Thanksgiving is a special time of enjoying family and giving thanks for our many blessings. We set aside this day to reflect on the many ways God has blessed us over the year and thank Him for His goodness to us.

In keeping with the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving, here are some fun and simple Thanksgiving activities for children using things you probably already have around the house. These creative ideas will keep your Thanksgiving celebration simple and meaningful this year.

Cranberries in a Jar

Fill a canning jar or other glass container with fresh cranberries. Have each person guess how many cranberries are in there and write it down. When it is time to count, take the opportunity to practice estimation. Take out a half a cup of cranberries and use that information to determine if the first guess was a good one or if it is possible to make a more accurate prediction. Then count to find out who came closest.

Graph Paper Indian Corn Craft

Using graph paper, cut out corn shapes. Use crayons or colored pencils to color in the squares and make Indian corn. Use light brown paper to make shucks and connect them together into a cluster and hang.

Thanksgiving Dinner ABC

Make a list of what your family likes to eat for Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, etc.). Then put the words in ABC order and draw a little picture of each item.

Thanksgiving Fun Fact Cards

Learn new and fascinating facts about the traditions and people of Thanksgiving with my Thanksgiving Fun Fact Cards.

Thank You Notes

Write a thank you note to someone who has blessed you in some way this year. Illustrate the card with either a Thanksgiving theme or a picture to match the reason for the thank you.

Thanksgiving Bingo Game

Make a list of Thanksgiving words such as turkey, cranberry, Pilgrims, Mayflower, pumpkin, etc. Have each child fill in a bingo sheet drawn on a plain piece of paper, putting the words wherever they choose. Then play bingo using candy corn or candy pumpkins for the cover pieces.

Turkey Feather Thanks

Cut out a turkey body from construction paper and hang on the wall or door. Each day write something for which you are thankful on a feather cut out of construction paper and add it to the turkey.

Thankful Art Collage

Make a collage of things for which you are thankful. Use magazines, newspapers, catalogs, stickers, or your own drawings in the collage.

Creative Sticker Story Writing

Use Thanksgiving stickers for some of the words in a Thanksgiving story you write. For example, if you use the word “pilgrim” instead of writing the word, put a pilgrim sticker there.

November & Thanksgiving Writing Prompts

If you would like to add some writing to your Thanksgiving activities, this collection of Thanksgiving Writing Prompts includes something that will interest every child.

Thanksgiving Story Sequence Chart

Read a favorite Thanksgiving story or select a new one. After reading the story, take a large sheet of paper and divide it into four sections by drawing a vertical line and a horizontal line. In the four sections, retell the highlights of the story by writing a sentence and drawing a picture. This is also a great way to practice sequence (first, next, next, last).

You can see all of my Thanksgiving-themed printables and worksheets here.

Thanksgiving Read Aloud Books

Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving picture books along with fun activities to do with them.

• Cranberry Thanksgiving – Picture Book Ideas 
• This is the Feast – Picture Book Ideas 
• Over the River and Through the Wood – Picture Book Ideas
• Three Young Pilgrims – Picture Book Ideas 

Happy Thanksgiving!