Thanksgiving Activities and Worksheets
Recommended Thanksgiving Resources
Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Explore the rich historical and cultural aspects of this American holiday with Thanksgiving activities, lessons, and printables. You can incorporate Thanksgiving into many of your classes, such as Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. There are arts & crafts projects with which your students can demonstrate their creativity, math worksheets so they can show their critical thinking skills, references to teach the history of Thanksgiving, and activities perfect for your students to show their vocabulary and reading capabilities.
Videos about Thanksgiving
View our short videos about Thanksgiving and extend your students' knowledge with the extension activities prepared for each video.Themed Activity Packets
Use these themed activity packets to help students celebrate Thanksgiving with social studies, language arts, math, and more.- Thanksgiving Themed Activities Packet for Elementary Students
- Thanksgiving Themed Math Packet for Elementary Students
- Thanksgiving Themed Math Packet for Middle School Students
Thanksgiving Slideshows
Browse our collection of slideshows to find resources to enhance your curriculum for the Thanksgiving holiday. Includes a printable book about the seasons, internet research that integrates math, and the turkey traditions at the White House.- Seasons Printables Slideshow
- Favorite Autumn Activities Slideshow (K-8)
- Favorite Thanksgiving Activities Slideshow, Grades 3-6
Printables for Grades K-12
Teach your students about Thanksgiving with these printables and worksheets. Includes paper weaving, a mini-book with art projects, and improving math skills by creating a spreadsheet of favorite Thanksgiving foods.- Thanks Around the World
- Paper Weaving Instructions
- Colonial New England Food & Cooking
- The First Thanksgiving Book
- Thanksgiving Dinner
- Your Favorite Foods at Thanksgiving
- Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy's Day Parade Educator's Guide
- More Popular Thanksgiving Printables
Thankgiving Lesson Plans
Our Lesson Plans will help students understand Thanksgiving with activities such as creating a landmark commemorating different points of view, and much more.- Pilgrim Unit (7 lessons)
- Paper Weavings
- Colonial New England Food & Cooking
- The Wampanoag: A Thanksgiving Lesson
- Planning for the Voyage - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 1 of 7)
- Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives
- Make a Dried Bouquet
- More Thanksgiving Lesson Plans
Social Studies & Thanksgiving Connected
Explore Thanksgiving connections using these social studies resources. Includes videos on how Thanksgiving became a national holiday, learning using Pilgrim Fact Cards, and background information.- Paper Weavings
- History of Thanksgiving
- Pilgrim Fact Cards
- The Wampanoag: A Thanksgiving Lesson
- Sarah Morton's Day, Samuel Eaton's Day, & Tapenum's Day
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
- Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives
- More Popular Social Studies Activities
Studying Colonial Times
Integrating information about Colonial times into your lessons will extend your students' understanding of Thanksgiving with a lesson which compares the first Thanksgiving dinner to dinner now, as well as a reading passage from Colonial times.- Popular Colonial Times Printables
- Paper Weavings
- Colonial New England Food & Cooking
- Of Plymouth Plantation Excerpt
- Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives
- Make a Dried Bouquet
- Thanksgiving Menu: Then & Now
- More Colonial Times Resources
Thanksgiving Math Activities
Interconnect math skills with these Thanksgiving activities. Includes creating a spreadsheet after researching turkey consumption, and practicing other math skills such as solving word problems and using logic.Art Activities for Thanksgiving
Incorporate Thanksgiving activities into art class by creating placemats to take home, making a dried bouquet of flowers or paper weaving.- Paper Weavings
- Classroom Tree Bulletin Board
- Make a Dried Bouquet
- Thanksgiving Placemats
- Turkey Coloring Page
- Thanksgiving Day Draw
- Headband Pattern
- More Thanksgiving Art Activities
Reading & Language Arts Activities for Thanksgiving
Choose from these activities to help students expand their knowledge. Includes a reading passage using compare and contrast, enrichment activities, web resources, and practicing writing skills by creating a dialogue and journal entries.- Thanksgiving ELA Choice Board
- Crockpots and Crafts: Thanksgiving Edition
- Sarah Morton's Day, Samuel Eaton's Day, & Tapenum's Day
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
- A Pilgrim Conversation
- "I'm Thankful for..." List
- A Pilgrim Conversation Rubric
- Giving Thanks Writing Activity
- Daily Journal Topics: Thanksgiving
- More Reading & Language Arts Activities
Thanksgiving Foods & Recipes
Use these resources to expand your teaching strategies and lessons on Thanksgiving with background information on Colonial recipes, as well as information on the first Thanksgiving dinner.- Cranberry Facts
- Colonial New England Food & Cooking
- Make a Dried Bouquet
- Thanksgiving Menu: Then & Now
- Fruity Maple Glazed Ham
- Juice Nutrition 101
- Dried-Pepper Hangings Instruction Sheet
- More Food Resources for Thanksgiving
Teaching Native American Heritage
These resources will increase students' knowledge about Native Americans and enhance your teaching strategies through background information and activities.- Popular Native American Printables
- Native American Music Resources
- Sarah Morton's Day, Samuel Eaton's Day, & Tapenum's Day
- Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
- Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives
- Popular Native American Language Arts Activities
- The First Thanksgiving - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 5 of 7)
- More Native American Resources
Learning About the Pilgrims
Students will enjoy Learning About the Pilgrims with these resources containing background information, writing activities comparing Pilgrim children to today's children, and games.- Pilgrim Children - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 7 of 7)
- Pin the Hat on the Pilgrim
- Today's Pilgrim Worksheet
- The First Winter - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 4 of 7)
- Set Design for "Pilgrims of Plymouth"
- Life in Plymouth - Pilgrim Study Unit (lesson 6 of 7)
- Aboard the Mayflower - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 2 of 7)
- More Pilgrim Resources
Browse Thanksgiving Resources
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ACTIVITIES
History of Thanksgiving
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MAPS
Pilgrim Unit (7 lessons)
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LESSON PLANS
The Wampanoag: A Thanksgiving Lesson
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ACTIVITIES
Thanksgiving Themed Activities Packet for Elementary Students
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WORKSHEETS
The First Thanksgiving Book
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LESSON PLANS
Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives
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GAMES AND APPS
Pin the Feathers on the Turkey
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REFERENCE
Cranberry Facts
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ACTIVITIES
English Language Arts Thanksgiving Choice Board
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ACTIVITIES
Thanksgiving Themed Math Packet for Elementary Students
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WORKSHEETS
Paper Weaving Instructions
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CLASSROOM TOOLS
Your Favorite Foods at Thanksgiving
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WORKSHEETS
Giving Thanks Writing Activity
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BOOK GUIDES
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
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ACTIVITIES
Thanksgiving Themed Math Packet for Middle School Students
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ACTIVITIES
Math Thanksgiving Choice Board
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ACTIVITIES
Sarah Morton's Day, Samuel Eaton's Day, & Tapenum's Day
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WORKSHEETS
Thanksgiving Problem Solving
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LESSON PLANS
The First Thanksgiving - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 5 of 7)
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ACTIVITIES
Favorite Thanksgiving Activities Slideshow, Grades 3-6
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LESSON PLANS
A Pilgrim Conversation
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ACTIVITIES
Seasons Printables Slideshow
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WORKSHEETS
Colonial New England Food & Cooking Info Sheet
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LESSON PLANS
Life in Plymouth - Pilgrim Study Unit (lesson 6 of 7)