Thanksgiving 2024 Teaching Resources
Celebrating Thanksgiving 2024 with activities for kids, crafts, classroom decor and more — created by teachers for teachers like you.
This collection of teacher resources for elementary and middle school is packed with everything you need to teach about and prepare for the November holiday.
While some turkey activities are focused on those fun days right before the long holiday weekend, much of this resource collection is curriculum-aligned to help students meet Common Core and state-level standards. Each resource has undergone a rigorous review by the expert teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure they're student-ready.
Looking for some help to get ready for Thanksgiving in the classroom? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is Thanksgiving? A Kid-Friendly Definition
We know, we know. Everyone knows what Thanksgiving is ... technically But do you have a definition that you can use to describe the holiday to your class?
That's where we come in! Here is a simple way to explain what Thanksgiving is to kids:
Thanksgiving is a holiday when families and friends come together to give thanks for all the good things in their lives.
When Is Thanksgiving 2024?
Here in the US, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. That means Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28, 2024.
Is Thanksgiving a Federal Holiday?
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday — in fact, it's one of the nation's oldest holidays!
Thanksgiving was the first officially declared federal holiday under the Constitution back in the days of President George Washington. This is why American schools are all closed on this Thursday (and typically the Friday after as well).
How Do You Teach Kids About the Real Thanksgiving?
Teaching your students about Thanksgiving this year and want to make sure you're being socially responsible and accurate? Here are a few tips from the teachers on the Teach Starter team to make sure your Thanksgiving lesson planning reflects that!
- Use books and stories that share the Native American perspective on the holiday. November is also National Native American Heritage Month, and it's a great time to talk about the many contributions of Native Americans.
- Don't be afraid to do a little mythbusting! Teaching students about some of the myths of the First Thanksgiving, but balancing it with facts about what really happened can help educate students about digital literacy and asking good questions.
- Do not ask students to dress up as Native Americans. A person's culture is not a costume.
How Do You Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Classroom?
Like most holidays, we recognize that how you celebrate Thanksgiving in the classroom will vary widely based on the grade — or even the subject — you're teaching this school year. Our teacher team has put together a few ideas to get you started planning for the holiday — from creating thankful trees to drafting a classroom cookbook!
Here are a few favorite Thanksgiving activities to try:
- Try a Thanksgiving escape room as a whole class activity.
- Make thankful wreaths to explore the many things students have to be thankful for.
- Match Thanksgiving CVC words
- Help disguise a Turkey.
Thanksgiving Teacher Resources
What else do we have in store for you?
- Thanksgiving crafts for kids? Check!
- Thanksgiving classroom decor? Check!
- Disguise a turkey activities? Check!
- Thanksgiving writing prompts? Check!
- Thanksgiving math activities? Check!
- So many more editable Thanksgiving resources for teachers? Check, check, check!
- Plus Plan
Gratitude Task Cards
Invite students to practice gratitude with this set of 12 task cards that get students to brainstorm what they are thankful for.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Math Center - Counting Objects to 20
Practice one-to-one correspondence up to 20 with this set of 20 fall-themed task cards.
- Plus Plan
I Am Thankful For - Wreath Craft and Thanksgiving Bulletin Board Kit
Show everyone what you’re thankful for with a printable Thanksgiving bulletin board and an “I Am Thankful” Thanksgiving craft activity.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Color by Code - Vowels
Use this color by vowel sound Thanksgiving worksheet as for a bit of Turkey Day fun in the classroom.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Word Search
Stretch your upper elementary students’ vocabulary and reading skills with a delicious Thanksgiving word search.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Bulletin Board - We Are Thankful for a Latte!
Celebrate thankfulness in the classroom with our latte-themed Thanksgiving bulletin board decorations.
- Plus Plan
Funky Turkey Thanksgiving Craft Template
Make your Thanksgiving crafts a bit more funky with our Funky Turkey craft template.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving - Comprehension Worksheet for 3rd Grade
Read and learn about the origin of Thanksgiving with a printable reading comprehension worksheet for 3rd grade.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Symmetry Worksheets
Explore symmetry with these Thanksgiving drawing symmetry worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Save Tom - Disguise a Turkey Persuasive Writing Prompt
A fun Thanksgiving writing activity to use with your students.
- Plus Plan
What Does It Mean To Be Grateful? Teaching Slide Deck
Use this editable teaching slide deck when teaching your students about gratitude.
- Plus Plan
Roll to Create a Thanksgiving Feast - Creative Writing Prompts for Kids
A fun, hands-on Thanksgiving activity using a die and a chart to create a narrative text.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Crafts – ABC and 123 Turkeys
A Thanksgiving activity for students to practice counting, skip counting, and the letters of the alphabet.
- Plus Plan
Write About It! I Am Thankful
Differentiate writing instruction this Thanksgiving with a group of “I Am Thankful” writing prompts for second grade and under.
- Plus Plan
Disguise a Turkey — Thanksgiving Activity
Save Tom the Turkey with a Disguise a Turkey project template for Thanksgiving time in the classroom.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Themed Division Riddles - Worksheet
Have a bit of Thanksgiving math fun with a division color by number worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Division Mystery Image - Worksheet
Toss in a heap of Thanksgiving Math practice with our multi-digit division mystery picture worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Write About It! How to Cook a Turkey
Bring Thanksgiving dinner into the classroom with a group of leveled informational writing prompts about turkey!
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Word Problems - 3 and 4-Digit Division Task Cards
Practice solving 3 and 4-digit division word problems with a set of Thanksgiving Task Cards.
- Free Plan
Write About It! Pumpkins - Differentiated Writing Prompts
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with a group of leveled fall writing prompts about pumpkins.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Bookmarks to Color
Create beautiful, colorful printable Thanksgiving bookmarks with this fun and easy-to-prepare coloring activity.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Mini Book
Celebrate Thanksgiving in the classroom with a printable Thanksgiving activity book.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Division Task Cards
Use various strategies to solve division word problems with a set of Thanksgiving Task Cards.
- Plus Plan
Thanksgiving Writing Craftivity
Celebrate and decorate for Thanksgiving with a turkey-themed Thanksgiving craft and writing activity.
- Thanksgiving 2024 Worksheets
- Thanksgiving 2024 Templates
- Thanksgiving 2024 Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Craft Activities
- Thanksgiving 2024 Task Cards
- Thanksgiving 2024 Writing Templates
- Thanksgiving 2024 Puzzles
- Thanksgiving 2024 Interactive Activities
- Thanksgiving 2024 Color by Code
- Thanksgiving 2024 Bulletin Board Displays
- Thanksgiving 2024 Mini Book
- Thanksgiving 2024 Labels Signs Decorations
- Thanksgiving 2024 Cut and Paste Worksheets
- Thanksgiving 2024 Escape Room Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Coloring Pages
- Thanksgiving 2024 Dice Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Projects
- Thanksgiving 2024 Mazes
- Thanksgiving 2024 Word Searches
- Thanksgiving 2024 Word Walls
- Thanksgiving 2024 Bookmarks
- Thanksgiving 2024 Classroom Door Decorations
- Thanksgiving 2024 Connect the Dots
- Thanksgiving 2024 Instructional Slide Decks
- Thanksgiving 2024 Card Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Crossword Puzzles
- Thanksgiving 2024 Sorting Activities
- Thanksgiving 2024 Matchup Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 for Pre-K
- Thanksgiving 2024 for Kindergarten
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 1st Grade
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 2nd Grade
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 3rd Grade
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 4th Grade
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 5th Grade
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 6th Grade
- Thanksgiving 2024 for 7th Grade