Thanksgiving 2023 Teaching Resources
Celebrating Thanksgiving 2023 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 2023?
Here in the US, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. That means Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
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!
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I Am Thankful For - Sunburst Template
Help your students show how they’re ‘bursting’ with thankfulness using these printable “I am Thankful” for worksheets.
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ABC's of Gratefulness - A to Z Gratitude List
Make a list of things to be grateful for with a printable A to Z gratitude list template.
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Thanksgiving Puzzles - 1st and 2nd Grade Activity Book
Have a blast completing the fun activities in this printable Thanksgiving activity book for first and second-graders.
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Thanksgiving Would You Rather? Game
Engage your students in thoughtful and hilarious discussions in an engaging, interactive game of Thanksgiving Would You Rather?
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The Case of the Missing Turkey! - Thanksgiving Escape
Uncover the location of the missing Thanksgiving turkey with a 4th-grade multiplication Thanksgiving Mystery escape room activity.
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Thanksgiving Menu Math - 4th Grade Multiplication Word Problems
Practice solving single and double-digit multiplication word problems with a fun Thanksgiving Menu Math activity for 4th grade.
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Thanksgiving Escape Room - The Stolen Feast
Play a Thanksgiving Escape Room game and practice two-and-three digit addition for holiday fun!
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Thanksgiving Activity Sheets
Have fun solving puzzles and playing games with printable Thanksgiving activity sheets.
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Change My Mind - Thanksgiving Turkey Craft and Write
Explain why you still need to eat turkey on Thanksgiving with a fun Thanksgiving Turkey Craft and persuasive writing prompt.
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Gratitude Tree and Leaves Template
Create a "Gratitude Tree" display with a printable tree and individual leaf cutouts.
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Thanksgiving Escape Room - Escape the Oven!
Help Urkey the Thanksgiving turkey escape the clutches of the terrible chef who wants to cook him with a fun Thanksgiving Escape Game.
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Thanksgiving Word Search
Stretch your upper elementary students’ vocabulary and reading skills with a delicious Thanksgiving word search.
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Write About It! How to Cook a Turkey
Bring Thanksgiving dinner into the classroom with a group of leveled informational writing prompts about turkey!
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Place Value Worksheets for 2nd Grade - Thanksgiving Math Mazes
Save the turkey and match numbers, words, and expanded forms of numbers with a fun set of printable 2nd-grade Thanksgiving Math maze worksheets.
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Count and Graph - Thanksgiving Math for Kindergarten
Practice counting and graphing with a fun Thanksgiving Math worksheet for kindergarten.
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Let's Be Grateful! - Thanksgiving Game for Kids
Roll, write, and share what youre thankful this year with a printable Thanksgiving game for kids.
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I Am Thankful Mug- Printable Thanksgiving Craft
Use an “I Am Thankful For” printable craft template to display gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.
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Printable Turkey Template Pack
Create a flock of fun Thanksgiving turkeys with a set of printable turkey templates.
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I Am Thankful Turkey - Thanksgiving Hat Craft
Show everyone what you’re thankful for with a fun “I am Thankful” turkey hat to wear during your Thanksgiving celebrations.
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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.
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Thanksgiving Bulletin Board - We Are Thankful for a Latte!
Celebrate thankfulness in the classroom with our latte-themed Thanksgiving bulletin board decorations.
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Thanksgiving Symmetry Worksheets
Explore symmetry with these Thanksgiving drawing symmetry worksheets.
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What Does It Mean To Be Grateful? Teaching Slide Deck
Use this editable teaching slide deck when teaching your students about gratitude.
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I Am Thankful Quilt - Thanksgiving Art Project
Create an “I Am Thankful” Quilt to display for Thanksgiving with a printable collaborative quilt template.
- Thanksgiving 2023 Worksheets
- Thanksgiving 2023 Templates
- Thanksgiving 2023 Craft Activities
- Thanksgiving 2023 Games
- Thanksgiving 2023 Task Cards
- Thanksgiving 2023 Puzzles
- Thanksgiving 2023 Writing Templates
- Thanksgiving 2023 Interactive Activities
- Thanksgiving 2023 Labels Signs Decorations
- Thanksgiving 2023 Color by Code
- Thanksgiving 2023 Bulletin Board Displays
- Thanksgiving 2023 Mini Book
- Thanksgiving 2023 Cut and Paste Worksheets
- Thanksgiving 2023 Coloring Pages
- Thanksgiving 2023 Escape Room Games
- Thanksgiving 2023 Dice Games
- Thanksgiving 2023 Word Walls
- Thanksgiving 2023 Projects
- Thanksgiving 2023 Word Searches
- Thanksgiving 2023 Mazes
- Thanksgiving 2023 Crossword Puzzles
- Thanksgiving 2023 Connect the Dots
- Thanksgiving 2023 Bookmarks
- Thanksgiving 2023 Instructional Slide Decks
- Thanksgiving 2023 Sorting Activities
- Thanksgiving 2023 Matchup Games
- Thanksgiving 2023 for Pre-K
- Thanksgiving 2023 for Kindergarten
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 1st Grade
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 2nd Grade
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 3rd Grade
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 4th Grade
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 5th Grade
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 6th Grade
- Thanksgiving 2023 for 7th Grade