Thanksgiving Activities for K-1
I always feel sorry for November and Thanksgiving because they totally get overshadowed by the Winter holidays. We can’t skip over turkeys and thankfulness! There are so many fun turkey-themed academic activities that you can do with your class to make school feel fun and exciting! Read about a few of my faves below!
November Read Alouds
There are so many entertaining and informational read alouds for the month of November! You can CLICK HERE to grab some a few my faves from my Amazon Storefront.
Thankful Turkey Writing
This is truly one of my favorite craftivities that we do during the whole school year. It makes the CUTEST bulletin board display, it’ll make you want to keep them up all year long! We start by brainstorming things that we are thankful for. I use my Project and Trace Anchor Chart that can be found HERE, and I give each student a sticky note to write what they are thankful for. Then we make our turkeys! Sorry- I don’t have a template for them! This is an “old school” craft because I just give each student a piece of handwriting paper for the center, and I cut patterns out of file folders for students to trace for the body and head. I show them how to make their own beak, and then I have pre-cut strips of colored construction paper for the feather loops and legs. Cutest ever!
Turkey Writing Response
This is another cutie turkey writing craftivity! All of the pieces and writing prompts can be found HERE. It includes 3 writing prompts for you to choose from (there’s a mix of informational writing and writing for entertainment). This is a lot less time-consuming than the hand-made construction paper turkeys that I mentioned above, but they’re still just as cute!
How to Catch a Turkey Flip Book
This flip book comes with several different styles and can be found HERE! We complete this “how-to” writing activity after reading How to Catch a Turkey. I love reading these responses. They’ll crack you up!
November Word Work for Any Word List
I like having several word work options in my word work center, and I love being able to put out a festive option each month! This Holiday Word Work for Any Word List can be found HERE and it can be used with phonics pattern words, sight words, word wall words, or whatever words your students are currently working with!
You can read more about how I run literacy centers HERE.
November Print and Play Math Games
These are the lowest form of low-prep! Just print and play! You can print these fun math games and let students play them with crayons/markers, or you can put them into dry erase pockets so they can play them over and over. There are many different math skills in this set that are perfect for students to work on daily. I keep a stack of these math games in my math game center for students to play each day. They can be found HERE.
Thanksgiving Color By Codes
Color by Codes are so much fun, and they are a great way to review phonics and math concepts! Use these as independent practice, fast finisher activities (I keep mine in a “busy bin” for students to grab when they have nothing else to do after finishing their work), morning work, or leave them with a sub! This pack can be found HERE.
Turkey Ten Frames Craftivity
Here’s a fun math craftivity for you! Practice making 10, teen numbers, or 20 with this cute craftivity! Easy to print and prep, and is perfect to use as independent practice, assessment, math centers, fast finishers, and more! Grab this Turkey Ten Frame Craft HERE.
Thanksgiving Parade FREEBIE
If you haven’t read the biography titled “Balloons Over Broadway” yet, you’re missing out! It’s the coolest book written about Tony Sarg, the man who invented the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons! I have a fun freebie that pairs perfectly with this book and it can be found HERE.
Tasty Word Hunt
Looking for some hands-on, FUN word work to put in your word work centers? This word work is sooo easy to prep and my students always love it. Find it HERE.
November Math Around the Room
This is another low-prep math center that you can use any time in November. It covers 22 math concepts so you can use it no matter what you are teaching or reviewing! Just print and cut your cards, tape them around the room, and give students a recording sheet so that they can go around and “hunt” for their answers. My Math Around the Room pack can be found HERE.
November Positive Behavior Notes
I love sending home positive behavior notes with deserving students each day! I keep a stack of these on my desk, and when I see a student go “above and beyond” I’ll write their name at the top of the note, sign my name at the bottom, and tape a little Starburst candy to the top for them to bring home to show their families. This is such a quick and easy way to make a positive connection between school and home. You can grab this set of Positive Behavior Notes HERE.
Wishing you the best November full of thankfulness, turkeys, pumpkins, and pie! I’m thankful for all of you and the work that you do for the littles that love to learn each day. Thank you for being so amazing! Happy Thanksgiving!
