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!
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I am Thankful For - Pennant Banner
Display all the things to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving holidays with an I Am Thankful for Pennant Banner
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5 Little Turkeys - Thanksgiving Subtraction Book
Learn about subtraction with a printable 5 Little Turkeys Thanksgiving Book!
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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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Count and Graph - Thanksgiving Math for Kindergarten
Practice counting and graphing with a fun Thanksgiving Math worksheet for kindergarten.
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Roll and Respond – Thanksgiving Dice Game
Roll the die and write about Thanksgiving traditions with a fun Thanksgiving Game.
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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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Thankful For My Gnomies - Thanksgiving Bulletin Board Kit
Display Thanksgiving gratitude with an ‘I am Thankful For’ craft template and bulletin board kit.
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Thanksgiving Puzzle Book - 3rd and 4th Grade
Have a blast completing the fun activities in this printable Thanksgiving puzzle book for 3rd grade and 4th graders.
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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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Paper Bag Turkey Craft Template
Make a paper bag turkey puppet with a printable brown bag turkey template.
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Do-a-Dot Thanksgiving Worksheets for Preschool
Do a dot painting with printable Thanksgiving worksheets for preschool and kindergarten.
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Thanksgiving Bulletin Board Kit - Thankful For My Little Turkeys
Put up a cute Turkey Bulletin Board to show off you thankful you are for all the little turkeys in your classroom.
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Thanksgiving Crafts - I Am Thankful For Printable
Gobble up some gratitude with a printable Thanksgiving "What Am I Thankful For?" activity for kids.
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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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Thanksgiving I Spy Worksheet
Have a bit of counting and coloring fun with a Thanksgiving worksheet for Kindergarten.
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Thanksgiving CVC Word Matching Activity
Practice decoding and spelling CVC words with a fun Thanksgiving-themed matching game for kindergarten students.
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Label a Turkey Worksheet
Bring Tom Turkey and animal studies into your Thanksgiving lesson plans with a turkey labeling worksheet.
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Thanksgiving Worksheet - Parts of Speech Sort
Review three parts of speech by sorting nouns, verbs, and adjectives with a parts of speech sorting activity.
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Thanksgiving Word Scramble
Have a bit of word-friendly fun with a Thanksgiving Word Scramble worksheet and card set.
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Fall Math - Addition to 10 Task Cards
Practice addition up to 10 with this set of 20 fall-themed task cards.
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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.
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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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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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Funky Turkey Thanksgiving Craft Template
Make your Thanksgiving crafts a bit more funky with our Funky Turkey craft template.
- Thanksgiving 2024 Worksheets
- Thanksgiving 2024 Templates
- Thanksgiving 2024 Craft Activities
- Thanksgiving 2024 Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Task Cards
- Thanksgiving 2024 Writing Templates
- Thanksgiving 2024 Puzzles
- Thanksgiving 2024 Interactive Activities
- Thanksgiving 2024 Mini Book
- Thanksgiving 2024 Labels Signs Decorations
- Thanksgiving 2024 Bulletin Board Displays
- Thanksgiving 2024 Color by Code
- Thanksgiving 2024 Cut and Paste Worksheets
- Thanksgiving 2024 Escape Room Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Coloring Pages
- Thanksgiving 2024 Dice Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Projects
- Thanksgiving 2024 Word Walls
- Thanksgiving 2024 Word Searches
- Thanksgiving 2024 Mazes
- Thanksgiving 2024 Connect the Dots
- Thanksgiving 2024 Bookmarks
- Thanksgiving 2024 Sorting Activities
- Thanksgiving 2024 Crossword Puzzles
- Thanksgiving 2024 Classroom Door Decorations
- Thanksgiving 2024 Matchup Games
- Thanksgiving 2024 Instructional Slide Decks
- 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