and sharing in your classroom, too!
💚 Grab the Thanksgiving Plate Craft and Writing Activities here!
Thanksgiving Dinner Plate Glyph
This one is so much fun — and your students will absolutely love it! Each Thanksgiving plate is uniquely ‘set’ based on a series of prompts that you share with your class. For example, the number of turkey legs on the plate represents the number of people each student will be celebrating the holiday with — making every single plate completely one of a kind!
With 8 creative prompts in this glyph, students end up with a beautiful and personalized Thanksgiving plate that tells their own unique holiday story. And the best part? I just added a data recording sheet, making it an even richer math and data activity that works perfectly alongside the glyph!
The end result makes for a stunning classroom display that sparks wonderful conversations about how each family celebrates Thanksgiving differently.
💚 Grab the Thanksgiving Dinner Plate Glyph here!
Five Senses Reflective Writing Activity
This Thanksgiving writing activity can be completed before or after the holiday. Students use their five senses to reflect on their Thanksgiving experience, writing about what they see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Then they add a picture to go along with their writing.
💚 Grab the Thanksgiving Five Senses Writing Activity here!
Thanksgiving Writing Activities
No Thanksgiving activity collection would be complete without some writing! These Thanksgiving Writing Activities are no prep — just print and go!
With 7 activities to choose from, this packet is great for morning work, writing centers, early finishers, or those unexpected extra minutes before Thanksgiving break. Many of the activities can be completed independently, too!
💚 Grab the Thanksgiving Writing Activities here!
Wrapping Up
I hope these Thanksgiving activities help make those busy days before the holiday break a little easier! Whether you’re working on math, writing, or simply celebrating the season together, there’s something here for your classroom.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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